The OPQG Education Committee hosted a Beginning Rotary Cutting class at the guild facility on February 4, 2021. Terri Davis helped guild members Pat Jones and Evelyn Irvine master cutting strips, squares and triangles accurately and safely. Terri recommends using a rotary cutter that automatically closes the guard over the blade. Techniques for ergonomically holding the rotary cutter were discussed in detail and rules for safety were emphasized.
A variety of ruler brands were shown, and an explanation of the features of each brand was demonstrated. One important characteristic is having a break in the ruler line to view the edge of the fabric underneath it. Participants practiced making common cuts used in many quilt patterns. The use of the angle lines on rulers was also demonstrated.
Yevonne Shafer and Wanda Coffelt are excited to schedule more Education Classes on a variety of subjects. Check the latest guild newsletter for details.
There’s a good chance you’ve been using a rotary cutter for a long while. However, if you were self-taught, there may be some tips and ideas that will save you time and increase your accuracy. Check out the links below as they provide some great refresher info for an experienced quilter and also detailed instructions for a novice.
Omnigrid is well known for making rotary cutters and a large variety of acrylic rulers for both hobby and professional quilters. They created a tips, techniques and rotary cutting basics PDF you can read or download by clicking HERE.
The Crafty Quilter is a website and blog by Julie Cefalu and she has a great post on using rotary cutters and acrylic rulers you can read by clicking HERE.
There are also many videos on YouTube that offer a variety of tips and techniques to make the most of your cutting time.
Enjoy!