How to cut stretchy materials?

LOL! Yes, that is a very good point!

A

Actually, you pin the selvages of the fabric to one edge of the paper, then pat the fabric out flat and relaxed. Do not stretch it or smooth it while you're getting the fabric flat... if it makes a lump you can't pat out, fluff that portion up into the air, allow it to fall, and pat again. (I usually use a nylon pancake turner for patting). This allows the grain to remain true and stable. If you're working with longer fabric than table, just roll up the pinned paper/fabric and keep going.

Pin the pattern to the fabric and cut. If you have trouble standing to cut, or if you're working in a confined space, you can rough-cut between pattern pieces, then do the final cutting while seated comfortably.

Keep the paper/fabric/pattern sandwich pinned together until you're ready to sew each piece, and it won't wrinkle or distort... handy when you've got to cut several projects at once and then come back to them later.

Nope. But you might want to wipe down the blades with a bit of alcohol. If cutting paper dulled scissors as you claim, then cutting linen would surely dull them, not to mention synthetics... See Gingher's statement, for instance:

In article , Kay Lancaster of

uttered>>Nope. But you might want to wipe down the blades with a bit of >alcohol. If cutting paper dulled scissors as you claim, then cutting >linen would surely dull them, not to mention synthetics... See >Gingher's statement, for instance: Interesting, but I note that a) they say they don't recommend cutting paper with some of their scissors and b) you can only get them sharpened by returning them to Gingher. Useful tip about cleaning them, though. But if I catch you cutting paper with mine, you're still for the high jump.

I find my paper scissors need sharpening far more often than my fabric scissors. Heavy fabrics will dull scissors quicker than light fabrics. I've never had a problem with linen per se, but curtain velvet with a fire retardant backing - oh boy! Sharpened the scissors before I started, half way through, and again at the end before cutting the lining! The cotton sateen lining was NOOOOOO bother!

Sorry but I don't know the answer to this problem. The two mats on my cutting table are 30 x 36 inch, white ones made by Dritz. I've had one of them so long the grid is wearing off. I have a smaller Olfa mat for taking to classes.

My rotary cutter blades seem to last a long time, considering how much they're used.

Doreen in Alabama

The worst job I ever did on my good scissors was cutting Milium lining for coats I made for my DDs, about 35 years ago. Back then Milium was a big deal, but I don't hear much about it any more. I wonder if its insulating properties was similar to the fire retardant backing you're speaking of.

Doreen in Alabama