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9 Tips For Extending the Life of Rotary Cutter Blades

9 Tips For Extending the Life of Rotary Cutter Blades

It’s no secret that a good rotary cutter is an essential tool for any sewist or quilter. But as we all know, those blades can get dull pretty quickly if they’re not taken care of. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure your rotary cutter blades stay nice and sharp for as long as possible. Read on to find out nine tips that will extend the life of your rotary cutter blades saving you time, and money, whilst reducing waste!

 9 tips for extending the Life of your rotary cutter blades

Tip #1: Use a Cutting Mat: Always use a cutting mat when cutting with a rotary cutter. This will protect your blades from dulling on hard surfaces like tables or countertops. If you keep your cutting mat in good condition, it will help reduce the wear and tear on both your fabric and your blades. Plus, using a cutting mat helps reduce the risk of cuts from slipping—which is always great news! Not only will this help preserve your rotary blades, but it’ll also keep your fabric looking lush and lovely for longer. Plus, no more slip-ups resulting in accidental nicks – thank goodness! Your blades (and fingertips) will thank you!

Tip #2: Do Not Cut Over Pins: Avoid cutting over pins as this can damage the blade edge and cause it to become dull quickly. To prevent this, use a pin cushion or mat with a grid pattern on it. The pins should be placed along the grid lines to ensure that the blade does not come into contact with them. If you do accidentally cut over a pin, don’t worry – just take extra care when removing the fabric from your cutting surface so as not to further damage the blade. 

Tip #3: Invest in high-quality rotary cutter blades: This is a smart move for any sewing enthusiast. Have you heard the saying “Buy cheap, buy twice”? Not all blades are created equal – some dull faster than others, and who has time for that? With a reliable set of blades, you can cut through fabric like a hot knife through butter (or cheese, if that’s your thing). Our recommendation would be to use OLFA blades as they are the best in breed. You’ll save money in the long run by not having to replace blades as often, and the OLFA Endurance Blades are second to none!

Tip #4: Store Your Blades Safely: Rotary cutter blades are incredibly sharp and should be stored safely when not in use. One way to help extend your blade’s life & keep your blades sharp and in tip-top condition is to store them in a safe place where they won’t get jostled around or damaged. We’ve all been guilty of throwing our sewing supplies into a bag and hitting the road. However, if you take an extra second to properly store your rotary cutter, you could add months, or even years, to the life of your blades. Make sure to check the case regularly for any signs of damage or wear and replace it if needed.

Tip #5: Avoid cutting through multiple layers of fabric: I know, I know, it can be tempting to just stack up those layers and power through, but hear me out. Putting too much strain on the blade like that can cause it to dull prematurely. Your blades will thank you, and so will your wallet! Keep those blades sharp and your projects will be smooth sailing.

Tip #6: Keep Your Blades Clean: Want to keep your blades sharp and shiny for all your creative endeavours? Well, here’s a quick tip: keep ’em clean! After each project, show your blades some love by wiping them down with a soft cloth. No need for any lingering lint, fabric particles, or debris to dull your blade’s shine. Trust us, taking a little time to clean them regularly will pay off big time in the long run, just handle them carefully so you don’t nick yourself.

Tip #7: Save old blades for paper & polyester: One way to extend your rotary cutter blade’s lifespan is by giving them a second chance. When your blades are no longer sharp enough for fabrics, don’t throw them out. Instead, save them for cutting paper or other materials that contain plastic. Polyester, vinyl, and other synthetic fabrics all fall under this category. By doing so, you’ll get more bang for your buck and make your rotary cutting experience that much smoother. I save old blades for cutting mesh, vinyl, PUL… anything I know is not a natural fibre really and it really does help keep them sharp.

Tip #8: Choose the right size blade: You might be thinking, “What does size have to do with it?” But it’s all about reducing wear and tear on the blade. Using a small blade for thick fabrics can cause your blade to dull quickly, which means you’ll have to replace it more often. On the other hand, a large blade for delicate fabrics may cause unwanted frayed edges.

Tip #9: Don’t cut too fast: When using a rotary cutter blade, it is important to keep in mind that it is not designed for speed. Don’t let your need for speed get the best of you – slow and steady cuts keep blades like these last longer. Take a breather, relish in the cutting process, and avoid overworking your trusty tool. You’ll reap the rewards of a clean, crisp cut every time! Take your time and cut at a moderate pace to ensure that the blade does not get overworked or slip around. This will help reduce wear and tear on the blade, allowing it to stay sharper for longer.

