how to cut long strips straight?
#21
Another tip about cutting. If you are cutting two inch strips, re cut every two cuts to straighten the edge, three inch strips, re cut to get a straight edge after every third cut, four inch strips - re straighten every fourth cut and so on. I paid good money to learn this at a very expensive quilt retreat. LOL.
Thanks for the tip!
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 659
Bigger mat and june tailor shape cut with the slots You can get the small 12"one at joanns. walmart use to carry JT but they stopped. The bigger 18" one you have to order from joanns. You can still get bigger mats from walmart. The small mats are good for small cutting
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DC area
Posts: 417
One tip not mentioned yet, but is VERY important is this. When using the rotary cutter and the ruler, even non slip, spider your fingers over the ruler with one finger ON THE BOARD to keep it from slipping. Move this hand up the ruler very carefully,stop the cutter, slowly changing your hand position on the ruler at least 4 times as your cutter reaches your hand position.... even up to the last cut as that is often where the ruler can slip if not held in place. Make this a habit and you will be fine.
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Barnesville GA
Posts: 3,181
This has been one thing I rarely get right in all the years I have been doing it. No matter how many times I fold and refold and smooth and recut I rarely get it to go straight without a v in the middle. For wide piece, borders for example, I always tear but when I need to cut the 2 or 2.5 strips I spend most of my time refolding and recutting and putting crooked strips in the scrap box. I have 2 18x24 mats, one omnigrid, one olfa and had one of the bigger gray mats(which killed my blades quicker btw) . I guess all of us has one thing that is just a bear to us.
#30
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