Rotary cutter? No problem! Or is it? In this post, you'll learn everything you need to know to make clean, beautiful cuts without skipping or frustration.
The most important things at a glance
- I can no longer imagine my sewing life without a rotary cutter (I have more than one :D)
- Rotary cutters are the perfect tool for cutting fabrics beautifully and precisely
- There are big differences between rotary cutters (I've finally found the best one for me)
- There are a few pitfalls you should know about when working with a rotary cutter
Cutting really well: Everything about rotary cutters
What would I do without my rotary cutter? When I recently spoke with Thea Schmalfeldt from the Hamburg Quilt Guild about our shared favorite hobby, she laughed as she told me about her first encounter with the world of sewing accessories and rotary cutters.
Back then, in the late seventies, she was at the Quilt Festival in Paducah, Kentucky, with a friend. Her friend at the time liked to buy sewing accessories in the USA. The selection there was much larger than in Germany at the same time.
When her friend discovered a rotary cutter and immediately reached for her wallet, Thea laughed at her. Her reasoning: You'll never need such a thing again!
Today, Thea can only shake her head at that. Having sewn hundreds of quilts and patchwork projects over the past 40 years, she cuts practically everything with a rotary cutter. It's completely indispensable in her sewing life.
I'm similar to Thea. Of course, I like my scissors. And I use them regularly too. But when it comes to speed and precision, the rotary cutter comes into play.
To be honest, I have to admit: I have more than one. But I'll tell you more about that further down in the blog post.
A little tip on the side: Every rotary cutter, every blade cuts differently. When I found a cutter that cuts particularly easily and precisely, I marked it with a piece of masking tape. And I use it exclusively for fine, very fine, and delicate fabrics.
What is a rotary cutter and how does it work?
A handle equipped at one end with a round, sharp blade: that's what a rotary cutter looks like!
A rotary cutter is a practical cutting tool that plays a major role, especially in the fashion and patchwork fields. But bag enthusiasts also love the precise cuts that are possible with a rotary cutter and ruler.
It consists of a round blade that is attached to a plastic handle using a screw and nut and is rotated over the fabric.
By the way, you can see a circle cutter in the top right of the post image. More precisely, this is also a rotary cutter that was specially developed to cut precise circles. It is hooked into the fabric with a small point, and then the blade is guided over the fabric with light pressure.
Cutting fabric with a rotary cutter
The sharp round blade is rolled over the fabric away from the body with light, even pressure. You can tell that a rotary cutter works perfectly by clean, straight cuts. The cutting motion therefore goes forward.
When cutting with a rotary cutter and ruler, you hold the ruler firmly in position with one hand and guide the rotary cutter along the edge of the ruler with the other. Position your center of gravity over the work surface so that you can control both the rotary cutter and the ruler with your body weight without much effort.
Important: Before using the rotary cutter, the fabric should be laid out nicely on a cutting mat. You can also lay several layers of fabric on top of each other and cut them at the same time. However, the accuracy sometimes suffers from the 3rd or 4th layer of fabric onwards.
In addition, the fabric should be completely cut through. If threads are left behind, you should change the blade right away. You'll find even more practical tips further down in the post.
By the way, I use rotary cutters for all my fabrics: Jersey, Tyvek, faux leather or cotton fabric. The rotary cutter can handle them all! :)
Which rotary cutter is the best?
Over the years, I have tested many rotary cutters. A few have become absolute favorites. Others I disposed of after short use.
Rotary cutter test & experience
I've been testing rotary cutters for years. My favorite rotary cutter by far is now the 28mm by Prym with EASY function.*
In principle, I think all Olfa/Prym cutters are great. However, the EASY function makes changing the blades so easy that I recommend this rotary cutter to everyone who asks me. You can read more about it under the point "Pitfall No. 7: Rotary cutter assembled incorrectly". Because then it won't happen to you again! ;)
Which rotary cutter you like is very individual. What's important is that it fits well in the hand. And you simply enjoy working with it. The handle should feel comfortable in the hand. And the blade should be sharp. And stay sharp as long as possible.
What is an ergonomic rotary cutter?
By the way, there are now also shorter, ergonomic rotary cutters for people with sensitive wrists. Here's what they look like:
The outside of this rotary cutter version is covered with a soft silicone layer all around, which ensures a secure grip.
The blade of the rotary cutter can be secured with the light green mechanism.
In principle, I think the idea of developing an ergonomic rotary cutter is really good. However, This model* by Prym takes some getting used to for me.
Firstly, because I find the handle very bulky: You simply have "a lot in your hand" at first when guiding the rotary cutter. And secondly, you can't see where the blade is cutting. This leads me to always cut too far or not far enough.
It's probably just a matter of practice to get used to this cutter. So I'll keep practicing. :)
Which rotary cutter for sewing?
I've had good experiences with Fiskars rotary cutters in this regard. The blades are really worth recommending and are great for all cutting tasks. They are available in the classic form, but the Softgrip version with titanium blade* is also highly recommended in patchwork circles.
I like working with the Version with narrow handle* in combination with Titanium blade by Driffy*.
