Learn How to Change a Rotary Cutter Blade on the Missouri Star 45mm Rotary Cutter. Changing your blade often will ensure better and easier cutting!
If you use a rotary cutter for cutting fabric for sewing or quilting, then you probably know how important it is to use a nice sharp blade.
But, would it surprise you to know that some people don’t know they need to change their blade or that changing it can make all the difference in their cutting?
How to Change a Rotary Cutter Blade
Video Tutorial
Be sure to watch my video where I show you how to change the rotary cutter blade on the Missouri Star Quilt Company 45mm Rotary Cutter.
Step One: Hold the Rotary Cutter with the Blade Side Down
To change a rotary cutter blade, start by holding the rotary cutter with the blade side facing down in your non-dominant hand. Place your index finger on the screw head to help keep it in place.
💡 TIP: For safety sake, make sure the blade cover is engaged.
Step Two: Unscrew the Nut
While holding the rotary cutter with the blade side down in your non-dominant hand, place your pointer finger on top of the screw head to hold it in place while you unscrew the nut with your dominant hand. Twist the nut counter-clockwise to loosen. Set the nut aside.
Step Three: Remove the Screw
Continue to hold the blade screw in place with your pointer finger while you turn the rotary cutter over so that the blade is on top. Remove the blade screw by pulling it out.
Step Four: Remove the Blade
You can then flip the rotary cutter back over, blade side down, and the blade should simply fall off. Dispose of the old blade in a safe manner. I like to use an empty Mentos mint container. It has a nice flip top lid. Once my container is full, I dispose of the whole container.
Step Five: Clean the Rotary Cutter
I like to take the opportunity to remove any dust and debris that may have built up in and around the hole for the screw and nut. You can use a paper towel, soft cloth, or dry paint brush to remove any debris.
Step Six: Place the New Blade
Place the new blade on the center of the top of the rotary cutter so that the hole in the blade is centered over the hole in the blade holder.
Step Seven: Replace the Screw
Insert the screw on top of the blade and through the center hole.
Step Eight: Replace the Nut
Holding your finger over the top of the screw and holding the rotary cutter in your non-dominant hand, flip the rotary cutter over so that the blade side is facing down. Screw the nut onto the screw in a clockwise direction until it is finger tight.
There you have it! The rotary blades on the Missouri Star Quilt Company 45mm Rotary Cutter is so easy to replace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know when to change a rotary cutter blade?
If your blade isn’t cutting all the way through fabric, is skipping spots in the fabric, or requires more pressure to make a cut, it’s very likely time for a blade change!
In fact, I recommend changing your rotary blade anytime you notice signs of dullness, skipping, or damage. Instead of waiting until you notice a problem, you might want to consider changing your rotary cutter blade at the beginning of each new project.
Do these instructions apply to all rotary cutters?
Although this is “generally” how to change a rotary cutter blade, these instructions are specific to the Missouri Star Quilt Company 45mm Rotary Cutter – Olga. These instructions will work on the following rotary cutters:
What blades are you using?
In this tutorial, I am using the Missouri Star Snarky 45mm Rotary Blades – 10pk.
And they both happen to be on sale right now (03/14/26)!!
Missouri Star Snarky Sayings Rotary Blades
The rotary blades that I’m using in this tutorial are the Sassy (Snarky) Sayings Rotary Blades from Missouri Star. They come in a 10 pack, with a different saying on each blade.
Which saying is your favorite?
Win a Pack of Missouri Star Snarky 45mm Rotary Refill Blades
You can enter to win one pack of 10 Missouri Star Snarky 45mm Rotary Refill Blades courtesy of Missouri Star Quilt Company.
To enter, visit Hooked on Sewing on Instagram and
- Like the post on Instagram.
- Follow @hookedonsewing and @missouriquiltco. You must follow both!
- Tag a friend(s) who would love to win some blades to top up their stash in a comment on the post in Instagram.
This giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram, Facebook or Meta. You must be 18 years old and reside in the United States to enter. Giveaway closes at 5:00 pm on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
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