So how do I use this thing to save me time, lol?

So far I've just been using it in place of scissors, and it does go faster, but can I stack different fabrics to cut, say, two pair of shorts at the same time?

How do you make sure everything lines up? especially the pieces you have to cut on a fold? Do you just take a bunch of time to fuss with it, knowing that it saves a bit in the end? Or am I missing the point completely (wouldn't be the first time that's happened :rolleyes: )

I'm a cut mulitiples on the fold kinda gal ... depending on the fabric. I figure a little extra ease here and there in the things that I sew are not a big deal.

Granted my recent work with stripes will definitly be redirecting my choices of fabric in the future. I also appreciate non directional prints much more than I did previously.

You don't find just using the rotary cutter as opposed to sissors to be faster? My patterns always seam to shift when I tried to use sissors and snip snip snip vs roll roll roll just seams much slower to me. Maybe I'm cutting impared. I definitly have more time on using my rotary cutter than I do with any sissors aside from thread snippers.

I had no clue how to use my rotary cutter efficiently until I watched a friend in real life ... it was a serious light-bulb moment.

You need your cutting mat and your ruler/guide thingie. I use my guide to keep the fabric from shifting and (obviously) to cut straight lines. Ugh, I don't think I'm making any sense. I guess you just need to try to use the rotary cutter as a tool in it's own right, and not try to just them just like scissors, if that makes any sense. Can anyone else help clarify here?

Oh, and you can definately stack fabrics and cut several items at once. Just keep your blade nice and sharp otherwise you'll be more frustrated than you need to be.

i only use my rotary cutter for quilting and other square things.

i've tried using rotary cutters for clothing but i just don't get it--too frustrating!! any tips?

Well, the rotary cutter definitely saves me time! I think the key for me is using those weight things. You put them on top of the fabric/pattern stack to keep everything from moving around as you cut.

How do you make sure everything lines up? especially the pieces you have to cut on a fold? Do you just take a bunch of time to fuss with it, knowing that it saves a bit in the end? Or am I missing the point completely (wouldn't be the first time that's happened )

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this... If you have your fabric down and then put your pattern peice on top of it, just use the rotary cutter to cut around the pattern peice. I don't have to "fuss" at all, or atleast not any more than I would if using scissors, which IMO are not a good tool for cutting patterns.

"Just keep your blade nice and sharp"

Apparently this isn't necessary! LOL

Originally posted by Scarlet
"Just keep your blade nice and sharp"

Apparently this isn't necessary! LOL

Hey NOW I resemble that remark.

LOL although I have changed my tune. Sharpness is much more important when cutting curves than cutting straight lines utilizing a ruler as a guide.

Yeah, I do find the cutter easier and faster than scissors, I guess I was hoping that I could stack high and zip, zip, zip, the entire summer wardrobe would be cut with one pass around the pattern. . .

Sounds like I may be able to try stacking, though. . . maybe I'll do my 3 year old's shorts this way.

Megan - sorry, I was not being clear. I think I'm worried that as I'm layering the fabric I'll accidently shift the lower layers and mess up the grain or miss the fold entirely, or some other such thing that would make me mad. . .

Thanks for all the input!