What do you do to make things go quickly/more smoothly? This really is a huge stumbling block for me. Part of it is that I have no real place to trace and cut, so I have to wait for Liam to go to bed and use the floor. A 32-3 week pg woman on the floor crawling around just isnt pretty, lolol. I suppose i could use the dining table, but wouldnt be able to use the rotary cutter there either, unless I buy a much bigger mat.

Also how do you use the rotary and manage not to cut your pattern? do you use a ruler? Is it really faster? What brand mat and cuter do you prefer?Is there a better sized blade? What scissors do you use? Is it ever easier to use scissors than a rotary?

lol i know, so many questions. Been a bit miserable today (have a touch of the flu I think), so I have done nothing but sit and ruminate :)

heather

Originally posted by herc

What do you do to make things go quickly/more smoothly?

TRACEING:
I clear off the dinning room table and claim it as my own until I'm done. That means the kids eat outside or on TV trays if I'm not at a spot where I can clear enough room for them.

I use a soft pencil and :ugh: that roll of stuff from Lowes. I'm brain fried and can't recall the name right now. Anyhow it works great for things I don't plan to use over and over and over and over again. I do like PatternEase for things I'm going to use frequently. PE is a little stiffer and a little more difficult to trace onto but being less flippy makes setting it on fabric easier imho.

For the KS Patterns I've had them copied and then I cut them out on the largest size. That way I'm only handleing one pattern piece at a time.

Cutting:
I go through my stash and figure out what all I want to cut.
I go through my patterns and figure out what I'm going to make.
I clear and clean the dinning room table (seats 8-10) and move away most of the chairs.
I use 2 cutting mats butted together for ample space. The way they are butted depends on the project and the fabric.
I use square pattern weights (thanks Scarlet's DH), rotary cutter, and occassionally a rular.
I cut most if not all of one fabric at a time.
I have piles for different clothing items and when all the parts are there I fold them together and place in a different pile.


Also how do you use the rotary and manage not to cut your pattern?

You sometimes do. But most of the time I'd rather error 1/8 too big than take off too much of the pattern. But then again I tend to use the same patterns over and over again.

do you use a ruler?

Sometimes. Usually, when I've noted on the pattern that I need to add a specific amount of length. Or if I'm adding a flare and need to make sure my side lengths remain consistant.

Is it really faster?

I don't know. I started sewing as a quilter and rotary cutters are the only way to go imho. If I had to use sissors I don't think I'd sew.

It is about the zooom of the wheel that makes it fun.

What brand mat and cuter do you prefer?

I've only ever used Olfa.

Is there a better sized blade?

I have 45's from before there were 60's. But I find I use my 60's almost exclusively. But I'm not makeing alot of infant clothing.

What scissors do you use?

I have a couple of pairs of nice Gingers but I rarely use them. I have lately started to keep them near when cutting. For those odd bits that just need a little snip. But mostly that is because I found them again recently. I get gifted nice sissors and stash them away 'cause I wouldn't want the kids ruining them and I don't use them often.

Is it ever easier to use scissors than a rotary?

Good question.

For me I can't think of anything that I would use scissors for. As small as breast pads I still use my 60 rotary.

Pretty much agree with what Jenn said except I use drafting paper for my tracing. It's super easy to see through doesn't tear easily and can be ironed.

I rarely ever use scissors. I have two huge mats that I put together for cutting on.

i'm such a novice and not worthy to reply in a tips thread so feel free to plonk me :joker:.


for the ks patterns i trace just inside the lines with a permanent marker on a heavy duty clear shower curtain. when i cut the pattern out of the shower curtain it leaves me going through the lines to cut. i like the way this works because it leaves me with a "window" to float around on different fabrics to get a feel for what the end result will look like. it is quite handy for placing prints just right as well. the pattern i end up with is just slightly inside the real pattern. because of this i cut outside the pattern, not on it, using the clear pieces as guides instead of exact patterns.

i don't like the rotary cutter for the following reasons:
a) i tend to end up for pulling the fabric.
b) while the rotary cutter is faster it is also less forgiving.
c) the scissors are slower which allows me to make whatever modifications i want to make as i am cutting.
d) i like the feel of the scissors and the sound they make as they go through the layers.

i do like the rotary cutter for cutting straight lines. i don't use a ruler, i look at the line at the end and aim for it. this gives me the straightest lines but it may not give you your straightest lines. i think a lot depends on how each person processes visual information.

cutting is absolutely my favorite part.

take all of this with a half a grain of salt as i am an absolute novice.

