TrueCut - TrueSharp - Could it be....True?

The Grace Company in Houston for Fall Quilt Market

Inquiring minds want to know....right? RIGHT :)  I know I wanted to know when I visited The Grace Company's booth in Houston.  I previously had purchased their True Cut Rotary Cutting System because of the safety feature that keeps your fingers safe when using a rotary cutter.  We've all seen and heard about those folks who had an unfortunate confrontation with a rotary blade and it is really UGLY.  Oh yeah, and did I mention costly?  A trip to the ER or surgery....nope I'm not going there.  One elbow cost me over 800.00 in the ER when I dashed of my bike....I really, really, really don't want any unfortunate meetings with Mr. Rotary Blade...know what I mean?  Yikes

This is what I purchased in the Spring, TrueCut Cutting Mat 24"X36",  TrueCut Non-Skid Pad 24"X36",  TrueCut Ruler, and TrueCut Rotary Cutter 45mm, and the TrueCut Sharpener.  You have probably seen the mat in most of the photos I take because it is on my cutting table.

Then in the Fall in Houston I stopped by their booth and what did my eyes behold?  The TrueSharp,  power rotary blade sharpener. Another blade sharpener, but this time it is electric.  I liked the manual one but electric, oh they got my attention. Naturally I asked for a demo and asked all the difficult questions I could think of, thankfully Nathan didn't ask me to leave...LOL.  I do my very best to be respectful while at the same time asking every skeptical question I can think of to learn about the various attributes of a product. 

AND  My Comfort Cutter, a right and left handed rotary cutter that eliminates stress on your wrist.  It is customizable too.....which may seem silly until you loose yours at a retreat or class...have had it happen.  It also has been made to work with the TrueCut Ruler Track which keeps the cutter from slipping off the ruler and cutting something other than your fabric. My Comfort Cutter comes in 28mm, 45mm and 60mm.

Of course I had to give it a go....and honestly...it was easier on my wrist.  I was surprised that I really liked it as much as I did. 

I was also pleased to see new rulers being made.  I imagine those will be shown at Spring Quilt Market....so this is your sneak peak.

Now, the IHAN TRUE TEST....did it work?  Was I convinced to spend my hard earned money to prolong the life of my rotary blades? 

• it sharpens 28mm to 60mm rotary blades
• it is AC powered (this just means it's electric....for those of us who think of AC powered as an engineering term....I'm simple minded :)
• it comes with 2 sets of stone....one with fine grit and one with coarse grit for the extra dull blades
• it comes with a safety blade handler (very good planning indeed) and a cleaning cloth
• oh yeah...and instructions...but why?  Don't they know we don't read those? 

Yes, I did get both....after all how can I demo them if I don't have them right?  RIGHT!!! 

I was in good company too.....check out who else was inquiring at the next table....none other than "Lady Eleanor" herself.  I was not sure weather to curtsy or bow.....but she is so warm and welcoming I didn't think I needed to do either.  Gotta love our Quilting Royalty....they are not stiff and excessively proper like the English Monarchy....ours are warm, kind, friendly and always willing to teach you what they know.

Nathan and Sally were both very helpful and kind in answering my questions and those of "Lady Eleanor".  You might think everyone who has new products at Market are this warm and helpful....not the case....sadly.  Thank You Nathan for taking your time with me and being patient with all my questions :)

I'll leave you with their video so you can see how the cutter and track work.

By the way, have you noticed the Aurifil Blog Hop schedule on the right sidebar?  If not, better get to hoppin in you want to win Aurifil Thread. 

Smiles,
Kelly

TrueCut Rotary Cutting System by The Grace Company at Spring Quilt Market 2010

I am pleased to be able to say I got some stitching done today!!!

Unfortunately it was not Quilt or Embroidery Stitching :(   Poor Wall-E needed his head stitched back on.  Every have one of those days?  Where you just need your head stitched back on?  Wall-E did.  Good thing Momma IHAN knows how to replace heads.  After all, it isn't brain surgery you know.  Just cranial replacement without any spinal cord complications.  LOL

On to Quilt Market purchases....a bit more fun than head surgery.  Although I might need head surgery or at least  seek some sort of professional organizer or psychic because I have lost one of my camera cards and can't find my pix from Market of the TrueCut Rotary Cutting System by The Grace Company.   Doesn't really matter because....that's right....I bought the system while I was there!!!  Lucky for me that I drove because otherwise I would not have been able to bring it back on an airplane. (If you find my head or camera card...please ship it back....thanks a million :)

I'll start with the non-skid mat.  It goes down on the table first so the mat does not slip or move.  I'm certain it can be used for other projects as well.  (I'll use mine when I do my Shiva Paintstick rubbings:)

Then comes the two sided cutting mat. I got the 24"x36" cutting mat because that is the size I like working with. One side has markings for Bias, True Bias, Lengthwise Grain and Crosswise Grain.  And the other side has the angles marked as well as the inches divided by 1/4 inches.

I'll upload a pix from The Grace Company here so you can see the mat markings close up....

well....I guess if you really want a close up you can click here.

This is the TrueCut Ruler.  It is 6" x 24" and it has a lip/edge on both sides so it is great for both right and left handed people. 

Thin grips, True Grips, can be used on this ruler and any other ruler.  I liked them because they were thin and really gripped my fabric and the mat.

Majorly cool is the new TrueCut Rotary Cutter.  Now can you see why I like the ruler so much?  No chance I'll cut my finger tips off.  Every time I see or hear about someone doing that I cringe.  I know it is possible and I'm always careful....but there is always that one time when it might happen and I figured this cutting system was much cheaper than an ER visit every day of the week.  I get to enjoy it too....as opposed to going to a hospital....which I hate!

Yes, this time I read the instructions. The TrueCut Rotary Cutter has a lock at the bottom and then the slide thing (Tension button) in the middle adjusts how much pressure it takes to cut through your fabric.  For instance, if you were cutting through several layers of fabric you may want to loosen the tension.

Now you did not actually think I would iron a piece of fabric for a demo did you?  Good, you are finally getting to know me better.  The TrueCut Ruler has a lip on the edge that you can see here in the photos.

Here you can see the blade cutting down the lip of the ruler, like a track on the edge.  It keeps the blade steady so I'm not moving away from the edge.  Not like I've ever done that before....don't believe me?  Well, you shouldn't because I do that all the time and that is why I have to re-square up my fabric all the time.

 

The extra cool thing is the TrueCut Rotary Blade Sharpener.  It has a honing stone in it and sharpens rotary blades (most brands) by running the blade back and forth in the sharpener.  You don't take the blade out of the cutter and risk an accident while sharpening the blade.  Now keep in mind no sharpener will take out a chip or nick in a blade.  It does however sharpen dull rotary blades. 

Now you know why I bought the entire system.....cuz I don't want to find my phalanges on the mat when I turn around to start my sewing machine.  I like to feel safe around here....you saw what happened to Wall-E.  IHAN can be a rough and tumble sort of place sometimes....those co-workers can be real caballeros.

I put The Grace Companies You Tube video here so you can see the TrueCut Rotary Cutting System in action.  Besides, do you have any clue how long it would actually take me to make a video and upload it here?  Perhaps the rest of my life....or at least the rest of my sane life :)

So, that was one of my purchases while at Quilt Market in Minneapolis.  Each item is available separately at IHAN. There is a special IHAN price (you'll save $42.00 smackers) for those who would like to get the TrueCut Cutting System.  Since I bought it I figured there might be some other folks who have been wanting to avoid the ER too :)

Smiles,
Kelly