Rotary Cutting Basics for Quilting - PART I
Hi! Heidi from the Whimsical Workshop here. I'm excited to introduce my preferred sized rotary cutters to you today.
Have you ever asked yourself “How do I cut fabric more accurately?”. The answer is practice and the correct tools. When it comes to quilting, there are several basic tools that will set you up for success; a rotary cutter, an acrylic ruler and a self-healing cutting mat. There are so many different brands and sizes of these three items that it can be overwhelming to figure out which are right for you.
Have you ever asked yourself “How do I cut fabric more accurately?”. The answer is practice and the correct tools. When it comes to quilting, there are several basic tools that will set you up for success; a rotary cutter, an acrylic ruler and a self-healing cutting mat. There are so many different brands and sizes of these three items that it can be overwhelming to figure out which are right for you.
To help get you started, I have created this guide for both beginning quilters just starting out, and for more experienced quilters interested in a refresher. I hope this guide helps you on your adventures in quilting! I will include links for all the tools discussed in this post at the bottom.
Now, let's get started:
Cutting fabric for quilting is one of the most important skills to practice as it can affect how well your quilts turn out. A project cut accurately will have pieces that are easier to sew together, and the better the pieces go together, the more seamless the quilt top will turn out.
First, let’s talk Rotary Cutters -
A Rotary Cutter is used
by quilters to cut
fabric and consists of a handle with a circular blade that, surprise surprise, rotates! Rotary cutter blades are very sharp and available in a wide variety of sizes. Several layers of fabric can be cut simultaneously with this sharp blade,
making it easier to cut out patchwork pieces of the same shape or size, than
with scissors.
In this post I am listing my top three recommended sizes for quilting
along, with a recommendation for my personal favorite
brand and tips on using and maintaining your rotary cutter.
The first size I recommend for
quilting is the 45mm rotary cutter. This size rotary cutter is an adaptive size that doesn't feel too big or too small, and has become the workhorse of the
cutting world. This sized blade can cut through 10 layers of fabric, or five
folded pieces of fabric. This is the size I use 90% of the time in the studio
and if you can only buy one size rotary cutter, this is the size I would make sure to include in your quilting tool box.
The second size I would recommend is the 28mm
rotary cutter. This smaller sized cutter is perfect if you are
cutting out templates or small, detailed pieces. I also use this size when cutting fabric and using my Creative Grids Stripology or Circle Savvy rulers. These acrylic rulers are placed on top of the fabric and have open channels
cut out so that the blade fits in perfectly and cuts along the acrylic edge. Want to see an example of these rulers? Check out our “Top 3 Sizes of Rotary Cutters for Quilting”
video.
The final rotary cutter size that's handy to have would be the 60mm rotary cutter. Of the three
sizes, I use this one the least, but when I work on a project using Minky,
flannel or fleece this is the rotary cutter size I default to. The larger blade makes
it so much easier to cut through these thicker materials and makes the task of
cutting these fabrics much easier.
Different Rotary Cutter Styles
and Brands -
In our Video “Top 3 Sizes of RotaryCutters for Quilting”, I cover different handle types that I recommend, and which
are my favorites.
Now that you have a rotary cutter all picked out, you'll need to keep it in tip-top shape. It's extremely
important to keep the blade in your cutter sharp so that cutting is safe and easy.
I typically change the blade in my
cutter after completing 3-4 quilting projects. Of course it does depend on how large your projects are, the type of material you're cutting and the
type of cutting mat you are using, so just use your best judgement.
If you find your arm is unusually tired or sore after cutting, if the blade starts
skipping, or if you are pushing down noticeably harder when cutting fabric, it is time to
change your blade.
I've uploaded a video on “How to Change your Rotary Cutter Blade” to YouTube that shows how to safely
and easily change the blade in your rotary cutter. I have also shared a trick on
changing blades to make sure that you're always putting your rotary cutter back together in the correct order.
Other tips for Rotary Cutters and Blades -
1. When possible, try out different handle types
before purchasing. Cut some fabric with it to make sure that it sits comfortably in
your hand and does not strain your wrist, elbow or shoulder.
2. Change your blade as needed and buy
high quality blades. Rotary cutter blades are. definitely a product
where you get what you pay for. I have purchased cheaper blades that only last
for 1-2 projects and I end up having to change the blades more often. This ends up costing me the
same as if I just bought better blades in the beginning. I currently recommend Olfa Blades as superior to all
other brands on the market.
3. Use the correct size rotary cutter
for the job. Using a cutter that is too large or too small for a task will make
the project harder to cut and can cause injury if the blade slips.
I hope these tips and recommendations
help you decide which rotary cutter is best for you!
Make sure to check out all our videos
on Quilting on our YouTube Channel and refer to the links below for purchase
any of the items covered in this post.
Please note we earn a commission for products purchased
through some links in this article.
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