CUTTING FABRIC FROM THE FIRST CUT

CUTTING FABRIC FROM THE FIRST CUT 

A few people have asked how I cut my fabric and when I tell them I use my ruler measurements and lines and pay little attention to the markings on the cutting mat they get confused. I teach this method in my classes and decided I'd share it here as well. 

 

When quilters are ready to use a piece of fabric to start making a quilt we start with a straight line of fabric. If we don't none of our cuts will be straight and our quilts will not come together as they should. To get this first straight cut there are a couple of ways to make that edge straight.  Here is how I do it. 

1  1) Take the fabric so the selvedge edges meet at one end and there is a fold at the other.  Fabric comes that way when cut from the bolt, but you may be using a piece that no longer has that fold.  Make the fabric as flat as possible with no wrinkles. Press it if needed.

 

   2) Lay your fabric with the fold even with the bottom line on your cutting mat as indicated in this photo. Line it up with a measurement on the cutting mat. In this photo it is at the 4" mark. 

   Notice how uneven the cut edge is here in the photo.

  3) Place your ruler (template) so that you have a line on the ruler, or the edge of it, even with the line where you have your fabric

      4)Make sure your ruler lines up with the same line (mark) on the selvedge edge as it does on the folded edge. (Notice again here it is at the 4" mark). Don’t worry where the fabric shows under the ruler as that is the uneven end.

    5) Using your rotary cutter placed against the ruler, and holding the ruler down firmly slowly make your cut along the ruler. Carefully hold the ruler as you cut so it does not slip off the place you need your cut.

  6)  Once you have this first cut your fabric is ready to use with that straight line to start cutting your quilt pieces and you can use the ruler markings instead of the markings and measurements on the cutting mat for the rest of the cut.  For me it makes cutting my pieces easier. (Some quilters will continue to use the measurements and markings on the cutting mat and that is fine. Like quilters will tell you - there are no quilt police!) I do still use the cutting mat measurements from time to time to re align my fabric or to cut a piece that is wider than any of my rulers. 

   7)  SO to cut using the measurements and markings on the ruler instead of the cutting mat…..

Notice my fabric is so NOT lined up with the measurement markings on the cutting mat. This is what makes this so much fun!  I don’t have to worry about how my fabric lays on the cutting mat.  (I know some quilters are gasping at the moment…)

Place your ruler so the measurements on your RULER line up with the straight edges of the fabric at the fold as well as the edge you just cut. Line the ruler up along the entire edge of left edge of the fabric.

 8) Once you have it all lined up and even, use your rotary cutter along the right edge of the ruler and while holding the ruler firmly down, but your fabric.

    9) To make your cuts smaller or using a square template you can also just line the ruler up with the fabric instead of lining your fabric up along the measurements on the cutting mat.  This comes in handy when you can’t see all the measurements on the cutting mat. 

EXTRA  TIP:  Once you start using one ruler/template continue to use the same one, or one by the same company throughout the entire cutting process of that project. Each company uses different line markings which may be wider than another company. If your cuts are just a tiny bit off on each and every cut eventually your pieces are not going to be the same size and will not fit the way they need to.

I hope this has helped some who were confused about being able to cut without using the markings on a cutting mat.  If you still have questions, contact me and I’ll do my best to help.

Ann Fahl's Color and Quilts: How to Fold and Store Quilts!

Ann Fahl's Color and Quilts: How to Fold and Store Quilts!

I found this while searching Pinterest and wanted to share. I will now go and refold all of my quilts. 

Tips for Storing Patterns

I spent part of my weekend going through my loose quilt patterns and organizing them. I have ones I have printed off the internet, ones I have collected that Walmart puts out each month, and others that I have from who knows where at this point. 

I have patterns for just blocks, patterns for wall hangings, patterns for pot holders, table runners. Oh, yes, and patterns for quilts. PLUS the patterns I design. 

And this is not counting the patterns in the books, and magazines! 

If you are a quilter you understand. 

After finding them here there and yon, I decided it was time they were at a central location.

So I grabbed one of my 3-ring binders and some plastic page sleeves.  I put two patterns in per sleeve - one faceing each direction in the sleeve.  I have some that are dulicates and put those in together. 

I then divided them into categories:

1) Quilt patterns from a particular manufacturer

2) Wall Hangings

3) Table runners

4) Christmas

5) Log Cabin patterns - this has a separate section since there are so many ways to use a set of log cabin blocks

6) Just Blocks

7) Other projects

You can add more categories and I am sure I will in time. 

If you find a pattern in a book or a magazine that you like there are many ways to keep it handy. Either make a list of the pattern/quilt that you like and include a photo of it, list where the pattern is and in what book or magazine. 

Or make a copy of it and put the copy into your 3-ring binder. (Make sure you note on there any copyright issues with using that pattern.) 
You can also scan the patterns from books and magazines and then print them out to put into you binder(s). Plus you will have the scan saved on your computer or jump drive to refer back to at any time. 
You can also make notes on the cover of each book or magazine of quilts you like and want to make. 


Patterns that are in magazines or books may come under copyright laws and are not to be copies and shared.  More on that subject can be found on the internet. 

If you have enough patterns or other things you want to keep organized you may just want to get several colors of binders. I would also label each one according to what is it in for quick reference.
I hope this has been helpful. 

Happy Quilting ! 

Phyllis

Tips and Hints

A new year a new plan.

Today's tip -----

To help you get your fabric organized and for you to be able to easily tell how much of each fabric you have without unfolding it, I've designed fabric labels. Feel free to create your own to meet your needs. 

On mine I include where I purchased it, the date and the price. This way I know where I got it in case I need or want more. Often fabric may not be available after a certain amount of time so the date comes in handy also. 

By putting the yardage in the beginning as well as keeping track of the balance each time you use some it is easy to see who much you have left just by looking at the label instead of needing to unfold the fabric each time. 

By putting the "Project Idea" on the label you will be more likely to save it for that project, be reminded of the project you wanted to do when you look at the label again. 

Another tip for "Projects" is to put all the fabric together along with the pattern as you buy the fabric.

Happy Quilting

Phyllis

FABRIC LABEL

by QUILTER’S PANTRY

DATE: ___________

FABRIC NAME /COLOR/PRINT

_______________________________________________

YARDAGE ________________ PRICE: ________________

PURCHASED FROM ________________________________

PROJECT IDEA ___________________________________

PRE WASHED ___________ PHOTO __________________

USED ___________________________ DATE __________

BALANCE ________________________________________

USED ________________ DATE______________________

BALANCE ________________________________________