When I am cutting a quilt I spend a lot of time looking for my rotary cutter(s). I guess I am a messy quilter; I don't fold and return fabric as I go, rather allow it all to pile up until ... I can't find anything. Amidst a lost rotary cutter crisis I was asked the question "How many rotary cutters do you need?"
Well, I actually don't need all that many but I do have a favorite cutter. After just over a decade of sewing I have accumulated a total of four rotary cutters, all are OLFA brand cutters. Three of the four cutters are 45mm Rotary Cutters and the fourth one is a smaller 28mm Rotary Cutter.
The Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter 
is great for small scale projects and I have found it useful for cutting around straight-edge and curved templates. The smaller the size of the blade the easier it is to trace around plastic templates. I don't use this particular rotary cutter very often.
is great for small scale projects and I have found it useful for cutting around straight-edge and curved templates. The smaller the size of the blade the easier it is to trace around plastic templates. I don't use this particular rotary cutter very often.
I almost always use the larger 45mm Rotary Cutter
for cutting quilts, and my pick of the bunch has to be the "Quick Change Rotary Cutter" ~ I use this cutter almost exclusively. The split blade cover provides extra safety protection while cutting. Each side slides back and forth independently for right and left handed use and therefore only a small part of the blade is exposed. A nice safety feature although I am not complacent about safety around such a sharp tool, and always - habitually - slip the cover back when I finish cutting.
I change blades only when required. A change of blade usually coincides with having run straight over a pin (which is rare as I don't use pins very often) or when cutting the corner off a ruler (a much more common occurrence). Changing the blade of this rotary cutter is a simple and effortless 1-click procedure ~ no screws, no springs.
for cutting quilts, and my pick of the bunch has to be the "Quick Change Rotary Cutter" ~ I use this cutter almost exclusively. The split blade cover provides extra safety protection while cutting. Each side slides back and forth independently for right and left handed use and therefore only a small part of the blade is exposed. A nice safety feature although I am not complacent about safety around such a sharp tool, and always - habitually - slip the cover back when I finish cutting.
http://www.olfa.com/RotaryCutters.aspx
I change blades only when required. A change of blade usually coincides with having run straight over a pin (which is rare as I don't use pins very often) or when cutting the corner off a ruler (a much more common occurrence). Changing the blade of this rotary cutter is a simple and effortless 1-click procedure ~ no screws, no springs.
http://www.olfa.com/Mats.aspx
And my tip for rotary cutting mat
? Buy the largest mat you can afford and have sufficient space for on your cutting table. My cutting mat (also Olfa) measures 24 inches x 36 inches and makes cutting long strips of fabrics so much easier. Keep your mat away from direct sunlight and heat as it will warp, rendering it useless ~ this I know from personal experience.
I hope you find this information useful. I receive several emails everyday from new quilters and rotary cutting tools seem to be an often asked for topic.
Rita
