Measure, Measure, and Then Cut!

How To Use a Rotary Cutter

In this step, you will learn how to use a rotary cutter and how to strip cut quilt fabrics. If this is your first time using a rotary cutter, there are some important safety precautions we need to go over:

1) Always cut by pushing the rotary cutter away from you. NEVER pull the cutter toward you. Serious injury can result.

2) When you are not actively cutting, retract the blade to prevent accidents.

3) Always cut fabric on the cutting mat, not directly on a tabletop or other surface. This can damage the cutter and the surface you are cutting on.

4) Change your rotary blade as soon as it starts to dull. You will cut easier and get cleaner cuts.

5) Do not cut more than 6 layers of fabric at once.

Supplies

You will need a large rotary cutting mat, a 45mm rotary cutter, a 6" x 24" plexiglass ruler, and the cutting chart we developed in Making a Quilt Pattern for the Tumbling Squares Baby Quilt:

Fabric A = (2) 1.5" strips = (36) 1.5" x 1.5"
Fabric B = (2) 1.5" strips = (36) 1.5" x 2.5"
Fabric C = (4) 3.5" strips = (36) 2.5" x 3.5"
Fabric D = (4) 3.5" strips = (36) 3.5" x 3.5"
Fabric E = (4) 3.5" strips = (36) 3.5" x 6.5"
Binding Fabric = (4) 3" strips
Backing Fabric= 1.5 yards

How To Strip Cut the Block Fabrics

	Step 1: Start by taking your Fabric A and laying it flat on the cutting mat. Place the fold down the length of the fabric toward you. This will give you a nice straight edge to line you ruler up against. Don't worry about lining the fabric up with the gridlines on the cutting mat. Just make sure the fabric width is completely on the cutting mat.
	Step 2: We need to square up the fabric, so line up the 6" x 24" ruler until the grid on the ruler is straight with the fold on the fabric. The cut end of the fabric is to the right of the ruler. All of your excess fabric should be to the left of the ruler.
	Step 3: Hold the ruler in place firmly, pressing with your left hand so it doesn't move when cutting. Take the rotary cutter in your right hand and run it along the edge of the ruler, cutting both layers of the fabric as you go. Remove the trimmings.
	Step 4: Flip the fabric over so the edge you just squared up is to the left and the extra fabric is to the right. Line up the grid lines on the ruler until you have the 1.5" mark lined up with the cut end of the fabric. The gridlines should be straight along the fold of the fabric, giving you a nice square.
	Step 5: Press firmly on the ruler, and cut a 1.5" strip from Fabric A. On the cutting chart, it says to cut (2) 1.5" strips of Fabric A. Repeat this step until you have two strips that are 1.5" wide.
	Step 6: Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for Fabric B. Per the cutting chart, you should now have two 1.5" Fabric A strips and two 1.5" Fabric B strips.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 4 and 5, cutting (4) 3.5" strips from Fabric C.

Step 8: Repeat Steps 4 and 5, cutting (4) 3.5" strips from Fabric D.

Step 9: Repeat Steps 4 and 5, cutting (4) 3.5" strips from Fabric E.

Step 10: Now you need to cut the individual squares from each fabric. Lay your first stip of Fabric A on the cutting mat with the selvedges to your left and the fold to your right. Take your second Fabric A strip and lay it on top of the first strip, being careful to exactly line up the edges. When you are done, you should not be able to tell there are two strips - it should look like only one.

Step 11: Trim off the selvedges (approx .025" - 0.5") similar to how you squared up the fabric in Steps 2 and 3. Do NOT turn or flip the strips. Leave them in this position for cutting.

Step 12: Line up the ruler with the 1.5" gridline along the edge you just cut. The bottom gridlines should match the bottom edge of the strip, giving you a nice square. Unsing the rotary cutter, cut through all four layers of Fabric A. You should now have four 1.5" squares. Repeat this step until you have (36) 1.5" squares.

Step 13: Repeat Steps 10-12 for Fabric B except cut along the 2.5" gridline giving you a 1.5" x 2.5" rectangle. Since you have four strips of fabric, you should cut them in two sets of two strips. Do not cut all four strips at the same time.

Step 14: Repeat Steps 10-12 for Fabric C except cut along the 3.5" gridline giving you a 2.5" x 3.5" rectangle.

Step 15: Repeat Steps 10-12 for Fabric D except cut along the 3.5" gridline giving you a 3.5" square.

Step 16: Repeat Steps 10-12 for Fabric E except you will need to turn the ruler to cut along the 6.5" gridline, giving you a 6.5" x 3.5" rectangle.

How To Strip Cut the Binding Fabric

Following Steps 1-5 in How to Strip Cut the Block Fabrics, cut (4) 3" strips from your binding fabric.