NeedleCraft Plus/needlecraftplusvolume1.iso/quilt/rotary1/rotary~1.txt

Text File | 1997-03-20 | 8KB | 116 lines

                           --===Rotary Cutting===--
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                         -===Basic Rotary Cutting===-

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-=Equipment=-
 Rotary cutting offers the quilter the ability to cut a large number of fabric
pieces quickly and accurately. The basic equipment needed for rotary cutting
is a rotary cutter, a special mat designed for use with rotary cutters, and a
heavy plastic ruler. Rotary cutters come in two sizes. The large size rotary
is recommended for all rotary cutting. The smaller size is optional and can be
used for cutting and trimming. The mats for rotary cutting in in many sizes.
The quilter should try to purchase the largest size mat that he/she can
afford. The recommended size for most quilting work is 18" x 24". Cutting mats
are marked in a 1" grid on one side and are blank on the other. Check the grid
with a ruler to be sure that the markings are true before relying on the grid
for cutting. There are many rulers and templates available to the quilter for
use with rotary cutters. The most useful ruler for quilting is one that is 6"
by 24". Rulers used for rotay cutting should be marked in with a 1" grid with
markings representing 1/8", 1/4", and 1/2" of an inch. Besides the basic
plastic ruler, there are other measuring tools for rotary cutting such as
squares, diamonds, and wedges in various degree measurements.
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-=Safe Rotary Cutting=-
 Rotary cutters are extremely sharp and caution should be used when rotary
cutting. Always close the blade or make sure that the blade guard is engaged
EVERY time the rotary cutter is put down. Use the rotary cutter only with a
specially designed rotary cutter mat. Using any other surface can damage the
cutter blade, the surface, and can cause the cutter to slip while cutting.
Devote full attention to the ruler and rotary cutter while cutting. Many a
quilter has received a serious cut because of a distraction. Keep the rotary
cutter clean. Lint and fluff can build up under the blade preventing it from
rotating smoothly. Following the directions for cleaning that came with the
rotary cutter. Change the blade in the rotary cutter as soon as it becomes
dull. Finally, take EXTRA precautions when using a rotary cutter around
children.
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-=Preparing the Fabric for Rotary Cutting=-
 All fabric should be pressed before cutting. Carefully fold the fabric in
half so the selvedge edges are aligned. Smooth the fabric making sure that the
fold runs along the lengthwise grain of the fabric. Fold the fabric in half
again brining the folded edge into alignment with the selvedge edge. The
crosswise fabric edge must now be evened. To do this, place the folded fabric
on the cutting mat and place the straight edge of the plastic ruler
perpendicular to the folded fabric edge and align the plastic ruler about 1"
away from the right hand crosswise fabric edge. There are several ways to be
sure that the plastic ruler is perpendicular to the folded fabric edge. The
quilter can use a T-square, placing the T portion of the square along the
folded edge of the fabric and aligning the ruler with the T-square. Or the
quilter who owns a plastic rotary cutting square can line one edge of the
square up with the folded edge of the fabric and place the plastic ruler even
with the square crosswise on the fabric and then remove the plastic square. If
the quilter does not have either the T-sqaure or a plastic cutting square, the
ruler can be placed in such a way that the folded edge of the fabric aligns
with one of the crosswise lines of the ruler. Once the ruler has been placed,
the quilter should carefully place his/her left hand on the ruler to hold it
in place being careful not to shift the postion of the ruler. Holding the
rotary cutter in the right hand, place the rotary cutter so it touches the
right side of the ruler and, applying a slight amount of pressure, push the
rotary cutter along the edge of the ruler away from the quilter's body. (Left
handed quilters should reverse the right and the left.) The croswise edge of
the fabric should now be cut even with the crosswise grain of the fabric. Now,
move the fabric so that the just cut edge is on the left hand side. The fabric
is now ready to be cut into the desired shapes.
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-=Rotary Cutting Basic Shapes=-
 _Strips_ - Take the finished width of the strip and add 1/2" for seam
allowances. For example, 2" finished width + 1/2" for seam allowance = 2 1/2"
width to cut. Place the plastic ruler on the fabric so that the cut edge of
the fabric aligns with the markings on the ruler for the desired strip width.
Following the cutting directions described above, cut the strip. After several
strips have been cut, it may be necessary to even the crosswise edge of the
fabric again. This is a normal accurance cause by slight shifting that will
occur when cutting the fabric.

_Squares_ - Take the finished size of the square and add 1/2" for seam
allowances. For example, 4" finished size + 1/2" for seam allowance = 4 1/2"
width to cut. Cut a strip, following the above directions, the desired width.
Place the strip on the cutting mat so that the longest edge of the strip is
parallel to the lower edge of the mat. Trim the fabric selvedge off from the
end of the strip making sure that this cut is perpendicular to long side of
the strip. Now, place the ruler so that the marking for the desired square
size alignes with the just trimmed edge. Cut along the edge of the ruler to
produce the desired size square.

_Right Triangles_ - Take the finished length of the straight side of the right
triangle and add 7/8". This is the size of the square which, when cut in half
diagonally, will produce two right triangles including seam allowances. For
example, 3" finished straight edge + 7/8" = 3 7/8" size square to cut.
Following the directions above, cut a square in the desired size. Next, take
the ruler and carfully place it so that the straight edge runs from one corner
of the square to the opposite corner of the square. Cut the square on the
diagonal. This will result in two right triangles.

_Quarter Triangles_ - Take the finished edge of the straight side of the
quarter triangle and add 1 1/4". This is the size of the square, which when
cut in half twice on the diagonal, will produce four quarter triangles
including seam allowances. Following the directions above, cut a square this
size. Next, take the ruler and carfully place it so that the straight edge
runs from one corner of the square to the opposite corner of the square. Cut
the square on the diagonal. This will result in two right triangles. Now,
place the ruler so that the straight edge runs from center of the diagonally
cut line to the remaining corner of the square. Cut on the edge of the ruler
to produce four quarter triangles.

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-=Further References on Rotary Cutting=-
 Take a lesson in rotary cutting from Judy Martin &learn about Short Strips
There are many good *books* on rotary cutting currently available. It is
possible to rotary cut a great many more shapes than just the basic shapes
described on this page.
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Main Quilting Page * How-To's
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