That s where a rotary cutter and a cutting mat come in handy.
How to make a rotary cutting mat.
To use a rotary cutter when you don t have a cutting mat you can use thick cardboard or even the bottom of an old shelf in a pinch but this can dull your blades with time.
Mats provide a sturdy surface for cutting fabrics and craft materials while protecting the table they rest on.
There are two different types of rotary cutting mats.
Line up the fold with one of the horizontal lines on the cutting mat or if your mat is unlined use a square rotary ruler.
Ever since my son was born i ve been lucky enough to always have a dedicated sewing area but i ve never had a fully dedicated sewing room.
The mat i like the best is one that has the easiest to read grid lines lines spaced one inch apart and also marked with 1 8 1 4 1 2 and 1 increments.
However when the mat warps from improper storage or from being overheated it loses most of that usefulness.
A cutting mat is a must for an avid craft lover or sewer.
You can use the edge of a table to help you mark a straight edge.
Most rotary cutting mats have grids and lines all over the place that let you have references for some of the most common cuts that are performed in crafting and quilting.
These graduated marks can be in metric units or standard and they make using a rotary cutting mat a lot easier than if you were measuring out every cut with a measuring tape.
Make a diy cutting mat for sewing that can be moved from table to table.
Rotary cutting mats protect your work surface from damage while also providing convenient measurements cutting lines and angles.
General care tips for rotary cutting mats.
High quality self healing cutting mats last longer than other.
It is portable and can be stored under a bed or under a couch.
But in the long run you will need a mat anyway.
When it comes to fabric sometimes scissors just won t cut it.
A cutting mat should be made of self healing plastic which prolongs the life and improves the quality of the mat itself.
Self healing and hard surface.
That s where a rotary cutter and a cutting mat come in handy.
I also prefer a mat that is self healing because it reseals rotary blade cuts.
A hard surface cutting mat needs to be replaced once there are too many cutting marks and nicks on the surface.
Cutting mats are placed under the fabric to avoid damaging your work surface while quilting rulers can help you cut straight as well as provide precise measurements.
For olfa a self healing mat also helps to extend the life of the cutting mat and rotary cutter blade.
The square ruler s left edge should be near but inside the left edge of the fabric roughly where you will make your square cut.
Place the fabric on the cutting mat fold near the bottom edge side to be squared on the left.
