Rotary Cutters and Cutting Mats

Hey,
do you guys also have to press down really hard on your rotary cutters to get a clean cut?
And do the cutting mats eventually get cut up?

Yes, I still press down pretty hard, too. Sometimes I think maybe I need to cut from a different angle. 

I trim small leftover bits with scissors.

But I’m still a beginner. 

I have a self-healing cutting mat; so far you can’t see anything. 

Yes, Anja, I have to press down pretty hard too, but it depends on the fabric. It’s easier with thin fabric.

My cutting mats have held up well so far—they’re thick enough.

With cutting mats, it also depends on how heavily they’re used. I’m already using my 5th & 6th mats, though I don’t just cut my patchwork things on them; I also cut some of my shirts and so on with the rotary cutter. After every finished quilt, I’ve also changed the blade in my rotary cutter, because after a larger blanket the blades are worn out. That’s been my experience over time. You can actually get these rotary blades in any well-stocked fabric store, and I’d also pay attention to the brand, as they last longer and are more stable. It’s like with many things: if you buy cheap, you usually buy twice or more.

Best regards, Inge

Petra, Monika.... have we all gotten into sewing now? 😊

I just sewed a cover for my vein pillow. It turned out pretty bad. 🙈

Yes, you can only see anything on the mat if you bend it apart. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences. 

Inge, what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be resting your eye? 


P.S. 
Sewing really isn’t good for your back and neck *wail*

Dear Anja, you’re really branching out with your crafts these days. Instead of crochet hooks or knitting needles, you’re now using a rotary cutter on a cutting mat.

My dear colleagues have already put together a great overview of everything. So I’ll just briefly share my personal experiences on the topic.

A rotary cutter is only as good as the blade you’re using. And the cutting mat has to lie completely flat. I’d taped little anti-slip pads underneath my first cutting mat so it would stay in place better on the table. But those little bumps interfered with the rotary cutter, causing it to skip.

So, since I needed a large new mat for sewing anyway, I bought one. Thanks to its size—90 x 60—it lies flat on the table without slipping.

And I bought a set of new blades. And since they’re very sharp, I didn’t want to touch them with my fingers while inserting them—especially since there was machine grease on them. So I managed to insert them somehow. And then I was surprised when the blade popped out while rolling. I carefully threaded the blade back in again and again and repositioned it. But the blade kept popping out.

The mistake was that I’d threaded three blades together instead of just one (which had stuck together because of the machine grease). The blades are so thin that you can’t even see it with the naked eye. After I used some crepe paper to turn one blade into three and inserted one of them, everything worked perfectly. Yes, there are many pitfalls you can fall into.

As for applying pressure, I have to say that how well it cuts varies from material to material. And for me, I’m also able to apply more force and even pressure when I roll or cut from bottom to top. But then I end up half-lying on the table :-)

When I cut from right to left, the cut usually doesn’t turn out as well, and I have to trim a few spots with a pair of fine scissors. So I have to think ahead about how to position the fabric on the mat to get the ideal cutting angle. But you only really need to keep all this in mind if you use a cutting mat and rotary cutter frequently.

Best regards, Ina

Ina, I put anti-vibration mats for washing machines and the like under my mats, so nothing slips around. You can get them at the hardware store. My sewing machines are on them too; it also dampens the noise of the machines, and they don't wander across the table anymore while I'm sewing.

Best, Inge

*I’m picturing Ina lying on the table*
And now I’m picturing the pizza maker cutting up the pizza with the rotary cutter and then lying on top of the pizza with his upper body.... 🫠

Oh, Ina, whenever I read your posts, I ALWAYS think of that rug of yours that I STILL haven’t finished. I even bought a hand-crank knitting mill back then, and there are already quite a few finished cranked cords hanging here.... Once my back has recovered from the sewing torture, I’ll have to dig through my project box and get back to it. 

Funny about the rotary cutters. I’ve also successfully ironed interfacing onto the ironing board before. 😂