Prolonging the life of your rotary cutter blades doesn’t have to be difficult – by following these nine simple tips you should find that they stay sharper for much longer than before! With these tips in mind, you can spend less time worrying about replacing blades and more time crafting your beautiful sewing and quilting projects with ease.

If you have any more tips for extending the life of your rotary cutter blades then please share in the comments to help others in the sewing and quilting community!

Make an adjustable bag strap: Free sewing tutorial!

Make an adjustable bag strap: Free sewing tutorial!

I recently found this fab vintage bag in a charity shop but the strap was too short for my liking… I decided to replace the strap so I could wear it cross-body, whilst adding a pop of rainbow at the same time ✂️ So here’s a quick post on how to make an adjustable bag strap!

This is a really easy project – knock one up in less than 30 minutes ⏰

Make your own adjustable bag strap

Knowing how to make an adjustable bag strap is a really useful skill to have in your sewing techniques toolbox… I’ve replaced quite a few of the straps on my daughter’s bags as she’s grown… it’s also a great option if a current bag strap is uncomfortable, or just a bit tatty & worn out.

Replacing the strap can prolong the life of your fave bag, or just give it a new look! You only need a few supplies too!

Scroll down for a written tutorial or catch the vid below…

How to make an adjustable bag strap

A sewing project for: Beginner Friendly

Sewing Time: Under an hour

 

Boring Legal Bit: If you follow any tutorial or guidance found in this post, or on this blog, you agree to be bound by our disclaimer which can be viewed here

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Make an adjustable bag strap in less than 30 minutes

Need to know:

  • For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 3mm unless otherwise stated.
  • Read through the instructions fully before starting

Disclaimer: Strangulation hazard: Children must be supervised at all times.

You will need:

Thank you for supporting our online shop with your sewing shopping… It means the world to us & enables us to keep putting out FREE content like this for you to make & create ❤️

We have an amazing selection of bag hardware and notions… check out our full range of bag-making supplies here

Boring Legal Bit: If you follow any tutorial or guidance found in this post, or on this blog, you agree to be bound by our disclaimer which can be viewed here

 

Bag Making Supplies

 

 

  • 2m of your chosen webbing of strapping
  • 2 x swivel clips (also know as dog hooks) that match the width of your webbing or strapping
  • 1 x slider that match the width of your webbing or strapping
  • 2 x D-Rings (optional – if you’re using an existing bag then you are likely already to have D rings already sewn in)

Sewing Equipment You Will Need:

Make a replacement cross-body bag strap

  1. Cut off the original strap

 

Make a replacement bag strap - Step 1 - Cut off the original strap
2. Thread 1 end of your webbing/ strapping through from the underside of the strap slider. Bring the end over the central bar then thread back through to the back

3. Sew the end to secure – a zipper foot can make this easier

4. Thread a swivel clip/ dog hook onto the strap. Hook on the opposite side to sewn hem near the slider

 

Step 4- Make a replacement bag strap - thread a swivel clip onto the strap.

Want to know your #5 from your #3 zip?  Check out our Zip Type Guide

5. Checking the strap isn’t twisted, thread the unsewn end of the strap through the slider

6. Thread the unsewn end through the remaining swivel clip

Make a replacement bag strap - Step 6 - Thread the unsewn end through the remaining swivel clip

7. Sew the strap end down to secure the hook around the final swivel clip

8. Clip and go!

 

 

And you’re finished, well done!

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Reusable Gift Bag Sewing Tutorial

Reusable Gift Bag Sewing Tutorial

How will you be wrapping your Christmas gifts this year? Will you be on ‘bin bag duty’ again collecting all of the used wrapping paper & throwing a glitter & foil mountain out to landfill? Or will you be getting your Christmas All Wrapped Up with our Sew Your Own Reusable Gift Bag tutorial?

Making beautiful reusable fabric gift bags and tags means you can keep them for years to come!

All the effort you put in making these will come back to you – we promise! Make these and be your future friend next year when your gift wrapping will be complete in a fraction of the time – whoop! No more last-minute wrapping struggling with the sticky tape on Christmas Eve – winning!

Read on for our beginner-friendly Reusable Gift Bag tutorial!

In this free tutorial we have provided 3 different-sized gift bags which you can make out of the huge variety of fabrics we have over on our Christmas shop! All of the supplies to make this are sold on our online sewing superstore!

An absolute beginner can do this, so why not get the kids stuck in too? They will be super proud, gifting family and friends with something they made!

