How to Cut Fabric Strips with a Rotary Cutter

Rotary Cut Strips

Although there are times you'll choose to rotary cut strips along the lengthwise grain of fabric, most strips used for quick-pieced quilts are cut from selvage to selvage on the fabric's crosswise grain. No matter how you work with grain, you cannot cut your strips until you square up one end of the fabric so that it's at a 90-degree angle to the fold.

Read about fabric grain and rotary cutting tools before you begin.

Rotary Cutting on the Crosswise Grain

Fold the fabric along its length, selvages together. The bottom fold should be straight, with no puckers. Sometimes this means that selvages will not be perfectly aligned. Press.

If you are working on a small rotary mat, you may need to fold the fabric again, making it four layers deep. Beginning quilters should stick to one fold, because each new fold makes inaccurate cuts more likely.
Place the fabric on your rotary mat with the fold near the bottom edge of the mat and the side to be squared on the left. Align a rotary ruler with the folded edge of the fabric, near the left edge.
Place a long rotary ruler to the left of the first, edges flush against each other. Check to make sure horizontal lines marked on both rulers are parallel to the folded edge. (If you are left handed, work from the opposite side of the fabric, placing rulers in mirror-image positions.)
Remove the right-side ruler. Place your hand on the long ruler to hold it firmly in place and roll the rotary cutter from bottom to top directly along the ruler's right edge. Spread your fingers out to hold the ruler securely, but take care to keep them out of the path of the cutter. The fabric edge should now be at a 90-degree angle to the folded edge.
Cut the total number of strips required for your project. For instance, if you must cut 3" strips, align the 3" mark on the ruler with the left edge of the fabric. Align a horizontal line near the bottom of the ruler with the fold. Before each cut make sure that both edge of the fabric align with vertical and horizontal markings on the ruler. If they do not, square up the end again before cutting more strips.
Square up one end of the strip and then cut segments from it as needed, aligning the strip with markings on the ruler as required for each shape.

Check Your Rotary Cutting Accuracy

Open a strip to its full width and look at the area near the fold. If the strip has a bend in the middle it means the fabric's left edge was not a 90-degree angle to the fold--so it is not an accurate cut. Check strips periodically to be sure the edge remains square.

Rotary Cutting Tips

If you find it difficult to cut long strips accurately, work with smaller pieces of fabric until you are accustomed to the technique.
Crisp fabrics are easier to cut. Use spray sizing or spray starch to stiffen fabrics slightly.
Attach gripping tabs to the bottom of rulers to help keep them from slipping on fabric. Many types of grippers are available from quilting supply sources, including clear versions that won't obstruct your view of ruler lines.
Always roll the rotary cutter away from your body.
You will often see instructions to stack strips for cutting. Be aware that the more strips you stack, the less accurate resulting patches will be. Although it's more time-consuming, cut fewer layers at once for best accuracy.

Recommended Rotary Products

Olfa NCM L 24" x 36" 3 layer Rotary Cutting Mat in Green

Olfa RM CLIPS/2 23" x 70" 2 Piece Continuous Grid Rotary Mat Set in Green

Olfa RTY 3 60mm Deluxe Manual Rotary Knife Blade Fabric Cutter