Some quilters loooovvvvve their gadgets, and can’t wait until they get their hands on the newest tools- fancy rulers, specialty notions, etc. I am a girl with pretty basic tastes! I use very basic supplies for doing almost all of my sewing and quilting. Today I wanted to show you my favorite quilting gadget- I was introduced to this product about 10 years ago at a retail quilt show, and I have loved it and been using it ever since :)
(Note this post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)
If you are a quilter, you know that accuracy begins with your cutting! You can’t expect to put a block (or anything else) together well and neatly without first cutting your fabric correctly and accurately. Enter the QuiltCut2 Fabric Cutting System. As I said, I have been using this product for years- my old mat bears the old logo, and you can tell that it has been well used and well loved:
The first thing I like about this is the white color- I think it’s easier on your eyes than the colored mats, and it doesn’t interfere with the colors of your fabric.
Another cool thing is the “clampy-thing” (technical term) at the top, which holds your fabric in place. This is really helpful when you are dealing with larger cuts of fabric (or cutting from a bolt, like I often do)- you know the weight of the fabric can pull as you’re trying to cut, resulting in uneven cutting. The clamp keeps the fabric securely in place, so it doesn’t move around.
But my favorite favorite favorite thing is the cutting guide. This isn’t the ruler that you would normally use, it is a guide that locks into the “rails” on the board, holding it securely. When I first started quilting, my biggest problem was trying to keep my ruler from slipping and sliding all over the place while I cut my fabric. I tried the suction cup handles, the non-slip stickers for the bottom of the ruler, everything, and yet my ruler was always slipping and resulting in wonky, irregular cutting!
You just place the cutting guide on the rail, which holds the bottom end of the guide while you cut, and then you can hold the handle on the guide to secure the other end- no more slipping! There are guides on the top and side of the board, so you can cut your strips, and then flip the guide and cut your squares or rectangles without moving your fabric.
The guide also locks into other positions for cutting many different sized angles. It will work for right handed folks as well as lefties.
You can find out more about this product on the QuiltCut website– they also have an introductory video you can watch which show you the QuiltCut in action!
As much as I would like to carry this product in our shop – it is just too large for us to ship economically. However, you can purchase it from Amazon and if you use this link I’ll get a small commission (at no cost to you). There are other QuiltCut products available at Amazon you can find here.
Disclaimer- As I said, I have been using this product for many years- it’s the only cutting mat/system that I use in my studio. When I recently needed to purchase a new mat, the kind folks at QuiltCut offered me the mat for free if I would review the product on my blog. This is an honest and truthful review of the product!! :)
I’m new to your blog and love all that I see. I was wondering if you are ever at the Houston Internantional Quilt Show as a vendor. It would be so wonderful to meet you and see your kits etc in person. God has certainly blessed you with a talent that inspires others.
Hi Colleen! I think you are probably talking about Quilt Festival, right? No, unfortunately I don’t do that show. I do Quilt Market, which is the trade show the week before Festival. I have considered Festival, but I’d have to be away from home for almost 2 weeks to do both! That’s a little too long for me! Thank you for your very nice comment, I would love to meet in person all of the wonderful people that I “meet” online :)
That is really neat!
Yes, it is, Missy! It has helped me a great deal- I can’t imagine quilting without it :)
oh my goodness i have never seen anything like this in my 3yr quilt journey!! fantastic!!
It’s pretty cool, Sandy. Only downside is that it’s really too heavy to carry to a class or retreat, but I couldn’t live without it in my home studio.
Jacquelynne, the QuiltCut is a bit hefty for stability, but many quilters take theirs with them to classes and retreats. The box it comes in has a handle, but most folks have the QuiltCut carrying case that protects it and has lots of pockets and room for other tools, patterns, fabric, etc. Check out fabric artist Katrina Wright’s recent post about taking hers on vacation! http://kwfiberart.com/blog.html
I have never seen a cutting system like this, I have got to check it out. I often order large cuts of Fabric to be cut down to smaller pieces too~
Thanks Jacquelynne for sharing this awesome tool~
Huggs, Nancy
Yes, Nancy, be sure to check out the video on their website- it is helpful and will show you how well it works.
I’m getting myself one of those cutters – right after I get my holidays paid for!
Thanks again Jacqueline. I could design and draw my own but want to do one that reminds me of you.
Gosh Mary, I’m blushing ;)Thank you for your nice comment.
I think you’ll like the QuiltCut- tell them I sent you!
First time here, looking at your blog. Very interesting and informative. I like the Celtic circle pattern. The first name that came to mind for it was “River Dance”. Reminds me of the stepping pattern for river dancing.
This is the first time I see it.Looks awesome!
Is it heavy, require a lot of space, & do you have to change out pieces & parts?
Hi Barbara- yes it is kind of heavy- so probably not portable for taking to classes/retreats. However, it’s great for your home sewing room. It takes up about the same amount of space as a regular cutting mat (but because of the weight, not convenient to stow it away when not using- I keep mine out on the cutting table all of the time.) There are no moving parts, nothing to malfunction or repair. It’s simple to use.
I knew,I should have asked you about your cutting quilt matte, glad I saw this,I think it would help me be able to cute my Fabric with ease,I have a problem with my hand!
That would make a neat class showing us how to use that
Thanks Jacquelynn!
Looks great. Where can I get one. The quilt strip cutter system!
I their 1st one have had it for over 10 years. I love it, you can set it to the size you need and it stays there, great for cutting out 472 2.5” squares.