Beginners Guide to Cutting Fabric. Straight & Curved Cuts. Scissors guide, cutting fabric types

This video was a special request by a viewer.
Here I'll show you three different fabric types, and how i go about cutting straight lines, and curved lines. I'll discuss the importance of good scissors, and cutting tools, as well as safety.
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[@sisterkerry]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video. I don't want to embarrass you by gushing, but am making my first dress and I've struggled to cut fabric properly. My cutting is so jagged the fabric ends up looking like it's been nibbled by a shark. I couldn't find a video to help me and you're explanations are so clear. I am very grateful. Maybe my next dress will not be quite so wonky...lol.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You can do it Kerry. Just one cut at a time 😄

[@sisterkerry]

@@ChristinesHomeAffairs 🤞I think I'll stick that on a postie and put it on my sewing machine!

[@honourlulu5562]

Same girl sameee 😭😂

[@VitalSigns777]

You are the absolute best! You are literally intelligent enough to know the details are important to include in your instructions for not just absolute beginners, but anyone who has never learned correctly. Thank you! What an amazing teacher!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Wow, thank you so much 😀

[@elyria649]

Thank you so much! I thought I was just rubbish at cutting. No matter how careful I was it was NEVER EVER straight. I didn’t know I needed to keep the scissors ON the table. Thank you!!!!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're very welcome Ely. Happy cutting!!😁

[@eudaimonia4683]

I love how you included tips on safety. As a beginner, this is an absolute must know.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you so much😀

[@gerryhancock1091]

This was a real help as I’ve struggled with getting a neat edge. Thank you 🙏

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thanks Gerry. I'm glad it was helpful😀

[@vonpotatostein]

You are the best thank you so much for this video!!! my first project was a bit of a mess because of the wonky cutting, now with your advice the next one is going to be way better!! Again, thank you !!!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Glad I could help! Thank you😀

[@ares395]

This is incredibly helpful. I made my first sewing project today and it was rather disastrous. I made pretty much all the mistakes possible. I made a pillow case and I've chosen some of the worst fabrics to work with. Cutting a decent, square rectangle with only tape measure, blunt scissors and chalk is rather impossible. Just trying to square the fabric was incredibly hard. Trying to sew 2 pieces of fabric that are different dimensions but were supposed to be equal was... challenging. To make matters worse it was nearly impossible to get a pin through one of the fabrics I was using so pinning layers together was a no go. In the end I used little klips and I probably did the ugliest, most patchy job imaginable. I had to go through some places twice because I was using very fur-like fabric that was very slippery and the layers would just get skewed. I'll be honest, it was incredibly disheartening for my first project but hopefully I'll learn enough at some point that I'll be able to make some simple clothes for myself. That's the goal I had in mind. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it turned out so bad since I'm a guy that was never taught these things (I was also using sewing machine for the first time). The up side is that for as unforgiving as that furry fabric was to work with it hides loads of mistakes luckily. For reference I used a very fluffy long haired material for one side (that was the slippery one) and a pretty dense (I think it's called minky...?) polar (that was the one that was impossible to pin, I broke pins on it). I got both for pretty cheap and they looked really nice and I did not think about the difficulties.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Oh my. I've been sewing most of my life, and won't go near that fabric again. I made a panda costume years ago for my son, and had hairy bits all over the place. 😁

[@houseofnambili]

Thank so much for the demonstration! I get so nervous about cutting straight 🙈 but definitely feel more confident after watching!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're very welcome. I hope it's helped 😀

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you for all the time and effort to make these videos for us. I appreciate your tips and instructions and want to be courteous and let you know it.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Chris and I were talking just the other day about how supportive you've been Cynthia. Your support certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by us, and hopefully is helping the algorithyms. Thanks again for all your comments 🤗

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

@@ChristinesHomeAffairs It is my pleasure. I enjoy both of your channels and it only takes a second to at least say thank you. Sometimes I even have something more to say LOL

[@purplewombat1923]

Thanks for sharing. I have also seen people use a suction handle on the wide rulers which I imagine makes cutting straight lines with a rotary cutter easier and safer.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Yes, it's particularly good for people that can't hold rulers steady, or have arthritic hands 😀

[@faykohlhagen2285]

Christine you always deliver great tips that are new or refresh our memories. Many thanks 🙏

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you Fay 🙂

[@evekankam6744]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us,very useful video.Your videos are always easy to follow and very interesting,look forward to seeing more.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

So nice of you Eve. Thank you 😀

[@lissyali4047]

Thank you so much for this! I'm an absolute beginner at sewing so it was very disheartening when I already started having problems at cutting my fabrics. This gave me new confidence!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

I'm so glad this has helped😀

[@queenmisanthrope]

Thank you for this, I’m so discouraged from sewing because idk how to cut properly but I see that my hand shouldn’t be in the air but on the table & I need to look at the end of the scissors

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

I hope this has helped 🙂

[@sandimcp]

This was very helpful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hi from Kingston, Jamaica! 😊

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Glad it was helpful Sandi. Thank you😄

[@SparkyOne549]

I’m left handed and have used right handed scissors all my life and always had some trouble with cutting paper etc. when left handed scissors came out, I couldn’t get used to them, my cuts were bad. Then when I started sewing, my fabric cuts were terrible. So I bought a rotary cutter and haven’t used scissors since. I use draw straight lines and or curves and cut free hand and it works great for me. I use different rotary cutters and blades for cutting paper, fabric, and a pair for anything other.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

