Quilt Cutting Tools

I always had a hard time finding my scissors when using my long arm machine.  The answer was simple.  I bought one of those plastic hooks that have the pull tab on them so they are easily removeable and stuck it on the sewing head of my machine.  Then I purchased very cheap children's scissors (the kind with the round tips on them) and hung a pair on the hook.  Now, scissors are in a visible spot all the time.

Recycle your old eyeglass cases or buy them new.  Depending on the style of the case, you can fit up to the 65 mm rotary cutters made by Fiskars.  The 45 mm cutters fit easily in all eyeglass cases I've come across so far.

I like to purchase the small plastic fishing tackle boxes to make a tote to carry all my supplies to class.  You can move the dividers to place marking pens, small scissors, needles and all your small items you will need.  The real small ones are great for bobbins.

To keep my large rotary cutting mats flat and dustfree when not using them, I slide them between the mattress and box spring of the beds in my home.  They stay out of sight and clean and can be easily pulled out for use.

If you have a shop that laminates large items ask them if their scraps are recycled, if they are not ask if you may have them.  Most places will be happy to give them to you or allow you to glean them from their trash.

I use the pieces to copy photos for portrait quilts.  The plastic can be used for cutting templates as well.  My favorite use is to make what I call viewfinders.  Being new to quilting I sometimes pick a totally unsuitable fabric pattern for what I'm doing.  To avoid this, I cut two squares of cardboard from a cereal box and lay them faces together. In the center of them I cut away the shape of the part of the block for which I am trying to buy. In between the cardboard layers I glue a piece of laminate with craft glue.  After punching a hole in the corner, I very loosely string all the patterns pieces of that block on 1/4" ribbon.  Then when in the fabric shop I can put the viewfinder on the fabric I like and can instantly tell whether or not it is the right proportion.  It is also useful for discovering how different areas of a print would look if you wanted to fussy-cut the fabric's pattern. These insightful little windows are also lots of fun for children.

I hope this will be the start of many ideas for not only laminate but for recycling.

I love the little seam rippers that come with new machines, but got tired of them rolling off the table. I got pencil grips that are triangularly shaped and slid them on the little round seam rippers. (Moisten the ripper and the grip will be easier to slide on.) Now I can place them and they stay put. As an added advantage, the gripper gives me something to grab when I need to use it. Check the office supple stores for pencil grips.

When cleaning my area, of scraps on desk or floor, I use a dollar store  lint rolls that way no pulling out vaccum for string or scraps.

 bea

A drafting table makes an ideal quilter's cutting table.  The table can be adjusted for height, so that one does not have to lean or bend, which can be very hard on the lower back.  The drafting table is rectangular, thus is the perfect shape for holding a cutting mat. In fact, most drafting table sizes are larger than the 24 x 35 inch cutting mat, so there is room to set rulers, rotary cutters, fabric etc on the table beside the mat. The drafting table can be adjusted so that it is perfectly flat when used for cutting, and the table top can be angled when not in use - to save space.  Some tables are built more sturdily than others - so, before making the purchase, have a look at some assembled floor models at a local art supply store.

After cutting my fabric strips for my patchwork/quilting projects, I roll them onto cardboard tubes which I have saved from my kitchen papers.  This keeps the fabrics uncreased (no need for ironing), and ready for further cutting.   

If you are like me and are short of space, this is a little timesaving gem... So, reuse those cardboard tubes and recycle your sanity!

Jaycee  

Since I attend many quilting retreats, I will chose a quilt pattern, the fabric, backing and batting.  I will cut all the peices for the quilt that I wish to make, and then put the pieces, extra fabric, backing, batting, thread, and the quilt pattern in a large plastic bag and mark it.  Then all I have to do is select the quilts I wish to work on at the retreat, and I am ready to go.  As a rule you do not have a lot of room for cutting and organizing at a retreat.

Also, I keep one of my sewing totes loaded with everything I will need for the retreat, and that is also ready to go.  All I have to do is load up my machine, my quilt bags, and my tote...I am ready to go.

This saves a lot of time, as you are ready to start sewing when you get to the retreat.