Safety for Quilters - 17+ Ways to Protect Yourself (And Your Projects!)

Fun fact: I don’t have feeling in my pointer finger…because of a quilting injury. 🥴 If you’re squeamish, you should probably skip the next paragraph. Here’s the story:

One night, I was working later than usual on a quilt (it must have been at least 10 pm). I was tired, I was using dim lighting, and I was more focused on making progress than on being careful. I had my rotary cutter out, but I was having issues with it slipping around on top of my fabric. I tried to brace the ruler by spreading my fingers, including putting one over the edge. You can see where this is going, right? I sliced the tip of my finger clean off! Pete was out, so I was on my own. I remember laying on the floor, feeling dizzy, and just holding my finger up because I didn’t have a better way to stop the bleeding.

Anyway, I eventually got bandaged up, but years later, I still don’t have feeling in that finger. It’s a bummer, for sure…but it’s also been a good reminder to slow down and stay safe. Today I’m sharing my favorite quilting safety tips, so you can learn from my mistakes (and keep your fingers intact!).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Quilting safety risks
• Cutting safety tips
• Sewing safety tips
• Ironing and heat safety tips
• Ergonomic tips
• Some final advice
• FAQ about quilting safety

Quilting safety risks

With all the pretty fabrics and gorgeous patterns, it’s easy to forget that quilting is chock-full of safety hazards. We repeatedly push ultra-sharp blades mere inches (at best!) from our fingers, put our hands into a fast machine with a powerful needle, and then use scorching heat (with steam!), again putting fingers at risk.

When you think of quilting that way, it’s amazing more of us quilters haven’t experienced serious injuries. Unfortunately, many of us do have at least one injury story…and more of us have close calls! Even if you don’t end up in the ER (which many quilters have), I promise you don’t want to bleed all over your gorgeous project.

It would be nice if we could make quilting 100% safe…but since quilting would be a lot harder without those sharp blades and hot irons, we can’t just stop using them! Fortunately, there are some pretty simple steps we can all take to make our hobby safer.

Cutting safety tips

Most quilting injuries I hear about happen while cutting. That’s not surprising, since we spend a lot of time slicing through fabric…and that almost always puts our fingers close to sharp rotary cutters. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to make cutting fabric safer!

ADD EXTRA GRIP TO RULERS AND TEMPLATES

Before you start cutting your next project, I suggest upgrading your ruler (and any templates you might be using)! 

Start by adding a handle to your ruler, like this Omnigrid ruler grip. It will keep your fingers safely out of the way, while also helping to keep your ruler more stable. (Safer, and more accurate!)

For even more stability, add extra grips to the bottom of your ruler. You can stick little stickers (like these ruler grip dots) to any ruler to make it slip less on your fabric. You can also create DIY grips for your ruler like taping sandpaper to the underside of the ruler to help grip the fabric. Either way, that means you’re less likely to stabilize things with your fingers (like I did) and get cut.

CONSIDER CUTTING GLOVES

Some quilters recommend using special gloves while cutting fabric. I don’t use them personally, but I’ve seen NoCry cutting gloves recommended over and over. 

Cutting gloves can help prevent minor nicks, but they’re not a substitute for careful cutting…so if you get cutting gloves, don’t let them make you careless! Use them in addition to these other tips, not instead of.

CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF

Once you get down to cutting, always (always!) cut away from yourself…not across your body and definitely not toward yourself! This gives you more control, which keeps you safer (and helps with cutting accurately).

MOVE YOUR FABRIC (OR YOUR BODY)

When you’re cutting, don’t be afraid to move your fabric or yourself to cut safely. Don’t stretch yourself across the table to cut, for example…just adjust your fabric so it’s comfortable! And again, instead of cutting across your body, rotate your fabric so you can cut away from yourself.

A rotating cutting mat makes it easy to adjust your fabric without even touching it (so you don’t disturb your perfect stacks or careful alignment). I've especially found this helpful for trimming something like half square triangles or cutting specific shapes from templates. If you don’t have one, try simply cutting at the corner of your table. That way, you can easily move around the corner to change your angle and cut more safely.

CLOSE YOUR ROTARY CUTTER

This one’s easy to do, but sometimes hard to remember! Whenever you’re not actively cutting, make sure your rotary cutter blade gets tucked away. Get in the habit of closing it at the end of each cut, even if you’re just moving your ruler a tiny bit to make another cut. (This is easiest with a squeeze-blade rotary cutter, which closes itself when you stop squeezing.)

BRACE YOUR CUTTER AGAINST A RULER

You probably already use a ruler any time you're making straight cuts with your rotary cutter, but I also recommend bracing your cutter against a ruler when you're cutting with templates! I've seen so many accidents where people have their fingers less than an inch away from the blade, and with nothing to brace the ruler against, a small slip leads to a big accident. Keep a ruler between your fingers and the blade, and you're way less likely to get hurt.

KEEP THINGS SHARP

I know this one can seem counterintuitive, but it’s always safer to keep your blades as sharp as possible! That helps them cut quickly and cleanly, which means you won’t have to compensate for a dull blade with extra pressure or cuts. 

Make sure to switch out your rotary blades often and get your scissors sharpened every once in a while. (You may even want to get sharper sewing pins if yours have gotten old and dull.)

