The Sewing Place
Tools of the Trade => The Haberdashery => Topic started by: Greybird on October 09, 2018, 14:42:17 PM
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I am in the middle of painting my dining table. It's French polished finish was long gone and years of grandchildren's drawing sessions on it have taken their toll too. The thing is that I have to do all my cutting out on it and whilst I am happy for the painted surface to acquire a naturally "distressed" finish, I have a feeling that scissors and pins are not going to achieve the right effect.
Whilst painting I have been thinking that I should get a cutting board but I have never used one before and don't know what to expect from it. Do you have to fix it to the table, does it slide about? I do have a table protector cut to fit the table - the sort with a plastic patterned surface and felt underneath but I don't know if that would do the trick? It would be nice if it did because the boards I have seen are quite expensive. Can anyone advise me? If I am going to buy a board I would like to have it ready for when I want to sew.
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I have a white table protector like the one that you already have and that's been fine for pinning and cutting out on, using scissors not a rotary cutter. I bought the table protector for this purpose and it has the advantage of rolling up for storage as well as protecting the table under a tablecloth on the odd occasion that I use one.
The dining room table has survived lots of cutting out sessions in the past 20 years or so
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I cut out on the dining table too. It's covered by a table protector bought decades ago. I use weights, pins and scissors and the protector works well, does the job for which it was intended, I suppose! I use a sheet of corrugated cardboard (from a parcel delivery) when doing FBAs or tracing patterns and it stops the pins going through to the protector.
I've never used a rotary cutter. It would be like a scene out of 'Casualty'.
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That's interesting and reassuring. I don't think I would ever use a rotary cutter - I rather like the process of cutting with scissors. I think maybe I'll give the table protector a try and see how I get on before I splash out - the boards do look good but I have to save all my pennies for C*******s!
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My table is glass, but to cut out on it, I have a fold up, cardboard cutting board, which I bought for a few pounds. Absolutely no use for a rotary cutter, but fits my table perfectly, and is good for tracing patterns as well.
Jessie
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It sounds like you're sticking with scissors @Greybird and if you were still tempted I'd have strongly recommend trying out a rotary cutter and small board before investing in a big one.
I happily used a scalpel & cutting board for decades for presentation work but have never got on with a rotary cutter with fabric. I really don't know why, I've tried 3 or 4 different cutters in different sizes, constantly changed to new blades and even bought an ergonomic one with bent handle, all to no avail. I much prefer my scissors, even with lycra although many dancewear people swear by their rotary cutters.
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I don't really know what it is about scissors - I just find the process enjoyable. I like the cutting out stage and scissors seem to be an integral part of it. I expect if I had to produce a higher volume of stuff then a rotary cutter would be more efficient but at my usual plodding rate the scissors will do!
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I bought a cardboard cutting board, as I use scissors mainly
This one, (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004KYX8LK/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item) , although it was about £10 when I bought it.
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I have one like that too, Bodge, had it for years. Sits perfectly on my dining table and even gives a bit of extra width.
I love the idea of the big rotary cutting board, but no way could I justify spending that much for the amount of use it would get.
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I looked at that one @Bodgeitandscarper but was put off by the mixed reviews. You never really know what kind of people are doing these reviews though do you? If you use it and are happy with it, perhaps I'll give it a try!
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Some of the comments sound as if either the product quality has changed or they thought they were buying something different.
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I looked at that one @Bodgeitandscarper but was put off by the mixed reviews. You never really know what kind of people are doing these reviews though do you? If you use it and are happy with it, perhaps I'll give it a try!
I've got one of these that I've had since around 1992, works just fine on a large desk I have, never usually fully out as it is quite large. It does move a round sometimes but even though I have considered one of the proper cutting mats, it would have to be the largest and I would rather spend the money on something else. Over the years it has been extremely useful, especially with the markings on it and I wouldn't be without it. At the time I think it was around the £20 mark but it has been worth it and the cardboard is quite strong.
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It is just cardboard, and I also suspect some of the reviewers didn't really look at what they were buying. It's perfect for just protecting your worktop, and folds up neatly, it does slide a bit, but I've not found it a problem. Works for me!
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I use something like this on our dining table. It is on there permanently under a table cloth. I punched holes near the edge so that i could tie it around the table legs, as much to stop the children sliding it about as for sewing. I find it very useful for cutting out as if I am careful I can stick a pin in it vertically if i need to pivot a pattern piece about to get it on the straight grain, or for Nancy Zieman's pivot and slide method of pattern alteration.
https://www.dunelm.com/product/brown-executive-felt-table-protector-1000000785?skuId=20107192&branchCode=335&cm_mmc=pla_google-_-Dine_Table%20Linen%20and%20Accessories_[GOO-LIA-DINE-TABLE]-_-BAU-_-keyword#
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I`ve got one of those fold-out ones and it is absolutely fine. I did put some wide sellotape over the edges to protect them a bit though. I cut out on our dining room table so it is useful to have something that can fold away when it`s not in use
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I've also got the fold out cardboard one, had it about 30 years. It's so useful. I highly recommend it.
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Thank you @Addiscomber . That is very similar to the table protector I have. I haven't had chance to try it yet. I have been waiting for the paint to harden off before I do, but I now have visitors coming this weekend so I will need the dining table. Won't be able to start sewing until later in the week unfortunately! I have clips to hold it onto the table. Reassuring to hear that it works for you.
