No kidding, I am through with rotary cutters. A few reasons you ask? Gladly.
1) I always make more mistakes than the time it saves me and end up wasting fabric cuts.
2) I have issues making it go straight.
3) My blade is always dulling wicked fast so I have to go back and cut the missed spots with scissors anyway.
4) My cutting area happens to be my dining room table which (no coincidence) is also where my toddler eats yogurt and applesauce, with a spoon, by himself. Equals epic mess (but also mommy pride).
So I did all my cutting for the Parisville mist colorway quilt the old fashioned way- and I loved it! Never turning back. I used the Echino Squared quilt from Fresh Lemons as inspiration (thanks Toni!) though mine is of course not going to look much like this! Once again I muddled it all out myself in all of 20 minutes and then started cutting. I am impetuous like that.
Impetuous is always more fun than sticking to the rules! I have issues making both scissors and rotary cutters go straight. Not sure why. Can't wait to see your version of that quilt!
ReplyDeleteYou do what works for you - love Parisville!
ReplyDeleteI stick to scissors too. I mark out my shapes on the back of the fabric and when I'm sure I've gotten them right, I pick up the scissors. The times I've used a rotary cutter, it very rarely follows the path of the ruler. Never figured out why... Maybe it's possessed :)
ReplyDeleteOh thats impetuous alright! I do love my rotary cutter, but I'm with you on the blade issue. We can put a man on the moon, but they can't invent a blade that stays sharp? ;)
ReplyDeleteTry a rotary blade sharpener. They're easy to use and work great.
ReplyDeleteOne of the problems I had was actually the fault of the ruler. The ruler was moving as I cut. Putting the small flat rubber pieces on the under-side of the ruler solved that problem. Make sure these pieces are quite flat, not those that are about 1/4" thick--some are really flat. They sell them at the hardware store to prevent things from scratching wood tables and such. Dritz sells Quilter's Slip 'N Grips that is sticky on one side and sand paper gritty on the other for this purpose. Those work well, too.
I love rotary cutters! Don't give up on them yet. I use a inexpensive cutting table that collapses down to ten inches wide by 32 inches long.