How To Rotary Cut Fabric

Learn how-to rotary cut fabric with Lori from Girls In The Garden and then put your skills to the test with her patchwork potholder tutorial:

Step 1
If you have a longer width of fabric fold it into half or fourths. Take special care to fold smoothly with no ridges in the fabric. Line the fabric up with the vertical and horizontal lines on your cutting mat. The horizontal line is the most important, you can trim the vertical edge of your fabric for clean, straight edge.
Step 2
This is for a right-handed person, if you are left-handed adjust as needed. Line up the ruler to the correct marking for the width of fabric you are cutting. In this example it is 2-1/2", hold the ruler firmly with your left hand. It is VERY IMPORTANT to keep your fingers away from the edge of the ruler you are cutting. Another hint - you can put your pinky finger over the edge of the ruler to keep it from slipping.
Step 3
Starting just off the bottom of the fabric, use the rotary cutter to cut the fabric. The rotary cutter will glide along the edge of the ruler. Make sure you use consistent pressure to cut through all layers.
Step 4
Continue the length of the fabric and go just a bit off the top of the edge of the fabric. By starting just before the bottom of the fabric and continuing over the edge of the fabric you ensure you cut all parts of the fabric.
Step 5
Ta-da, a nice straight piece of fabric which is ready to be sewn into something fabulous.