Quilt Cutting Tools

I f you have a closet where you can keep your quilting supplies here is a suggestion on storage.  Buy a multi-tiered skirt hanger (one that has rubber tips on the clips) and hang your rulers and mats.

For those times when I need to trim down blocks, or just cutting smaller pieces of fabric, I made my own rotating Screwed it to the bottom of a scap piece of paneling or wood cut to the size you want.  Then on the top of the wood I glued a medium size rotary cutting mat.  Now I can just turn the board instead of the fabric, makes trimming down blocks alot easier.

I made a pouch for my rotary cutter out of pre-quilted fabric and then inserted a silica gel packet out of a shoe box.  This absorbs humidity and helps keeps the rotary cutter blade from rusting.

Hi,

I often find myself having to cut precise tiny squares, i.e. 1.5", etc.  If there is slippage, my squares are off!  So...

I went to the home improvement store and bought a pakage of rotary sander sanding paper which is sticky on one side.  I stuck 2 or three very tiny pieces on my cutting mat and even on the back side of some of my rulers.  Now....no slippage and perfect  cuts.

Carol Steavens

If you are having trouble seeing your blue fabric on a blue rotary cutting mat (or green on green, etc.), turn the fabric over with the wrong side up.  The wrong side is usually lighter and will make it easier to see when cutting.

I had two "cutlery" boxes, the wooden kind with a handle, and divided into six sections.  They are ideal for storing rotary cutters, scissors, small rulers, markers etc.  Everything stands up for easy access and visibility.  I keep it to the right of my machine, within easy reach of my cutting mat and machine.  I spray glued some non-slip "rubber" matting to the bottom so that it can't wander if my machine vibrates.  I also use a plastic cutlery tray, with a top sliding tray to store bobbins, small screw drivers, whatever I might need when sewing.  Everything stays organized and visible, again non-slip matting is glued on the bottom.

Even though my worktable is located directly in front of a window, I still find that I need extra lighting.  I tried a number of swivel clamp lights, floor lamps etc.  Always space was an issue, they were always in the way.  Finally, I placed my trilight floor lamp up on my worktable.  It takes up some space, and I must tilt it over to turn it on, but it is still a more workable solution.  A bonus is that I'm not nearly so hot, because the lamps are above, and create no shadows, and not in the way at all.  I also use "daylight" lightbulbs in all my work area lamps, so that any colour distortion is decreased.

I use a 6' fold-up banquet table as a work table.  It was too short for a comfortable work height which caused a constant backache.  My husband made leg extenders by cutting up 2" white PVC pipe to the appropriate length.   We glued end-caps on one end of the pipe and slipped the open end over each leg.  The end cap protects your flooring and the weight of the table stabilizes the extenders.  We cut several different sets, so when I need a higher surface to work on for pinning etc I can just replace the legs.  Works great!

My rotary cutter mat was getting a lot of threads embedded in it, and I wanted to get rid of them.  Instead of spending - for a tool to resurface the mat, or buying a new one, I discovered that tape works wonders!  Simply tear off a piece of clear plastic tape, press it along the lines where the threads are embedded.  Make sure to press all along the width and length so that it adheres. Then rip it off quickly.  It takes all those threads off the mat, and leaves it much cleaner.  Inexpensive tape works just as well as the name brand for this purpose!

A rotary cutter is a popular cutting tool since it can cut fabric quickly and accurately. However, a certain amount of safety should be practiced when using a rotary due to it constantly exposed blade. You will also need a self-healing mat to use your safety cutter on while safely protecting the surface of your furniture. Buy the largest mat that your budge can allow, because the larger the mat, the larger you work surface.