Personally, I don't think Clover rotary cutters are that great (despite many recommendations), nor do I like Clover replacement blades. Maybe I just got a Monday cutter and two packages with damaged blades, I have no idea. In any case, I prefer to stay away from Clover from now on. ;)
Which mat or cutting mat is suitable?
Sometimes rotary cutters and cutting mats simply don't go together. You can tell because no matter what you do, the cuts just won't be clean.
My tip: See if your rotary cutter manufacturer also has a cutting mat on offer. In my experience, it's a good idea to get both from the same manufacturer, because the products are "made for each other". :)
With Olfa/Prym, that's not a problem! I can highly recommend the Rotary cutter*, and the cutting mat* too! It is slightly thinner than the usual cutting mats, but very pleasant to use because the surface is a bit rougher and softer. My best-tested cutting mat so far!
Which ruler for rotary cutters?
I would say: It doesn't matter at all, as long as it's intact! Make sure your ruler has no nicks. The rotary cutter can easily bite into them and become dull.
I've had good experiences with the Rulers by Omnigrid*. They are available everywhere and have an extremely clever scale! They are also long-lasting. Sure, there are nicer ones. But what's the point of nice if the ruler edges are splintered? ;)
Which blade is recommended?
In principle, I think both blades from Prym* and Fiskars* are worth recommending. However, my favorite blades are from Olfa* because of their special sharpness.
Recently, however, in addition to titanium sewing machine needles, I have also discovered Titanium blades for the rotary cutter* and am very satisfied with them. They are barely more expensive than the "normal" stainless steel blades, but last significantly longer and stay sharp much longer. The same goes for the needles!
Rotary cutter with serrated or wavy blade
By the way, a rotary cutter equipped with a serrated or wavy blade* is also worth recommending (if you're already getting into the subject). You can pull it out whenever you want to trim seam allowances on curves or rounded edges. Then they hardly fray anymore!
In principle, you can also use the wavy cut for all other seam allowances. Important: Practice a little beforehand and/or use a ruler that protects the seam from being damaged. :)
Rotary cutter with perforated blade
There are also, e.g. from Olfa, perforated blades*. These blades are available in 28 and 45 mm diameters. Just imagine a normal rotary cutter blade that has small indentations at intervals. This blade is not necessarily suitable for fabric, but makes great perforation lines in paper. or SnapPap. You can roll the perforated, i.e. openwork rotary cutter blade to make perforation lines, after which you can cleanly tear the paper.
Sharpening rotary cutters
A good idea to give your rotary cutter blade a little kick now and then: By treating it with a manual blade sharpener. I'll show you how to do that in this guide.
10 pitfalls for your rotary cutter
Do you know this too? Your rotary cutter cuts completely, leaves threads behind, or feels like it has a "plate"?! Then you're in the right place: These 10 "pitfalls" kill the best rotary cutter!
Here come my tips & tricks to fix problems with the rotary cutter!
There are many reasons why a rotary cutter cuts untidily. To get to the bottom of the problem, you can go through this list of "rotary cutter pitfalls" point by point.
No. 1: Rotary cutter was dropped
A fall onto a hard floor can bend the blade of a rotary cutter and make it jagged. It's best to always engage the safety lock after use, then not so much happens if it does happen accidentally.
If you notice that the rotary cutter no longer cuts as it should after the fall, you should change the blade.
No. 2: Glue residue on the blade
Fixing spray, fabric glue and Wondertape have one thing in common: They like to glue the blade of the rotary cutter. Especially when you first layer the fabrics with glue or fixing spray and then cut them.
Often it is not necessary to change the blade immediately if it is covered with glue residue. It is enough to wipe it on both sides with nail polish remover or cleaning gasoline. Then it cuts great again!
No. 3: Cut into the ruler with the rotary cutter
I don't know how many times this has happened to me. Despite all precautions, it still happens every now and then that I run the new, sharp blade directly into the ruler. Of course, the blade gets a "flat spot" afterwards in most cases. I notice this because it leaves threads during subsequent cuts and I have to "cycle" over the same spot several times. Very annoying. So I replaced it immediately.
I noticed that this happens to me more often with a special ruler than with others. When I took a look at the ruler, I noticed that the cutting edge has a few notches. And the rotary cutter gets caught in them.
Since then, I replace the rulers at least every two years. That's good.
No. 4: The double blade
Sounds funny at first, but it happens to the pros regularly too: Instead of one, you accidentally put in two when changing the blade. What's the reason? Usually, the blades come in multi-packs. And they stick together when coated with a little machine oil. So it can happen that you catch not just one of the thin cutting blades, but two!
So if your rotary cutter doesn't work properly after the next "tire change", count the blades. Just to be safe. ;)
No. 5: Cutting paper, cardboard or zippers
What makes the corners of cosmetic bags look really great? When you trim the seam allowances nicely next to the zipper and then shape the corners.
