1000scraps

Hello, i have a question: am I right that in the early times of patchworking there were only used patterns made out of paper or cardboard?
At which time came rulers and rotary cutters in use for cutting the fabric? How long are these "tools" in use? Does anyone know something about this? I hope my English is good enough to explain what I mean....
Greetings from Regina

greensleeves

The first time I remember using and seeing a rotary cutter was the end of l980's.

Iceblossom

I started quilting in the late 1970s which was before rotary rulers and cutters. The use of rulers and strip cutting/piecing techniques really took off in the 1980s and became "the" way to do things in the 1990s.

Before that we mostly just had block diagrams and you would figure them out on graph paper for the size you wanted. In general there were no layout directions, yardage required, or how to piece the blocks.

BTW, I was a "child born to American parents abroad", born in Regensburg. Don't remember a bit of it, moved back stateside by the time I was 2.

Onebyone

Industries used the rotary blades to cut custom gaskets so the cutters have been around, just not for home use. I think Olfa was the first brand of the rotary cutter for quiting and Omnigrid was one of the first brands of acrylic rulers. You can search online for the complete history of the two.

Iceblossom

I looked up the omnigrid website, they didn't have much "about us" info, maybe I missed some other section.

I did find this wikipedia entry that says Olfa introduced the rotary cutter for sewing but did not target quilters in 1979. I think it took rulers for that!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_cutter

Quilter's Rule came out in 1983.

I think my first ruler was the Salem Rule, I couldn't find out any info on when it came out on-line but it says copyright 1989. That seems about right, it was after my son was born in 1988. Plus, I was using rulers full time before he was in Kindergarten.

Way before large squares or triangles came out, I bought a non-marked drafters triangle that was about 16" on the right angles.

Jingle

When I started quilting, one drew around a cardboard shape and cut out with scissors. I was so happy when I discovered rulers, rotary cutters and self healing mats. Got my first of those items in early 1990. Not so easy to use, lots of off cuts and cutting the edge of the ruler. Luckily I did get the hang of using them pretty fast.

bakermom

my first rotary cutter was purchased in the very early 80's. Still have it altho the self healing mat finally gave up. I used it for many, many years and when it no longer performed well it got a second life as craft/project board for my kids.

SusieQOH

Regina, first of all your English is fine!
I started quilting in 1986 and I don't recall rotary cutters at that time although maybe they were around. We used plastic templates and scissors. Seems like a million years ago!

Onebyone

I still have one of the first Olfa 45mm rotary cutters. It is much sturdier and heavier then the same brand ones made now. The screw is metal and the washer is heavier metal too. I think I paid about $12 for it. Expensive back then! I bought a mat and long ruler, the only brand there were but forgot which one at Hancock's Fabric store. The manager told me the rotary cutter was not worth investing in as the blades got dull. LOL

nativetexan

i remember buying my first cutting board in 1999. so somewhere near there for certain. or i was very late!