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I’ve had a couple of the fold up ones over the years and they’ve been fantastic. I bought a couple of small ‘g” clamps and position them diagonally opposite and this holds in place. I’m definitely a scissor person for cutting out clothes and rotary cutter for patchwork.
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I have on of these (https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/chairs-stools-benches/office-chairs/kolon-floor-protector-art-44881100/) on one of my tables
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Yet another good idea @sewmuchmore - how resourceful everyone is! I have to wait until I get to the other side of more waves of visitors before I can start sewing again and judge whether or not what I have is adequate.
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Having been in one of my cupboards this afternoon I came across what I use on my cutting out table to stop the fold up cardboard cutting out board from moving. It is called a Non-Slip Mat – Multi Purpose PVC foam mat, size 30cm x 150cm and came from Coopers of Stortford.
I bought a few mats and cut them up into strips and lay these out on a Horn cutting out table, then put the cutting out board on top and it certainly stops this from sliding all over the place.
I bought my newish cutting out boards from Sew Direct in Havant, these were featured in the haberdashery items in the Sew Today magazine, a year or so back now. I bought two boards and whilst they were decently packed in individual cardboard boxes and the two taped together and marked fragile, one board was badly dented in transit, and Sew Direct immediately replaced this with another one which arrived okay. I also sew on a Horn cabinet, and often put the machine down into the storage position and use one of these boards on my table top when I am sewing. I find these boards very useful as I am doing a lot of pattern drafting, tracing my patterns etc.
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I finally had the dining room back to myself today. I used the table protector pads on the table, but there was a rucked up bit where they meet in the middle - from being stored for a long time. I remembered that I had a cotton-backed PVC tablecloth tucked away though and put this on top and it worked well.
I think though, having read all your posts, that I'll drop the word around that I'd like a cutting board - C*******s is coming!
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I've got a cardboard one, too - like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simplicity-881630-Pattern-Cutting-Board/dp/B004KYX8LK that I have had for well over 30 years and is great.
For a more storable option for the green cutting boards (A0 is pretty big as a single unit), I have 4 in the A1 size and a couple of smaller A3s that I put together in whatever arrangement I need. The rotary cutter sometimes skips a bit on the joins, but nothing that can't be fixed with a little snip of the scissors.
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I bought a foldable banquetting table from The Range last week. Cutting out is a pleasure now!
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I never did get a cutting board. I use the PVC backed tablecloth and it works well - the painted table surface is holding up well.
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Having been in one of my cupboards this afternoon I came across what I use on my cutting out table to stop the fold up cardboard cutting out board from moving. It is called a Non-Slip Mat – Multi Purpose PVC foam mat, size 30cm x 150cm and came from Coopers of Stortford.
I bought a few mats and cut them up into strips and lay these out on a Horn cutting out table, then put the cutting out board on top and it certainly stops this from sliding all over the place.
I bought my newish cutting out boards from Sew Direct in Havant, these were featured in the haberdashery items in the Sew Today magazine, a year or so back now. I bought two boards and whilst they were decently packed in individual cardboard boxes and the two taped together and marked fragile, one board was badly dented in transit, and Sew Direct immediately replaced this with another one which arrived okay. I also sew on a Horn cabinet, and often put the machine down into the storage position and use one of these boards on my table top when I am sewing. I find these boards very useful as I am doing a lot of pattern drafting, tracing my patterns etc.
Resurrecting an old thread, I know, but just casually reading on a Sunday morning.
I have one of those fold-up cardboard cutting boards and was thinking of buying some of that rubbery, holey stuff that you use for shelf liner or carpet grips to put under the cutting board to stop it moving. Only thing is, I don’t know if you can buy it by the yard in the U.K., although Dunelm might have it. I use this rubbery stuff underneath my foot pedals to stop them moving around. I have done this for years and it works a treat!
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I never did buy a board. Whilst I was thinking about it I made do with a plasticised cotton tablecloth which has been fine. It's heavy enough to stay put on the table and doesn't slide about and smooth enough to make cutting easy.
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I never did buy a board. Whilst I was thinking about it I made do with a plasticised cotton tablecloth which has been fine. It's heavy enough to stay put on the table and doesn't slide about and smooth enough to make cutting easy.
I would be lost without that cutting board. I really use the measured grid on it for keeping the grain straight.
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@Sewbee You can get the rolls of non-slip stuff from Wilkinsons (or is it known as Wilko's now?), and I think B&Q, and I think I've also seen it in B&M or HomeBargains. We use a lot of it for the shelves/cupboards in the motorhome to stop stuff sliding around whilst on the move.
Otherwise, if you have a hot glue gun, try putting a few squiggles on the back of your board.
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@Sewbee You can get the rolls of non-slip stuff from Wilkinsons (or is it known as Wilko's now?), and I think B&Q, and I think I've also seen it in B&M or HomeBargains. We use a lot of it for the shelves/cupboards in the motorhome to stop stuff sliding around whilst on the move.
Otherwise, if you have a hot glue gun, try putting a few squiggles on the back of your board.
@Bodgeitandscarper Thank you so much! This will be perfect to stop the cutting board moving around.