What is good for the corners can be deadly for the rotary cutter blade: The encounter with the zipper. To prevent the rotary cutter blade from coming into contact with the zipper, you should rather use an old pair of scissors for such "tricky" areas. I cut everything that has to do with zippers with my old Ikea scissors. They don't mind. And if they do, I replace them at the next visit to the Swedish furniture store.
What applies to zippers also applies to other "foreign" materials: We now know from scissors that they get dull if you cut paper or cardboard instead of fabric, for example.
What applies to scissors also applies to rotary cutters in my opinion. In my experience, blades stay sharp and smooth much longer if you use them exclusively for fabrics.
Even if the temptation is great to quickly cut out a sewing pattern with the rotary cutter: Better not! Your rotary cutter will stay in shape much longer if you use it exclusively for fabrics.
For sewing patterns, paper and cardboard, a rotary cutter* is a much better choice.
No. 6: Rotary cutter assembled incorrectly
This too is an absolute classic! It happens very quickly that the rotary cutter is assembled incorrectly. Then it is very likely that it will not perform its duty properly afterwards.
What can you do about it? Take a photo of the rotary cutter before you take it apart. And then of every critical work step. Lay the individual parts in the order and direction in which they will be inserted again later.
If you want to make it really easy for yourself, you take a rotary cutter with an EASY changing mechanism. They are now available from Prym in size 28 mm* and 45 mm*. With this system you can use the completely normal blades. But you don't have to screw.
This is how it works: Unlock the holder by pulling it down.
Now you can remove the screw and replace the blade.
Then you let the holder snap back into place. Done!
The handle of these EASY models is ergonomically shaped and lies better in the hand than the standard handle, I think.
No. 7: Sewing pins under the fabric
Quite tricky, such a sewing pin hidden under the fabric. Especially when you run over it with the rotary cutter during cutting. The effect is similar to driving over a nail with the car: A flat "tire". :)
What you can do about it: Before you spread out the fabric for cutting, you should run once over the cutting mat with a magnetic needle case*. Then you are on the safe side.
No. 8: Rotary cutter with a dirty blade
If you are a prolific sewer like me, you probably know the phenomenon that it collects fabric dust everywhere. What applies to the baseboards of the sewing room, naturally applies just as well to the rotary cutter!
Dust and fibers accumulate behind the blade and over time cause it to no longer roll smoothly.
This is how you prevent it: Simply take out the blade occasionally, wipe it with a slightly oiled cloth and put it back in, if it is still intact. By the way, a small drop of oil on the screw doesn't hurt either.
No. 9: Rotary cutter on an unsuitable surface
A rotary cutter is always only as good as the surface it is used on. It needs the slightly yielding resistance of a suitable cutting mat so that it can function smoothly. By the way, I have had the best experiences with the cutting mats from Olfa*, Snaply and Fiskars*. The cutting mat from Olfa is rather hard, well suited if you cut a lot of fluffy things. The one from Snaply is relatively soft and tends to retain lint in the cut lines a bit. But they can be removed very quickly with an eraser or a piece of athletic tape.
There can be some problems in connection with cutting mats:
Cutting mat does not lie flat
If you make sure that your cutting mat lies flat, you have already gained a lot. Maybe you have also had the experience that cutting mats like to slide back and forth on the table. You can easily counter this with an non-slip mat for carpets*. Simply cut to the size of the cutting mat and place underneath.
Also refrain from placing the cutting mat on a carpet. This makes it "float" and makes the cuts imprecise.
Cutting mat is not flat
Some tables have a slight curve in the tabletop. This can lead to the cutting mat and thus also the ruler not lying flat. Accordingly, the cuts of the rotary cutter are then uneven. Be sure to choose a flat surface for your cutting mat.
Cutting mat is warped
Also a popular variant: There are said to be people who iron on their cutting mat. Or leave it in the blazing sun. Both can lead to the cutting mat warping.
If this happens, you can practically replace it immediately. A warped cutting mat is no longer usable for precise cutting of fabric.
You still don't want to throw it away? Use it as a base under your sewing machine!
Or how about a sustainable idea: Make a stylish rotating cutting mat for smaller cuts out of a non-warped circular piece of the cutting mat and a wooden cheese board*! Simply cut to size and fix with a carpet pad. Done! :)
Cutting mat is dirty
Do you clean your cutting mat regularly? Then you can skip this chapter. If you, like me, only reach for the dishwashing liquid when the first problems become noticeable: Be sure to read my post about Cleaning cutting mats.
Cutting mat is nicked
Many cuts often also mean: Many cuts in the same area of the cutting mat. You have your favorite cutting posture. This quickly becomes a habit. Then it can happen that the mat has grooves exactly at this spot.
What you can do about it: Try to rotate your cutting mat regularly. Also use the back side, which may be scaled in inches. And if nothing else helps: replace it as soon as possible! :)
No. 10: Screw on the rotary cutter too tight
Everything done correctly so far? And yet your rotary cutter blade is blocked? Maybe you tightened the screw too tight when changing the blade! Loosen it a bit and see if the blade might be happy if it has a little play. :)
Did this SewSimple post help you?
Feel free to write to me in the comments if you still have questions!
Happy simple sewing,
your Sabine
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