Why not check out the companion project – A Reusable Gift Tag tutorial? It’s available here

A sewing project suitable for: Beginner

Important Notes:

  • 1cm seam allowance throughout, unless directed.
  • For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 2.5 unless otherwise stated.
  • Prepare your fabrics as per the manufacturer’s care advice

If you would like a more polished finish to the inside of your bag you could french seam. Check out our tutorial How To Sew French Seams 

 

Reusable Gift Bag Tutorial

You Will Need:

  • The Instructions
  • Some paper to draw the pattern

 

Small – Finished Dimensions (Approx):

H20cm x W23cm x D6cm // H8” x W9” x D2½ ”

AmountWe used
Fabric A:For Main Bag1 FQ Christmas Fabric Fabrics from the Makower Santa Express collection
Fabric B:For Drawstring Channel10cm x 50cm/4” x 20”Fabrics from the Makower Santa Express collection
Ribbon or Cord80cm4mm Braided Cord White

Medium – Finished Dimensions (Approx):

H31cm x W33cm x D11cm // H12” x W13” x D4 ½  ”

AmountWe used
Fabric A:For Main Bag40cm  Christmas Fabric Fabrics from the Makower Santa Express collection
Fabric B:For Drawstring Channel10cm x 70cm4” x 27.5”Fabrics from the Makower Santa Express collection
Ribbon or Cord1m4mm Braided Cord Forest Green

Large – Finished Dimensions (Approx):

H44cm x W38cm x D15cm // H17” x W15” x D6”

AmountWe used
Fabric A:For Main Bag50cm  Christmas Fabric Fabrics from the Makower Santa Express collection
Fabric B:For Drawstring Channel10cm x 94cm4” x 37”Fabrics from the Makower Santa Express collection
Ribbon or Cord1.3m4mm Braided Cord Red

Sewing Kit You Will Need:

Reusable Gift Bag Tutorial

  1. Decide which size bag you wish to make. The finished dimensions are listed in the table in the printable.
  2. Draw your pattern using the measurements supplied in the printable
  3. Cut 2 of the main bag pattern out of your Main Fabric A and 1 x drawstring channel  out of Accent Fabric B
  1. With right sides together pin your main fabric bag pieces & sew down both sides of and the bottom seam only, leaving the corners unsewn
  2. Finish the raw edges of each seam with a zig zag stitch (stitch length 1, width 4mm), taking care that the right hand stitches  fall just off the edge of the fabric. Watch the video here 
  1. Sew the corners : On the bottom corners match the two side seams in the centre. Pin sew together with 1 cm seam allowance. Trim any stray threads and finish the seams as in step 5
  1. Repeat for the other corner

Prepare the drawstring channel

  1. On the drawstring channel fold one of the short ends in 5mm then another 5mm and press. Repeat for the other short end. Stitch both double fold hems in place
  1. Press the drawstring channel in half wrong sides together along the longest edge
  1. Starting at a side seam of the main bag match one of the hemmed edges of your drawstring channel to a side seam on the main bag and pin all the way around, matching the raw edges
  2. Sew all the way around attaching the drawstring channel to the main bag
  3. Trim any stray threads and finish the seams as in step 5
  4. Press your finish seam towards the bag and top stitch  the seam to the bag body
  5. Using a bodkin or safety pin thread the cord/ ribbon through the drawstring channel

And you’re finished, well done!

If you’d love to make the matching gift tag, we have a video tutorial for you right here.

What’s the best wadding for a hot water bottle cover?

What’s the best wadding for a hot water bottle cover?

Autumn is definitely here! And so are pricey energy bills, so there’s no surprise many of you are sewing up hot water bottle covers to help keep you keep toasty in bed whilst saving energy by avoiding putting the heating on. We’ve had lots of people get in touch to ask what is best wadding for a hot water bottle cover so I made this quick video to talk you through some options…

WHAT’S THE BEST WADDING FOR A HOT WATER BOTTLE COVER? 

If you found yourself here because you’re making a hot water bottle cover then you’ll need a pattern so hop on over and grab yours here ! Our gift to you to help you out on those chilly nights… You can grab your free pattern & tutorial to make your own hot water bottle cover over here

What's the best wadding for a hot water bottle cover? Free sewing pattern

Thank you for supporting our online shop with your sewing shopping… It means the world to us & enables us to keep putting out FREE content like this for you to make & create ❤️

If you are interested in the full details of the waddings I mention in the video then you can check them out over on our website :

Want to learn more about wadding/ batting? You might also be interested in our full Guide to Quilt Wadding here

Learn about quilt wadding

If you have any fabric or product-related questions please don’t hesitate to get to leave a comment! We love hearing from you and your questions give me ideas for helpful content we can create for you…

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What's the best wadding for a hot water bottle cover?

