smitty

here's a thought on the rotary blade--I have been cutting for years. changed a blade, got fuzzies, not cutting well--I
had put two blades on cutter !! a first for all of us at Sew Day !

EllaBud

Absolutely the BEST fusible web out there is Misty Fuse and you can get it online at www.Mistyfuse.com. It's fabulous to work with and is almost like working with air, it's so light. I can't recommend it highly enough. All quilters will love it.

zz-pd

I just did fusable inter facing turn applique. this left the fabric soft. Penny

EllaBud

Also www.overstock.com has it too.

lalaland

I just bought the coolest thing for putting on your ruler so you can hold it in place while you cut and keep your fingers off the edge of your ruler. I teach sewing and teach my kids how to use rotary cutters but I'm always freaked out when they use them, afraid someone might cut their finger. These come in 3 sizes, the largest one I felt was just too big, the medium one seemed just right, and I bought a small one too just because.

I got mine from Pine Needle, their website is www.pineneedlequiltshop.com. They are in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

newbie1001

I'm using a 24 x 6 ruler for cutting the strips and also for the blocks, but so far I haven't been doing any smaller than 9". I have watched some more videos for how to handle the cutter, but don't really see them do anything different from what I do. I really think I have a bad ruler. I'll stop at Joann's later and get an Olfa or Fiskars. The Misty Fuse might also be something worth trying.

Thank you all! This is a great place to learn!

Fabriholic

If you're going to Joann's you will want to go armed with coupons. You can get them for this week here: http://www.joann-mail.com/J1048JKW/c...85807264640403

PS - this is from the previous post

danmar

Use those little sandpaper circles that they sell to keep your ruler from sliding. I just bought more. There are other brands too.

GrammaO

Two things you might try- for your appliques, try fusible web. It is sticky on one side but not the other. Trace your design on the smooth side, put the bumpy side next to the right side of your fabric. stitch on your lines. Cut a small slit in the web and turn the applique, right side up, now the bumpy side should be outside on the back. At this point you can press to your background fabric, or to reduce bulk, trim out the inside webbing. Press and stitch by hand or machine. Hope that makes sense. As for the ruler, glue a small square of fine grit sand paper to each corner. It will help 'grab' the fabric and not slip. Hope this helps.