Cutting patterns.

[satinworship.livejournal.com]

Okay, I cannot cut a straight line to save my life. I'm cutting out my first patterns ever (god bless the $2 pattern sale), and it's taking so long it's painful. It took me two hours to cut out a pattern that has eight skirts, and I have six more packets to go. Is there anything I can do to help me cut better/straighter/faster without ruining the pattern? It's giving me a major headache.