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How to Enlarge A Collar With A Collar Expander – No Sew! Care & Repair Series #4

How to Enlarge A Collar With A Collar Expander – No Sew! Care & Repair Series #4

 

Welcome to post number 4 in our Care & Repair Series! Today we’re offering a solution to an annoying problem – how to enlarge a collar that is too tight… without any sewing! We’re going to be talking about how to use use a collar expander in this quick product guide.

We wanted to bring these little wonder products to your attention – who knew they were even a thing?!

These nifty little extenders are NO SEW and a great little temporary fix that can even be switched between garments.

With this series of Care & Repair blogs we really want to bring into focus all sorts of different ways in which we can all reuse, repurpose, repair and rejuvenate the clothes that we already own.

A shocking 300,000 tonnes of discarded clothing goes to landfill every year in the UK. according to Wrap, the waste charity, this is up 5% of the UK’s carbon and water footprint. And small things like this can really add up.

Being able to adjust the size of a collar that’s snug can help give a shirt a longer life. These collar expanders can also be used on skirt or trouser waistbands too!

Expanders aren’t permanent fixtures to your garments so they can easily be switched between different shirts – just make sure you take them out before your shirt goes in the wash!

The collar expanders come in a variety of sizes and finishes…. make sure you select the best match for your garment, although it’s unlikely you will see it if you’re wearing a tie, you do need to make sure the collar expander will fit through your garment’s existing buttonhole

These plastic collar extenders will increase the neck size of a shirt by half a collar size and do not stretch.

The other metal extenders do stretch and come in a variety of sizes

How to Enlarge A Collar With A Collar Expander

      1. Choose the collar extender that best matches your garment
    1.  Take the white disc in your fingers and feed the loop through the buttonhole.
    1. Loop the band over the existing button on the collar.
    1. Alternatively you can start by looping the loop around the existing button and then feeding the white disc through the buttonhole.
    1. This is what the collar extenders look like when used correctly.

    6. The larger collar extenders can also be used for waistbands. You need to match the size of the disc on the Expanders as closely as possible to the original button.

    And that’s it! It really couldn’t be more simple, could it?

    Check out Hemline’s video for a demo of the metal variety, which are stretchy, rather than fixed like this one

    Thank you for supporting our online shop with your sewing shopping… It means the world to us & enables us to keep putting out FREE content like this for you to make & create ❤️

    Linking Collar or Waist Expanders Together

    Should you need greater ease at the waistband or collar, the expanders can be looped together to create a larger stretch like this.

    So you can see how easy it is to prolong the life of your garment if it’s become a bit snug.

    Stay tuned for more posts in our Care & Repair series

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    Free Peg Bag Pattern & Sewing Tutorial

    Free Peg Bag Pattern & Sewing Tutorial

    ♻️ Line drying your laundry rather than tumble drying is going to save both energy & money (and goodness knows we need all the help we can get right now!)  The planet thanks you for pegging! ♻️

    Our original 20-minute peg bag tutorial still is one of the most viewed tutorials on the blog and it was one of the earliest I did… Call me vain, but it makes me cringe every time I look at it – I definitely didn’t have the Photoshop skills I do now! At least it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come 🙂

    So…. in honour of the sunshine arriving & the popularity of that early post, I’ve revamped the peg bag tutorial and made the whole project a little more polished with a peg bag pattern to boot which you can access further down the post…

    It’s still important to me to have a peg bag that has some water protection – it can’t just me that leaves the peg bag on the line and gets rusty pegs when it rains?! In the original tutorial, I lined the bag with waterproof PUL, but in this one, I’m choosing to use ODIF Odicoat Gel to provide some water protection.

    You could definitely still use PUL with this pattern – just switch out the lining and/ or the interfacing for Waterproof PUL.

    This peg bag is still based around a child’s coat hanger AND it’s still a really quick make. This one will take you a little longer than 20 minutes – but I reckon you’ll still make this in well under an hour (excluding the Odicoat gel that is)

    I hope you enjoy my rather more polished project and make one to pimp up your laundry routine!

