LHQ - Rotary Cutting - Basics

LEFT-HANDED QUILTING - Rotary Cutting - Basics

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Note - these instructions are written in LEFTISH.  If you are right-handed - just reverse the directions.
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BASICS

THIS IS HOW I DO IT - TIHIDI

General Info

• Press the fabric before you cut it
• You want the cuts to be straight and accurate
• Always use a rotary cutting mat
• Always use acrylic rulers - roll the rotary cutter blade against the edge of the ruler
• Always press down firmly on the rotary cutter
• Always cut AWAY from your body
• Caution - Blades are sharp!! - Safety First!!

Placement of the Rotary Cutting Mat

• Place the rotary cutting mat so that the #1/1 square is in the bottom right hand corner - you want the numbers to run along the bottom from right to left and from bottom to top (unless you are comfortable counting backwards).

First Cut - Straighten the Edge 

Method # 1 - Right (Wrong) Hand Cut

• Fold the fabric in half lengthwise
• Line up the fabric with the fold on a grid line on the cutting mat with the raw edge to the right
• Place the ruler on the fabric with the right edge close to the raw edge of the fabric
• Line up the ruler with a vertical grid line and the top of the ruler hooked to the top of the mat - 90 degree angle to the fold
• Hold the ruler with your left hand
• Using your right hand - cut along the right-hand side of the ruler trimming and straightening the raw edge
• ADVANTAGE - trimmed edge is on the right

Method # 2 - Left-Hand Cut

• Same set-up as Method #1 - but instead of using your right hand - go around to the other side of the cutting table and use your left hand to cut along the left-hand side of the ruler trimming and straightening the raw edge 
• ADVANTAGE - trimmed edge is on the right

Method # 3 - Left-Hand Cut
(the method used in the Overview - and my favorite method)

• Fold the fabric in half lengthwise
• Line up the fabric with the fold on a grid line on the cutting mat with the raw edge to the right
• Place the ruler on the cutting mat with the left edge just over the raw edge of the fabric
• Line up the ruler with a vertical grid line and the top of the ruler hooked to the top of the mat - 90 degree angle to the fold
• Hold the ruler with your right hand
• Using your left hand - cut along the left-hand side of the ruler trimming and straightening the raw edge
• ADVANTAGE - trimmed edge is on the right

Method #4 - Left-Hand Cut

• Fold the fabric in half lengthwise
• Line up the fabric with the fold on a grid line on the cutting mat with the raw edge to the left
• Place the ruler on the fabric with the left edge close to raw edge of the fabric
• Line up the ruler with a vertical grid line and the top of the ruler hooked to the top of the mat - 90 degree angle to the fold
• Hold the ruler with your right hand
• Using your left hand - cut along the left-hand side of the ruler trimming and straightening the raw edge
• DISADVANTAGE - trimmed edge is on the left - and the trimmed fabric must be turned so the trimmed edge is on the right when you go to make the second cut

Second Cut - Cutting Strips

• Fold the fabric in half lengthwise with the trimmed edge on the right
• Line up the fabric with the fold on a grid line on the cutting mat with the raw edge to the right 
• Decide how wide you want the strip to be (3" in the photo below)
• If the strip width is less than the width of the ruler - place the ruler on the fabric with the right edge of the fabric at the width line - the fabric showing under the ruler will be the finished cut strip (3" in the photo below)
•  If the strip width is greater than the width of the ruler - use the grid lines on the cutting mat to align the ruler
• Line up the ruler with a vertical grid line and the top of the ruler hooked to the top of the mat - 90 degree angle to the fold
• Hold the ruler with your right hand
• Using your left hand - cut along the left-hand side of the ruler
• Turn the strip and cut off the selvage

Sub-Cuts - Cutting Patches - Squares & Rectangles

• Press the strips if necessary
• Line up the strip with both a horizontal and vertical grid line on the cutting mat
• Decide how wide you want the patch to be (3" in the photo below)
• Place the ruler on the fabric with the right edge of the fabric at the width line - the fabric showing under the ruler will be the finished cut square or rectangle (3" in the photo below)

• You may also use the cutting mat grid to measure the patch -

NOTE - That's why you want the numbers on the cutting mat to run from right to left.
Example - If the raw edge starts at the 2" grid line on the mat - you can/may cut 4" rectangles on the 6" - 10" - 14" grid lines - just count 2 + 4 (6) + 4 (10) + 4 (14) - etc.  You are NOT counting backwards - just from right to left.

• Line up the ruler with a vertical grid line and the top of the ruler hooked to the top of the mat - 90 degree angle to the fold
• Hold the ruler with your right hand
• Using your left hand - cut along the left-hand side of the ruler

There you have it -

I'm not saying that it is the best way - or the easiest way - it's just The Way I Do It - TWIDI - another new word - sounds like Tweety!

I use all four methods at various times.  Sometimes I use the grid on the mat.  Sometimes I don't use the grid lines on the mat at all.  Sometimes I just use the grid on the ruler.  It depends.

Bottom line - I just do what works for me.  So I'm making that -

Rule #2 - Do What Works For You!



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -