You can use an inexpensive pen-style soldering iron in place of the dedicated fabric cutter. Just pay attention to what you are doing so that you don't put holes where you don't want them or burn yourself!

If you don't melt the cut edges, the fabric tends to fray very badly as you try to work with the fabric.

As a last resort, you can cut with scissors and melt the edges with a flame of some sort if you don't want to mess with the soldering iron, but it is more time consuming.

: What can I use in place of that nifty heated cutting tool? I guess
: I'd buy one if it was $20, but haven't seen one. I presume
: there's benefit to melty-fibers, over just a razor cut. Is there
: a commonly used alternate tool?