Press fabrics before measuring and cutting
Quilters use scraps, fat quarters, fat eighths, layer cakes and charm squares amongst others for their quilting projects. However large or small the fabric is though, it's really important to press your fabrics before cutting and working with them. Many fabrics have creases or wrinkles in them which can affect the accuracy of your cutting.
Tools you need for cutting fabric
- Fabric shears
- Scissors
- Snips
- Rotary cutter
- quilting ruler ( 24 x 61/2 inch ruler is a good size to start off with)
- Self healing cutting mat
How to cut your fabric
1.Fold your fabric in half bringing your selvedge edges to selvedge edge and smooth out the fabric really well onto the cutting mat.
2.Next you need to cut off your uneven edges. Line up the fabric on your cutting mat with the edge measurement closest to you and place your ruler over the fabric and line up with the measurements on the mat and then taking your rotary cutter press firmly down on the ruler and cut a straight line using your ruler as your guide.
As you cut make sure you move your fingertips along the ruler until you have got to the end of your strip. be sure your ruler stays in the same place and does not move.
3. Lift your fabric and flip it to the other side, smoothing it out making sure the raw edges are together and then cut off the other remaining uneven edge as before. Now your fabric is ready to be cut.
Be sure to smooth your fabric out keeping the raw edges together.
4.Now you can cut your fabric to the size that you want or to the measurements that your pattern determines. For example if you want to cut a 6" x 6" square, you can put a mark on the 6" marker line. You can use an erasable pen, tape or sticky note to mark the line. You can see where the measurements are on your ruler to guide you. Lay your ruler on the raw edge, lining up the 6" marker and then making sure it's lined up and straight, press firmly down on your ruler and cut the 6" fabric strip.
Use your 6 inch marker to guide you when cutting.
5.Lay your strip out and line up all those edges, smoothing it out as you go along. Cut off the selvedge edge on your strip. After you've cut it, flip it over and smooth out those edges again. Using a smaller ruler place 6" markers against the 6" measurements on your ruler. Then line up your ruler against the raw edge and use the 6" markers as a guide. You can see where your 6" inch square is. Using the two 6" marked edges, lay the ruler at the end of your fabric strip and line it up straight. Then take your rotary cutter and cut your square. If you want another 6" x 6" square, then move your ruler, line it up again just like you did on the first one ensuring all those edges are lined up and cut again. Repeat as necessary.
Ensure the raw edges are together and use the two 6 inch markers as your guide when cutting.
Note : you can stack another strip on top of the other and you can then cut double the amount of squares in a lot less time.
You can adjust your markings to cut other pieces to your required measurements.
Practice, practice, practice - the more you cut, the more accurate you will become!