I also find it much easier to use my rotary cutters, and find I use them about 80% of the time. 😀

[@geridine1]

Great informative video! Thank you!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you Geri😁

[@FaithandFabric]

Great tips on fabric cutting - thank you!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're very welcome 😁

[@kerrymccarthy1265]

Thank you for this. These simple instructions changed the quality of my cutting. Plus you have a nice voice, and you're pretty!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you Kerry 😀

[@bccabernet]

Thank you so much for this video! I have been sewing off and on for over 20 years. But I never knew you needed to keep the scissor's blade on the table. And I'm not looking at the top of the scissor blade either. I guess it's similar to driving (look forward and not right at the bumper/line directly in front of you). I also see that sometimes I lift the fabric thinking that I've pinned it, so it should be ok? My scissors seem to be cutting straight, but the finished cut edge seems to be a bit jagged. So showing how to cut a bit by bit- keeping the tip up and going slowly will help solve that issue. I use a tub suction bar for my acrylic rulers, but maybe I'm gripping too hard because sometimes the ruler still moves slightly. And I am taking too large of a swipe when using a rotary blade. My finished cut edges are either a bit jagged or wonky. I do iron my fabric before cutting. I am mostly using woven fabrics for bag-making. Ty again for a no-nonsense video showing us what to do safely and effectively. :)

[@bccabernet]

I made sure to subscribe.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you so much, and welcome to the channel😁

[@pug7996]

More useful information for us all, thank you so much, stay safe.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thanks PUG, you too!

[@newcreations1064]

Thank you Christine,that was really helpful.xxJean.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Glad it was helpful Jean. Thank you 😀

[@trinawalker4007]

Enjoy the video and thanks for the person who asks how to cut with good scissors and things or straight line truly helpful

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

So glad it was helpful Trina 😀

[@jennymarshall8340]

Wow you taught me so much, great video

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you so much Jenny 😀

[@dianemerrett3774]

OK so we've got the right tools and they're in good shape. 👍My problem though, is where to start when I need to cut certain size or sizes out of a nice new large piece of fabric so that they're nice and straight so that I don't waste more than I have to. This stage of any 'make' always holds me up for ages!! Would really appreciate some guidance. 😊

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

It's a dilema I have when cutting out something I really like Diane. If I'm uncertain, I'll draw it all out onto paper first to check my best options😀

[@ToxicMetropolis]

This is super, super helpful. Thank you!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you 🙂

[@dimitrie17]

thank you for the tutorial!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're welcome Dimitrie😁

[@Sandrab769]

A+ instructional video!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thank you Sandra 😁

[@gclepine]

Thank you very much.....I learned a lot from watching this video!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You are very welcome Gail 😀

[@sahayaraj2154]

Very very useful tips, thanks ma

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're very welcome😁

[@onsitereflexology5581]

Thank you so much.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're welcome!😁

[@lilycelestin1493]

Thank you much for showimg how to cut with scissors. So many videos rely on rotary cutters 😢 and some of us just have scissors

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You are so welcome lily 😄

[@cherylclift]

Thank you!!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're welcome Cheryl. Hope it helps 😀

[@user-vz4xf1vc6q]

Thank you

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're welcome 😀

[@ThePalewarrior]

I used my rotary to cut doll clothes and needed a few stitches. It is new to me, but left me afraid to use it.

[@jeanne6774]

i have trouble making a sharp 1cm cut-in on double thin fabric like rayon for a U shaped neckline .Probably need to buy high quality scissors ?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Good quality scissors help Jeanne, but you might be better with a rotary cutter that has a small diameter. It's easier on the curves😁

[@monicakim9143]

Do you recommend tracing the pattern onto the dabric instead of using pins or pattern weights? I am having trouble cutting patterns accurately

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Yes Monica. It's best to trace the pattern. Once you're more confident, and get to know the fabric and patterns, you could try without on smaller projects😁

[@galimirnund6543]

I'm totally new to sewing but, I'm old and need hobbies. I just want to make covers for my appliances. I got a Brother MZ53 machine at walmart. Do you know of a place that sells left over fabrics? Thanks for the video!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

I'm in Australia Galimir, so have no idea where to find fabric in your part of the world😁

[@flower-uw1hm]

Can the inside of corners be cut with rotary cutters, or do you need scissors for cutting the inside of corners?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You can use rotary cutter for inside curves as well. I like the smaller one for curves 😁

[@chachasheeda1931]

Will roller cutter effect the table?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Yes, you'll need to use a self healing cutting mat with the rotary cutter 😊

[@Simple_and_natural]

Wat is the brand of your rotary cutters?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

I have several Alicia. The green ones are by Clover, and the yellow are from Olfa 🙂

[@leticiagalvan4481]

how do i keep material from moving when cutting

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

That depends on what your cutting Leticia. Patten weights help, pinning, or using a rotary cutter and ruler might help 😀

[@user-nc2xt5ln8k]

Hi mam, I would like to ask...I see lots of people iron before cutting ..does ironing helps to cut straight line like pants?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Ironing will help the fabric sit flat, but unless you manipulate the grain, it won't make you cut straight😀

[@Rubygirl60]

How do you ensure that you have a straight line to follow?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Amery, you could draw the lines on using a ruler, but often times you will be following the outline of a pattern which you will use as your guide 😀