Why a Rotary Cutter? Aren’t Scissors Good Enough?

Here I go answering a question with a question:

Doesn’t a type writer or pen and pencil do what a computer does? And you know the answer to that one.

Scissors are not as clean and fast on long sweeps of fabric. And you have to lift the fabric a little to cut, which can make your pattern slip.

The rotary cutter is sharp, fast, leaves a clean edge, and easier on the hands. And you can cut quickly, and accurately through many layers and/or thick fabrics.

It takes some practice. But you will adapt quickly and wonder how you ever cut anything with scissors.

Cutting small areas, clipping seams and threads require scissors. The rotary cutter doesn’t replace scissors, but it makes your life easier.

You can even buy scalloped blades for making a fancy edge.

The blades last a long time, but it makes sense to buy a package of replacement blades.

You will also need a cutting mat. These mats of self-healing plastic are indispensible to the sewist. They are marked in 1 inch squares, have bias lines, and one side is in metric measurements.

They come in many sizes.

The most versatile size sis 56 inches long by 28 inches wide. And that is the size of the cutting mat in the picture background.

You can easily straighten a fabric edge using the grid, your ruler and your rotary cutter.

You will make fewer cutting mistakes. And you can lay out and see your project and check for scale.

Sewing Insider Hint: if the pioneer women had these tools they would happily have used them.

The blades last a long time, but it makes sense to buy a package of replacement blades.

You will need a couple of different-sized acrylic rulers for measuring your quilt and craft projects.

And when cutting strips, squares and other pieces, you can run the rotary cutter alongside your ruler, for a straight, sharp edge.

You can use your rotary cutter to cut:

I also save one used blade for cutting paper.

Sew Tell Us About your Favorite Sewing Tool

What is your favorite sewing tool? Is it the seam ripper? A favortie thimble? Your rotary cutter?

Or a steaming cup of coffee to keep you stimulated?

Drop us a line and tell us about one or all of the tools you love.

And send pictures too!