How to Use a Rotary Cutter and Mat

Materials Needed:

1. Rotary Cutter
2. Fabric
3. Ruler
4. Mat/cutting surface

A rotary cutter is a tool used to cut straight lines of fabric with a circular blade attached to a single handle. A rotary cutter looks similar to a pizza cutter, but it has a sharper blade so that it can cut through thick fabrics.

This tool comes in many different shapes, sizes, and styles. Some may be curved, have a different blade exposing mechanism or a larger blade diameter. Choose whatever model works best for you, and you'll still get a clean cut!

Unlike scissors, rotary cutters allow you to cut fabric in a perfectly straight line every time. This cutting technique keeps seams from becoming ragged.

Using a rotary cutter also takes less physical effort than cutting with scissors because you don't have to move your fingers around to manipulate the rotary cutter or hold your fabric up as you cut.

A cutting mat is a surface on which you cut fabric with a rotary cutter. It is used to both protect a surface from the blade of the rotary cutter and keep the blade of the rotary cutter from becoming dull.

Most often, cutting mats will have a measured grid printed on their surface to help make straight, measured cuts on fabric. Cutting mats can either be hard-surface, which are less flexible and do not retain any marks from the rotary cutter's blade, or self-healing.

Self-healing mats are generally thinner and more flexible than hard-surface cutting mats, and they are often coated with a thin layer of vinyl. When you use self-healing mats, they receive tiny marks from the rotary cutter's blade, which they then reclose.

A cutting mat protects your work surface so that it does not receive any marks from the rotary cutter's blade. It also prolongs the life of the blade by keeping it from becoming dull.

Many cutting mats also have grid lines or rulers, which helps you to measure as you cut. Once you get used to using sewing tools you'll be better able to decide if you prefer the mat's measuring guides, separate rulers, or both.

Once you've watched the How to Rotary Cut Fabric video tutorial from Carolina Moore, you'll have a better understanding of this sewing and quilting tool. Don't forget to keep scrolling for the written instructions and more!
 

Note: Always exercise caution when working with a rotary cutter. The blade is sharp and can cause harm if used incorrectly.

1. Make sure the blade of your rotary cutter is sharp. Replace if dull.
    
2. Lay your fabric down on the cutting mat, and smooth out any wrinkles. Line up the edge or fold your fabric so that it is in line with the grid on the mat. Every part of the fabric that you want to cut should be on the mat. There should be at least one inch of the mat exposed beneath your fabric's edge.
   Tip: Iron your fabric before cutting it so that it lays extra flat on the cutting mat.

3. Position the ruler over your fabric so that the ruler's edge lines up with where you want to make the cut. Make sure you hold the ruler firmly in place. For a straight, measured edge, line the ruler up with the grid markings on your mat.

4. Expose blade on your rotary cutter with your other hand, and position it against the ruler's edge, just below the bottom hem of the fabric. To cut through the fabric, maintain consistent, downwards pressure on the rotary cutter and push it forwards across the fabric, moving away from your body. Roll the fabric cutter until you pass the opposite end of the fabric.

5. Close your blade and remove excess fabric. If you find that any part of the fabric was not thoroughly cut, make another pass with your rotary cutter.

6. To make another cut, turn the mat and/or fabric, and repeat Steps 2–5.

1. Base your second cut off your first clean cut. For this tutorial, we will be cutting a 2.5-inch strip. Find the 2.5-inch mark on your ruler and line that up with your fabric. 
   Tip: It doesn't matter if the fabric is or is not lined up on the mat because you are using the ruler as measurement, but make sure your fold is still lined up. If it isn't, re-square the edge of your fabric before cutting.

2. Expose your blade and make one clean cut all the way to end again. Repeat to cut as many strips as you need.

3. To make squares you repeat the process making sure your ruler lines up with the cut you already made as well as the other side. Repeat the process until you have as many squares as you need.