Tips & Tricks - contributions from our regulars

• One of the first things we learn as new quilters is how to cut and line things up. That can be a challenge if you have to cut forty 4" squares.
  Here is the tip for the day: Use painter's tape (masking tape). It's light weight, sticks nicely and comes off the ruler when you need it to. It is blue and you can get it at Wal-mart or any hardware store. 
  You place that handy piece of tape on your ruler at the 4" mark (since I am using that as an example) and then you start cutting away. This makes it easier to cut multiple pieces at a glance instead of looking all over for that 4" and wondering; "Did I get it where it was supposed to be?"
  When you are finished cutting that size and you need another, you can take the tape off and replace it at a different measurement without getting sticky residue on the ruler.
                                                         - Mysi



• Rotary cutting safety is very important and we need to have a few rules with these cutters because they are really, really sharp. There are gloves from Fons and Porter that you can use that are cut resistant. You can buy them at a JoAnn's or online. I choose to be careful when I use my ruler and rotary cutter. Here are a few rules to live by:
  
  • Always cut away from yourself..cutting toward yourself you may slip and end up in an emergency room.
  • Don't cut across yourself... because again.. you may end up in the emergency room.. (Dr bill's will be piling up at this time!!!)
  • Measure twice cut once.. this is an old saying and it makes sense. You really don 't want to waste that pretty fabric on a mistake that could be avoided.
    Hold the ruler with the flat of your palm and you have your pinky on the outside of the ruler to help stabilize the ruler.
  • ALWAYS make sure you have a sharp blade. Dull blades can make for bad cuts and then they may slide on top of your fabric. The measurements will be off and then you will end up mad at your quilt.. (not allowed.. Heehee... we want you to enjoy quilting, remember!?)

                                                       - Mysi