GliderCENTRAL

Rotary cutting tool

Posted By: Anonymous

Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:15 AM

I didn't understand the instructions for the seamless pouch, SOOOOO. Today I went shopping at Joanne's and got a "Fun With Fleece Kit." Original price was $30 and it's on sale for $17.99. It comes with a rotary cutting tool, a pinking blade and a scallop blade, and a cutting mat. Not a bad price compared to how much each piece costs alone. I also got the acrylic ruler to use as a straight edge for cutting. Anyway. Now I can sew the pouches up inside to inside and not turn it out when it's done without having ugly cut edges. I also got some Wash Away Wonder Tape. I'm not good at the pinning thing, but with this stuff I can stick it together, sew it, and the tape disolves in the washer. Anybody as challenged as I am might think about this as an alternative....
Posted By: queenduck

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:20 AM

Well I don't know about the wash away wonder tape, but the rotary cutter is great. I use it all the time, but I use a straight edge. One warning though, don't leave it out where your kids can find it, they can't keep their hands off it. They love to cut paper, the hair off their arms, etc. I came home one day and found my husband playing with it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tantrum.gif" alt="" /> I already told them/him "It may look like a pizza cutter, but DONT YOU DARE" !!!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:21 AM

I am a quilter and crafter as well as a glider owner. Those rotary blades are great. Not just for fabric. They also cut paper and work great at trimming photos. You got a great deal and will have fun with everything you got. I haven't seen that wonder under wash away tape. Pinning fleece was frustrating for me. The fleece seems to want to travel around while you are trying to keep it together, so that tape should work great. Have fun!!
Diane
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:25 AM

Sounds cool!!!

Maybe I can drag Chad into Joann's tomorrow <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif" alt="" /> while we're out & see if our store has it on sale too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Great suggestion <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" /> I'm a sucker for a sale!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:27 AM

Great. I can just see myself standing in the kitchen with my hands on my hips scowling at my husband while he's saying "but the REAL pizza cutter is in the dishwasher!!" I'll definately have to keep this put up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

easilyamused: Pinning the fleece has been driving me nuts. And I'm soooo bad at sewing and not so sure of the machine, so I always somehow mess up if I have to stop to pull out a pin. I found the tape on the back wall at Joanne's where the keep all the other tape and the bra extender things. I also found some barrel clasp things there. I was disappointed, though, that they only come 2 to a package. Oh. And cutting photos with scalloped edges would be kinda cool. I've thought about starting scrapbooking, but haven't yet found the time.
Posted By: queenduck

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:34 AM

Kurlyheded, Pin far enough away from the edge that you don't have to pull the pin out. At first I found sewing with fleece a pain, but if you keep trying you'll find it is really very forgiving material, you can pull it a tad bigger if needed, and if you have a tiny bunch, it doesn't really show up.

Seems like with all the interest in sewing these days, we need to have a big sewing class, Maybe instead of setting up a table at the next SGGA of what a safe pouch is, we could bring a few machines and actually sew some examples.

And BTW, we can never find the pizza cutter, I don't know why, but I have to buy like 3 or 4 a year. Kids, and I have 6 of them.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 06:17 AM

The other thing that I'm having trouble with sewing fleece is that it seems to pull. Like I'm trying to make a straight line, but it's steady pulling to one side or another, making my line crooked. But if I try to pull it back the other direction my stitches get huge and eventually the machine will either jam or my thread will break. It took me about 5 hours to make a pouch tonight. Then part of it broke. LOL!!!! I decided not to fix it until tomorrow. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Told ya I stink at sewing!!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 11:20 AM

it takes practice.. and learning to sew a straight line is easier on a scrap piece of cotton folded over then anything else.. I learned that years ago... but I can't handle anything that isn't a straight line... so glider stuff so far is easy enough! I use my sewing machien a lot more now then I have in years!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:26 PM

This is my first experierce using a machine. I took Home Ec in high school (soooooo many years ago), but I actually paid another girl to make my sewing project for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> The one I'm using is a portable that my grandmother keeps at my aunt's house here in Nashville so that she'll have one when she visits. She lost the instructions a loooooong time ago so I had to take it to a store to get someone to show me how to thread it. I'm thinking about just getting a new one at WalMart. Then I'd have one of my own complete with an instruction booklet so maybe I could understand how to use the different stitch settings and how to make bobbins and stuff.
Posted By: queenduck

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:32 PM

I suggest a Brother machine at Wal Mart. I have had several machines over the years, and one of those $90-100 Brothers are perfect to start. Then when you get bit by the sewing bug, buy one that is more expensive. Don't worry about all the stitches a machine offers, for all your glider sewing all you need is a straight stitch and they all go forward and reverse. A book is a must. I can't tell you how many years I have been sewing and I still pull the book out sometimes to figure out how to adjust my machine.

