Sini TuuliaNov 17, 2023
Hey, #Quilting and other #Sewing people, preferably ones with experience with bad joints and hands:
Which is the best and/or least terrible cutting wheel and cutting mat to use? Is it less angering on the fingers, elbows and shoulder than using very good scissors to cut a lot of fabric? Do the cutting mats smell bad and do cats enjoy licking them if they're weird cats?
How easy it is to fumble and cut something you're not supposed to?
Show threadDeborah PickettNov 18, 2023

@sinituulia I've had a lot of weird cats over the years but none of them have shown any interest in my cutting mats.

Rotary cutters do require some force to use, but you can mitigate that by cutting only a few, or one, layer of fabric at a time. I would always use a rotary cutter over scissors, if only for the accuracy, but also because rotary cutters are no worse for me to use than scissors are. I have mild RSI.

There's not much to distinguish cutting mats; they all work about the same. Rotary cutters all use the same blades and differ mainly in the grip of the handle. Mine are Olfa and I neither love nor hate them.

There are also die cut machines (search Accuquilt Go) if you're cutting a standard shape.

Show threadSini TuuliaNov 18, 2023
@futzle Thank you for this data!
I have pretty bad RSI in my right elbow (both golf and tennis elbows simultaneously, would not recommend) sadly aggravated by almost everything that requires using the right hand a lot. How much would you say the force used needs to be? Downwards pressure is bad for my elbow most of the time
Show threadDeborah Pickett
@sinituulia Could be more pressure than you’re comfortable with. I’m not good at quantifying force but it’s probably similar to slicing bread. I don’t know if you’ve got quilting/dressmaking friends or a fabric shop nearby but maybe see if you can try one out before committing.
Nov 18, 2023 at 7:54pmWeb
Show threadSini TuuliaNov 18, 2023
@futzle Slicing bread with a good knife would be okay, with a bad one would get painful pretty fast. Nobody close to me with a rotary cutter, unsure if they'd open one for me to try at the fabric shops. There's one with very friendly service but it's a small place and absolutely not covid safe, sadly!