Rotary Cutters

[littlemissella]

I am looking at getting one of these as my layers seems to come out all different by cutting with scissors. ARe they worth having, easy to use, and what size should I get? Thanks

[Popcorn]

I have a fiskars one and it works really well, but It's tricky going around the corners & tight curves on the patterns. I don't usually cut through too many layers for that reason, or else they don't line up in the end.

[rangitotogirl]

Absolutely worth it, if you do a lot of sewing. I'd never willingly use scissors for cutting out again. I have a 45 mm blade and find it works well. Don't get a Birch one from Spotlight, they're rubbish when it comes to cutting multiple layers, and cutting pins makes them go blunt really quick.

I have an Olfa one and it is good.

[littlejo]

I have a 45mm olfa too and love it. I inherited from dh's nana but i think it would be a worthwhile investment. i find it much faster than scissors.

[sable]

45mm is a good all rounder. I like both my Olfa and my Clover; not so keen on the Fiskars.

[ob1]

Once you have one you'll use it for everything, I wouldn't dream of using scissors to cut out a top or anything anymore, and cutting long straight lengths is so easy using a perspex block, I have a 80cm long one, which I find really handy. Cheap brand replacement blades seem to work fine in all the cutters too, so it can be worth getting a nice cutter, and then just buying cheap replacement blades. Well, I guess it depends how much sewing you do too.

[anotherhopeful]

I so need one! I cut out so many things! Where do you find the good ones and what is a good price? I'll be cutting alot of drill and cotton but also knits

[ob1]

I just got mine from Spotlight, I think I paid $45 for the cutter and cheap birch blades are probably $5 each, I probably go through about 4 blades a year? The self healing cutting mats that you get from Spotlight are really expensive though, its much better to get them from Warehouse Stationary, they aren't self healing, but they are fine, I do a fair bit of sewing, and mine is a couple of years old and fine. And its worth getting a decent size cutting board, I got an A3, then an A2, and now have an A1 ($40) wish I'd just gotten the A1 to start with of course.
http://www.warehousestationery.co.nz/is ... 56@WSL-B2C

[rangitotogirl]

I found the birch blades didn't work nearly as well as the Olfa blades. Greenbeans are cheaper than Spotlight for the Olfa cutters and blades.

http://www.greenbeans.co.nz/notions-acc ... 0-099.html

They had a co-op on here a while back.

[anotherhopeful]

Ok I need to get some GB supplies so I will get some then. I will need a large cutting board as I'm cutting out fabric up to size 8 childrens. (bigger if i get around to sewing for me!) ... I'm getting excited, I hate cutting!

[Tentacles]

Ok so I have no idea what I am doing wrong but I so don't feel the love for my rotary cutter. I bought it about 3 years ago along with a nice big cutting mat and I have used the rotary cutter maybe half a dozen times. I find I don't have so much control for fiddly shaped bits and find it much quicker and easier to use my sewing scissors. What am I missing here people? Admittedly I'm never trying to cut out several layers of fabric as once I prefer to cut PUL out then fleece out separately but I never felt the love when using it for my other non nappy sewing either. In fact I've thought about selling mine a few times when I see it gathering dust in the drawer.

[Neak1]

Oh good thread I am needing one too.

[Dunners]

What size cutter are you using Tentacles? I have a 28 mm which I use for clothing as it copes well with the curves. I use the 45 mm for quilting/straight shapes.

If you are using a mat from Warehouse Stationery, don't be tempted to iron fabric while on it, it will buckle the mat

I have a blade sharpener (in both sizes) which I use often and find it works well enough for a few more sharpens for me.

I have a deluxe Olfa cutters. I like the handle grip. Just be warned that you can't attach a cutting guide to the ergo deluxe olfa cutters (I discovered this after I bought a guide in a co-op, after using Claire's cutter with a guide attached - perfect for adding a seam allowance to Ottobre patterns as you cut.)

[Tentacles]

Do you measure riht across to work outthe size? If so its probably 45mm I'm guessing. Maybe I should gt a smaller one to try. I found it really difficult for ant short straight sections or tightish curves so just gave up