Sewing safety

Cutting may be where most injuries happen, but plenty can go wrong with piecing and quilting too! (Just ask Lo & Behold team member Liz, who once put her sewing machine needle through her quilting gloves and into a fingernail, just missing her actual finger.) Here’s how you can stay safe while sewing:

CHECK YOUR NEEDLE

Like I said with cutting, sharper is safer! Change your machine needle after each project to keep it sharp and reduce the risk of it breaking (and flying at your face). It’s also a good idea to always take a moment before sewing to double check your machine settings to make sure your needle isn’t going to hit your presser foot or needle plate. If that happens, it could break and become projectile. Any time I make machine adjustments, I always manually turn my hand-wheel to double check my needle position/ needle plate/ presser foot combo otherwise, I might break my needle if they aren't compatible. 

REMOVE YOUR PINS

I pin pretty heavily on some quilts (especially if I’m working with yarn-dyed wovens), so I definitely know the temptation to sew over your pins. Don’t do it! Sew slowly, especially when getting close to a pin and always remove each pin before it reaches your needle. The last thing you want is to create needle or pin shrapnel.

Side note: if you DO want to sew over pins, that leads us to our next tip:

WEAR SAFETY GLASSES

Again, this isn’t something I typically do, but it’s not a bad idea to wear safety glasses while sewing. Even if you’re careful, it’s possible for a needle to break…and I’ve heard some real horror stories. Safety glasses can help protect your eyes in case of those kinds of accidents.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THE NEEDLE

Your eyes aren’t the only thing that need protecting! While you sew, watch your fingers, and keep them out of the way of your needle. If you need to guide fabric through a tricky seam, a stiletto or other sewing tool (like That Purple Thang) will give you plenty of control while also keeping your fingers safe.

Pressing safety

You need a hot iron to get flat seams on your quilts…but a few simple tips can help you avoid burns!

USE A GOOD IRON

First, make sure you’re using a decent iron. I’ve seen quilters use old, damaged irons that fall over easily. It’s not worth it! Replace your iron if it’s not already stable and easy to use.

I also recommend finding an iron with an auto-off feature (like this Rowenta iron). That way, you never have an unexpectedly hot iron in your home. Also just for good measure, I always unplug my iron when I'm done using it. It gives me peace of mind and takes less than 2 seconds, so I figure it's worth it.

WATCH YOUR FINGERS

We do so much pressing as quilters that it’s easy for it to feel repetitive and mindless. Still…pay attention, especially if you’re trying to press seams open or to the side. Adjust your fabric, and then use the iron. Don’t try to adjust your seam with an iron just millimeters from your fingers!

USE A CLAPPER

Even if you keep your fingers clear of the iron itself, it’s surprisingly easy to scorch yourself on just-pressed fabric. So instead of flattening anything out with your hands, keep a tailor’s clapper on hand. It will give you better results than your hands anyway!

Ergonomic tips

Most of what we've talked about will help with sharp and hot dangers...but don't forget about taking care of your whole body while you sew! These ergonomic suggestions will help.

USE GOOD POSTURE

It's so easy to slouch while you're sewing...but try your best not to! Begin by adjusting your chair so you're sitting at the right height and distance before you start sewing. Make sure you have good lighting so you're not tempted to crouch over your work just to see better. (I like this lamp!). You may even want to get a supportive back cushion to help you stay comfortable.

TAKE BREAKS

I love getting into a groove with my sewing, especially with chain piecing. But sewing for too long (especially in one position) is a recipe for stiffness and pain. Take regular breaks! You can set a timer on your phone...or just arrange your sewing room so that you have to stand up and walk around to get to your iron, which will organically help you move around.

DO SOME STRETCHES

While you're taking those breaks, do some basic stretches to keep yourself from getting too stiff! You can even do gentle seated stretches and twists in between seams. These only take a second, but they'll make a big difference in how you feel after a sewing session!

Some final tips

The tips above can prevent a lot of accidents…but in the end, nothing can replace taking the time you need and avoiding distractions. 

Remember, quilting is not a race! Take it easy, and don’t try to rush your way through a quilt. Trust me, an injury slows you down way more than taking a few extra seconds for safety! 

And while it’s fine to enjoy a podcast or audiobook while you sew, don’t let yourself get too distracted. Remember that you’re using sharp and hot tools…and act like it!

With a little extra care, you can keep yourself safe…and you just might enjoy the extra accuracy and precision you get along the way.

Happy (and safe) quilting!

You may also like…

• How to Prepare Fabrics for Quilting - Prewashing, Starching, & More
• How to Trim Half Square Triangles - My Three Top Methods
• Pin Basting 101: How to Baste Your Quilt, No Spray Needed
• Quilting Supply Checklist - Supplies for Beginners & Beyond

FAQ about quilting safety

HOW DO I GET RID OF OLD ROTARY BLADES OR NEEDLES?

To get rid of old rotary blades, it’s best to put them back in the original case. Label them as sharps, and tape the case shut before you throw it away.

You can do the same thing with needles: put them in a case and mark them as sharps. I’ve even found that old pill bottles can hold a ton of needles, giving you a convenient place to collect them for a long time.

IS IT SAFE TO SEW BAREFOOT?

Actually pressing down your foot pedal while barefoot isn’t a problem, but sewing barefoot can lead to accidentally stepping on a pin or other sharp object. I recommend wearing structured slippers, at least.

HOW CAN I STOP MY RULER FROM SLIPPING?

To stop your ruler from slipping, add a suction cup handle (to give you a better grip), and stick on some grippy feet to keep it from moving on your fabric.