    Peg Bag Pattern: A Sewing Project for a Confident Beginner

    Approximate sewing time: Around an hour

    Finished Dimensions: 30cm x 30cm (excluding the coat hanger)

    Important Notes:

    • 1cm seam allowance throughout, unless directed.
    • For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 2.5 unless otherwise stated.
    • When topstitching – use a 3-3.5mm length & stitch approx 3mm from the seam
    • Prepare your fabrics as per the manufacturer’s care advice
    • If you use Odicoat then ensure you use greaseproof paper as a barrier when you dry press
    • RST = Right Sides Together
    • WST = Wrong Sides Together
    • Read through the instructions fully before starting

    You Will Need:

    • 40cm Cotton Fabric A for peg bag exterior
    • 40cm Cotton Fabric B for peg bag exterior
    • 1m 25mm Bias Binding
    • 40cm Light- Medium weight interfacing (I recommend Vlieseline / Vilene Cotton Woven Interlining Light G710)
    • *Optional* ODIF ODICOAT Fabric Coating Gel  for water resistance
    • child’s coat hanger [affiliate link]

      Equipment:

      • Sewing machine
      • Sewing Thread
      • Fabric Scissors OR rotary cutter, mat & ruler
      • Tape Measure or ruler
      • Pins or Clips
      • Pinking Shears or rotary cutter pinking blade 
      • Basic Sewing Kit

      A note on optional water-resistant coating for your peg bag

      This is completely optional, but by applying a water-resistant coat of ODIF Odicoat gel to your peg bag it will help your project last longer, as well as helping to protect your pegs from rusting if your peg bag gets rained on.

      Free Peg Bag Pattern Sewing Tutorial

      1. *Optional: Odicoat the exterior fabric 

      If you plan to apply an Odicoat water-resistant coating to your peg bag now is the optimal time to apply it. If (like me!) you didn’t apply the gel to the fabrics ahead of time you can always apply the gel to your finished peg bag but it’s not as easy to get an even finish with the gel.  Follow our Odicoat tutorial here.

      2. Download & print the free peg bag pattern

      Download a copy of the peg bag pattern here Please note, this pattern has been designed to print on A4 paper

      Peg Bag Pattern Printable [final]

      275KB ∙ PDF file


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      • Print your pattern on A4 paper at 100%. Check the squares on the pattern measure 1in/ 2cm
        Tape it together in the following layout:

      • Check your coat hanger fits inside the top front pattern piece, remembering there is a 1cm seam allowance. Our pattern has been sized for these coat hangers [affiliate link]. If the “shoulders” of your coathanger are outside of the pattern, just trace around the coathanger shape, enduring you keep a horizontal line at the top of the pattern.

      3. Cut & prepare your fabrics

      You can block fuse the interfacing onto your exterior fabric and cut it out at the same time as the exterior fabric if you wish

      Exterior Fabric A :

      • 1 x back 

      • 1 x front top

      • 1 x front bottom

      Lining Fabric B:

      • 1 x back 

      • 1 x front top

      • 1 x front bottom

      Interfacing

      • 1 x back 

      • 1 x front top

      • 1 x front bottom

      • Apply the interfacing to the wrong side of the exterior pieces following the manufacturer’s instruction if you have not block fused your interfacing.

      4. Sew your pattern pieces

      • With RST sew the back exterior & lining panels at the top edge only with a ¼” seam allowance. Repeat for the front top panel & press seams open (using greaseproof paper as a barrier if you have used Odicoat) and fold along the seam line, fabrics wrong sides together. Press again.
      • Baste: For each pattern piece, baste the exterior and lining fabrics together with WST

      5. Apply bias binding 

      • Starting with the front bottom panel, apply the bias binding to the curved edge, leaving a bias binding overhang on each side. Repeat for the top front panel on the straight edge.
      • Once you have sewn the first bias stitching line it’s a good idea to back the curved edge close to the seam line with pinking shears to help the bias binding lie flat.

      6. Assemble the peg bag

      • Lay your basted panels in the following order on your work table & pin/ clip around the exterior edge

        1. Back panel exterior side up

        2. Front bottom exterior side down

        3. Front top exterior side down

      • Sew all the way the round edge of your peg bag ensuring you leave the gap at the top of the bag for your coat hanger to fit though that you stitched earlier. Backstitch over the bias binding ends a few times to reinforce the peg bag opening

      • Finish your internal seams with your preferred seam finishing method (we choose to overlock) See this post if you need more detailed instructions 

      • Turn to the right side and press

      7. Optional Odicoat

      • It is far better to apply the Odicoat gel before you start sewing, but sometimes life gets in the way of such forward planning! If you haven’t already & want to, apply the Odicoat gel to your finished project. Place a piece of greaseproof paper inside the peg bag to stop the gel going on the lining & between coats check the gel hasn’t pooled on the underside of the bag before letting it to dry, as per our full Odicoat tutorial here.

      And you’re finished, well done!

      Did this tutorial help you? If it did I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a comment or a ❤️ on this post to help other people find my work! And if you’d like to hear more from me I’d love it if you would subscribe below… thanks so much!


      I’d be thrilled to hear that you appreciate my work! I’d love it if you bought me a coffee to support my work if it has helped you ☕️