With fabric pulling and stitches wrong, sounds like your not adjusted right.

And Wal Mart will have all the extras you need, bobbins, needles and such, that match your machine. But don't worry about getting them at first, when you buy the machine it will come with a little of all of it, so you should be able to get started right away once you open the box.

Good luck.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:34 PM

If you know who made the sewing machine and the model you may be able to find the instructions online.

I've done this before when I lost the instructions for my radio- I just went to their website and they have a product manual download section. They may do this for sewing machines too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> It's probably worth a try!

*I just checked and they do have a section!!! Here is the link!! On this page it tells you where to find the serial number and up at the top is a link to get the actual manual. You have to pay for it which sucks but it's cheaper than buying a new machine. For my machine it was $15.

Good luck!
Posted By: Dancing

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:37 PM

Alicia, a sewing booth for the SGGA is a GREAT idea! I will volunteer for that one! Basic pouch making 101. Can show how to make a basic cage pouch and what safety measures can/should be taken. HUMMMM I even have several portable sewing machines I can take with me.

Would anyone be interested in a demo like that? Will have to run it by the commitee.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 03:41 PM

I think it would be fun!!

Maybe we could have a class after on how to do a little bit more complicated things for those of us that already know a little bit of the basics <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I can't wait!!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 05:01 PM

I thing Pouch making 101 is an incredible idea!!

Thanks for the link SugarBabees. I think I'll still buy my own, though, so I can give this one back. Can't make my granny do without her sewing machine when she's in Nashville! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 05:36 PM

Instead of pinning the fleece while cutting, I use weights. I bought them on clearance at JoAnn's Fabrics years ago and they are like one-inch round weights with flat bottoms. I just put the weights near the edges of where I need to cut and it works like a charm! I tried to look for a pic of the weights that I am talking about at the JoAnn's Fabrics website but cannot find it.

I LOVE my rotary blade cutter!!! It is a lifesaver! I tell everybody they cannot use it, LOL! Only I can use it! That way I know where it is and that it stays sharp. I would hate to use the rotary blade cutter on paper, as it dulls the blade significantly. (I was a R&D lab technician in a paper mill and our blade cutters (not rotary blade cutters) had to be sharpened periodically from all those cuttings of paper.)

Pouch-making 101 at the SGGA is a great idea, but it may hurt those who makes pouches for a living. Just my two cents.


Jen
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 09:32 PM

I make pouches now but I'd love to see how the pros do it to see if there is a step I'm missing that might make them more glider safe, but I also understand if they don't want to because it would hurt business too...

I hope we make the SGGA- the wedding that might have interfered is the 8th of July so that helps a LOT
Posted By: queenduck

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/25/05 10:20 PM

Well T I'd do it with you, but we have to find out the logistics of it all, what they have planned etc. If not with the normal SGGA, maybe we could do a small class in one of the rooms with a machine or two. Belive me, mine machine travels almost every day with me to work. Or I'd never get any sewing done. But I am lucky to have that type of job.

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but it may hurt those who makes pouches for a living. Just my two cents.


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I don't think it would, there is plenty of biz to go around, really there is. But what it might do is teach someone how to make a simple SAFE cage pouch, and I don't know one vendor that would mind that. Those that wanted a little more information on other stuff, could just ask. One of us could to the basic pouch demo, and the other could to boxed corners, zippers, etc. It's an idea.
Posted By: USMom

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/26/05 02:04 AM

Alicia, I agree with you, those that want to learn to make their own pouches are going to try and figure it out regardless. I'd rather lose that $5 sale and have a suggie not get hurt. Do the class. If I go, I'll help! I make pouches, and rarely make any for my brats!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Rotary cutting tool - 09/26/05 10:16 AM

We'll PROBABLY have my machine with us if we know there will be sewing going on, BUT... not knowing what else we will be bringing- no guarantees.. we're getting a small fridge with a real seperate freezer for the glider room adn I think it will fit in the car with a cooler inside for glider food to not disrupt their diet (its only a 4 hour drive) so we won't need to use one of the limited rental ones... if so I don't know how much extra space beyond that, and their travel cage(es) and our stuff we'll have...
Posted By: Anonymous

back to the subject of this post... - 09/26/05 10:19 AM

Bill and I dug through the storage locker and got out my giant cutting mat yesterday so I'm back to using the rotary cutter for sewing work (also got some fleece and fabrics that had been in storage out!)

I had missed it but been making due with a good scissors- NO MORE! I cut up about 20 1.5" fleece strips out of 2 coordinating fabrics last night WHILE the pasta boiled for dinner! toy and rope making can continue happily this week to prep for the boys coming home this weekend!

Amie
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