I use 4mil painter's plastic and a sharpie. No pressure needed at all. I weigh it down with pattern weights for both tracing and cutting. I use a 45mm rotary cutter and now use two large mats butted together like Jenn's on the dining table. Tracing I do on breakfast counter portion of our kitchen since it's a more comfortable height.

Last weekend hubby took the kiddo for several hours and I was able to trace about 5 patterns (even with lengthening/shortening). I find it easier to trace at all once and have the patterns available. Ian doesn't mind me cutting with him at my feet while being in the kitchen when he can't get a good view throws him into hysterics.

I hate tracing and cutting. I think from now on if I buy cheapy patterns I'm just going to cut the size I need. Anyhow to answer the questions..
I use patternease. Its my absolute favorite. I hate the grid tracing paper.
Also how do you use the rotary and manage not to cut your pattern?
I use scissors to cut my pattern. Like Danica I think the rotary cuts too fast and I haven't ever used one without a grid ruler.
do you use a ruler?
I use a olfa type grid ruler that is 4"x16" or 18". I use that for when I cut out pant legs or quilt squares. For everything else I use my scissors.
Is it really faster?
I'm a klutz. I'm sure if I used a rotary without a straight edge I would be in the ER fingerless and I don't think thats a time saver.;)
What brand mat and cuter do you prefer?Is there a better sized blade?
Olfa mat. I think. Its green with yellow or white lines. Its not very big as I take it to sewing class and I needed it to be small enough to travel without folding. I want a larger one.:) I use Fiskars 45mm rotary cutter. I like the locking mechanism on that one.
What scissors do you use? Is it ever easier to use scissors than a rotary?
I use micro serrated Ginghers. I love my scissors.:heart: I think they are easier for me to make a more precise cut without bloodshed. I like the micro serrated blades because they grab the fabric just a little and hold it in the blades.:)

I don't know about easier...
But I have realized that my time is worth the $1, so if it's a pattern I like (that isn't out of print), I just cut it to my size and then put it on my list to rebuy in different sizes if I liked it alot. Lazy I know.

For stuff that is out of print or like Ottobre, I trace. I find what I want and then put it on our kitchen table and trace. (using KS tracing fabric but don't care for it much - pattern ease is better). I used to use markers but don' tlike to leave marks on the origional, so just a normal ball point pen or colored pencil.

Then cut it.

I only use sissors for cutting my patterns - I usually do it on the floor in the sewing/computer room :) (bc that's the way my mommy did it). I never cut more than one fabric at a time- I like to make one and then figure out what I want to change.

E.

i don't mind tracing and cutting.

i have a box of crayola washable markers that i use for everything. tracing the pattern on to the tracing cloth, tracing the pattern tracing onto the fabric to be cut, and marking the fabric for pocket placements, darts etc..

when the pattern piece is traced directly onto the fabric it's easy to cut the piece with scissors and not worry about anything shifting etc. and the crayola markers are much cheaper than "washable fabric marking pens" lol

I trace & cut on my drafting table. For tracing I use Patternease & a 0.45mm black Micron Pigma pen. It's just the right width & doesn't go all the way through the Patternease.

I'm a quilter like Jenn, so I had a 45mm rotary cutter. I never could get the hang of cutting around curves with it. (I can't imagine curves with a 60mm!) So I used scissors for years for garment cutting.

I bought a rotary cutting arm from Angie (ginnings) a while ago & then a 28mm Olfa rotary cutter. That is the coolest thing for adding seam allowances to Ottobre!! I've been zooming through fabric a lightening speeds ever since!

The other thing that has made a huge difference for me is pattern weights. I was over at Bethan's house one day & she uses one of her pattern weights to rest her hand on while she slides it around tracing. Very cool. :thumbsup: