Tips
& Tricks
Many Uses for
Dull Blades
Rotary blades do dull over time depending on the amount
of use you put them to. You may be tempted to try one of
the rotary blade sharpeners on the market, but will be
met with mixed results. Unfortunately, you will not be
able to return your Olfa blade to its original sharpness
and may be disappointed. Instead, try recycling your
worn blades.
When your blades no longer cut your fabrics
as precisely as they once did, use them for paper,
cardboard, photographs, vellum, template plastic. Put
them in a spare rotary handle and mark with a “P” for
paper. Just as you keep your scissors for paper and
fabric separate, keep your rotary blades separate as
well.
Extend the Life of your Rotary Mat
To avoid excessive wear, don’t cut repeatedly in the
exact same spot. When your mat becomes nicked and worn
in the area you use for cutting, flip it around and use
the opposite side or end. Using a clean, unmarked
surface will double the life of your mat AND your
blades. You can also use the back of your mat. And
remember, don't leave your mat sitting in the hot sun,
in a hot car, or put it near a heating source. Your mat
will become warped and will be useless and dangerous for
cutting.
Uses for Old, Worn Rotary Mats
Using a sturdy pair of shears, such as the OLFA SCS-2,
cut your worn mats into strips to be used for cutting
chenille. Place the strips in the channels and cut
fabric open using your favorite rotary cutter.
You can
also use worn mats for templates. Cut them into squares
for pillows, rectangles for borders, triangles for
piecing, whatever your template needs! Trace the shape
you want with a pen or permanent marker. Cut on the
lines and you’ve got a reusable template.
Keep Your Rotary Mat
Clean
Try cleaning your rotary mat with an art gum eraser
found at your local artists supply store. It will pull
the fibers out of the mat without gumming it up and
leaves no residue.
Smelly Mat?
Sometimes you may notice a plastic smell coming from
your rotary mat. To reduce the odor, try wiping your mat
with equal parts mixture of white vinegar and water. Let
air dry.
Trim it Up!
Keep a small 6” x 8” rotary mat and mini 18mm cutter
next to your sewing machine to trim threads and seam
allowances as you sew. These are also great tools to
keep at your ironing board, especially when doing crazy
quilting or paper piecing.
Stay Fuzz-Free
Keep a lint roller handy at your sewing table for
removing lint and threads from all of your projects.
Works especially well on black fabrics which have a
tendency to collect dirt and dust.
Easy Way to Turn it Inside-Out
Try using chopsticks when piecing requires you to sew
and turn your work inside out. The rounded tip works
beautifully to get crisp corners and nice edges.
Chopsticks are inexpensive and easy to find.
A little Spray Starch
doe the Trick!
A little bit of spray starch used when ironing your
fabrics keeps fabrics crisp and makes for easier cutting
and piecing.
Quick and Easy Curves
To sew curves with no puckers, clip the seam allowance
of the convex piece and sew with this piece on top,
gently stretching the pieces to fit. Sew slowly to keep
your ¼” seam allowance.
Machine Applique Tricks
When you begin to machine appliqué, insert the needle
into the fabric to take a stitch, then pull the bobbin
thread up from the back. Hold onto both thread ends when
you begin stitching. This trick prevents nasty wads of
thread on the back of your work.
Fat Quarter Measuring Guide
You probably know that a ‘fat quarter’ is a cut of
fabric that measures 18x22” {that’s a half yard cut in
half at the fold}. They’re wonderful for scrap quilts or
appliqué, where you need an assortment of colors to
choose from. Too often, we’re afraid to cut into them
because they look so nice!
Next time you’re planning a project, use this cutting
guide to help you put your fat quarters to work.
* 99 - 2” squares
* 56 - 2 ½” squares
* 42 - 3” squares
* 30 - 3 ½” squares
* 20 - 4” squares
* 16 - 4 ½” squares
* 12 - 5”squares
* 9 - 6” squares
* 6 - 6 ½” squares
Accurate Measurements with the Circle Cutter.
When it’s important for your circle to be a specific
size, follow these steps. Remember that the depth is
half the diameter of the finished circle.
1. Lay a 6x12" ruler on an OLFA® mat.
2. On the circle cutter, loosen the measurement slide
with the pivot point and take off the point cover.
3. Put the point tightly against the ruler, centered on
the 6" mark.
4. With the point pushed into the mat, use the
measurement guide to adjust the depth of the circle by
placing the blade exactly on the ruler measurement that
you want.
5. If you want a 4" circle, we put the blade at 2". 4
1/2", the blade is on 2 1/4". Cut a 4 1/4" circle by
putting the blade at 2 1/8".
6. Tighten the measurement slide to hold the blade in
place.
The above tips are courtesy of Olfa® - For more,
check out our "Customer Tips & Tricks"
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