Quilts: Fabric Cutting Tools

Continuing with quilting tips, as promised in Throwback Thursday : Wall quilts    
Last week I promised that I'd address designing next, but I know I have photos that would be helpful to share and haven't located them yet.  So we'll sub in a short discussion on cutting tools.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

My favorite cutting tool for quilt fabrics is a rotary cutter.  Good quality, sharp scissors are a must-have in sewing (my faves are the Gingher knife edge 8" dressmaker shears), but not the most efficient tool for cutting quilt pieces.  A rotary cutter looks like and is used similarly to a pizza cutter, and can cut several layers at once.  It is important to use sharp blades, so I keep extra new ones on hand, and save old ones to use on paper projects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

The use of a rotary cutter requires a special mat, which protects both the blade and the work surface.  I don't mess with smallish mats and recommend the 24" x 36," so you don't have to move the fabric as much and can deal with larger pieces when you need to.                                                                                                                                                    

I recommend a good quilt ruler that is about 6" wide and at least 24" long, so it can span over 22", which is the crosswise measurement of 44" or 45" quilt fabric, folded in half.  The transparent, lined ruler enables you to see through so you're sure of cutting at a 90 degree angle to the folded edge.  The 6" width gives you good stability (prevention against slipping) as you cut, and the lines on it will help you in cutting squares.  Also, it's helpful to get the ones that offer some angled lines as well, for cutting diagonals, and if you get more adventurous than I, other angles.                                                                                                                   

I cut across the fabric, creating strips, then cut the squares from there.  More specific cutting instructions and hints will be given in a later post.