Essentially, you are free to choose any material that is available and will work for you without causing further issues when you attempt to cut. When looking for an alternative to a self-healing or other cutting mat, there are two primary characteristics to consider.
While cardboard is used by some, it is not encouraged. This brings us to the second primary criterion. On the first cut, the material you use should not dull your rotary cutter. Finding alternatives that fit those requirements will not always be easy and will require trial and error.
Depending on the material used for fabric rotary cutter sort of cutting mat, the rotary or other blade can be absorbed into the substrate, resulting in smoother cuts. They are useful, but as previously stated, they have a gas issue that can make you ill, lightheaded, and so on.
These mats are composed of high-quality materials and will survive for a long time. Just make sure you do not get one too tiny. A lesser portion of a large self-healing cutting mat can be used, but a larger portion of a tiny mat can be used.
When using a rotary cutter, it is a good idea to use a cutting pad underneath your fabric. Those blades can be very sharp, and if there is nothing under the cloth, you can easily scratch your cutting surface, table, floor, etc.
Cutting mats protect your fingers while also allowing you to cut very straight lines. They are essentially a must-have tool when using a rotary cutter instead of scissors. There are many various varieties of cutting mats on the market, and self-healing ones are usually the best option.
When utilising alternatives to cutting mats, you must be very careful that the material does not dull your blade as soon as you finish your first cut. While you can acquire replacement blades with your cutter purchase and purchase more blades separately, replacing blades is not a wise use of time or money.
Some sewers have used cardboard, however it is a one-time use only mat because it tears readily. That substance also quickly dulls the cutter blade. You can test polycarbonate, plastic, laminate, and vinyl surfaces to check if they are smooth enough and protect your blade from becoming dull.
The larger the blade size, the more fabric you can cut at once and at a faster rate. If you know you'll be cutting yards and yards of fabric, a 60 mm rotary cutter is a good choice. A 28 mm rotary cutter is mostly used for creating small cuts or cutting curves. The 45 mm rotary cutter is the best pick if you only need one rotary cutter for almost all applications. This is large enough to handle a lot of cutting yet still workable for more intricate tasks.
A rotary mat is another crucial item to purchase. This is a huge mat that may be placed across your table to produce an even surface for cutting. Rotary mats are classified into two types: plastic and self-healing. Plastic mats are typically less expensive, but their surface can acquire microscopic grooves and cuts over time. This can impair your ability to cut a nice, straight line, as well as make the cutter hop and cut you.
Self-healing mats are a little more expensive, but they're well worth the money. They're composed of a material that closes after being cut with a blade, ensuring that you always have a smooth, ideal surface to work with.
After you've acquired all of your resources, you may start cutting. The first thing to do is square up your fabric. This entails trimming the surplus fabric on the edge of the cloth piece so that it forms a 90-degree angle with the fold. Because store-bought fabrics are often cut unevenly, squaring up guarantees that you start with a clean, straight edge.
To begin, fold the cloth lengthwise, aligning the two selvages. Check that your cloth is straight and free of pull lines. If necessary, use an iron to flatten it fully. Depending on the size of your fabric and your cutting mat, you may need to fold it over twice to create four layers of fabric.
Place the fabric on the cutting mat, fold near the bottom edge. The side you'll square should be on the left. Most rotary mats feature horizontal and vertical lines that go across them. If this is the case, align the fold with one of the horizontal lines. Line up the fold of an unlined mat with the bottom edge of a square quilting ruler.
Line up a long rotary ruler to the left of the square ruler so that they are flush. Check that the horizontal lines on each ruler exactly align with the fold. Remove the square ruler while still holding the straight ruler in place.
To begin, place your square ruler on top of the fabric, with the bottom edge aligned with the fold. Then, move the square ruler to the left such that the overlap between the ruler and the fabric is the required width of your fabric strip. If you're cutting a three-inch strip, for example, the three-inch mark on your square ruler should line up with the outside edge. You can now start cutting your strips by running the blade across the ruler's straight edge. Continue until you get the desired number of cloth strips.
Rotary cutters are essential quilting and sewing tools. They make it simple to cut clean, straight strips of fabric. Rotary cutters, on the other hand, can be harmful, so always use them as recommended and store them safely. Take your time and exercise precision when rotary cutting to obtain absolutely straight cloth strips every time.