Techniques & Tips

Cutting Techniques

1. Make sure fabric is even and flat.

2. Trim off selvages.

3. Lay folded edge up against trimmed selvage edge and make sure the edges are all even.

4. With your ruler (a 6" x 12" ruler works the best) trim off right edge to make it even and square with the top edge.

5. Get your second 6" x 12" ruler and lay it to the left of this one.

6. With the right ruler, measure on the ruler what size piece you want to cut. Make sure when you measure that you allow the full line to be on the fabric. You want to include this in your cut.

7. Butt the left ruler right up against the right ruler. Smoothly pull away the right ruler.

8. With a sharp rotary cutter, cut against the left ruler. When you cut, turn the rotary cutter at a slight angle so that the blade is right up against the rulers bottom edge.

You should now have accurately cut your fabric.

Perfect Seams (or as best we can do)

A quarter inch seam is a must in quilting. One thing that will help achieve this is using a strong but fine thread. Quilting machines usually come with a ¼ foot and the ability to move your needle position. Now, every machine is different so it is important to check if your foot (and you) sew a ¼” seam.

How to do the above:

1. Cut 3 strips of fabric 1 ½” wide. They have to be at least 3” long.

2. Sew them together using your ¼” foot.

3. Open them up and press seams to the outside. The center piece of fabric should now measure an exact 1”. If it does not, then adjust your needle placement whichever direction is appropriate for the size of seam that was sewn.

4. Do this sewing test several times before you get your exact ¼”.

5. Now make sure you make a note what your needle placement is. If you have a sewing machine that does not have an adjustable needle, you will have to mark the bed of your sewing machine to show where you place your fabric to get your perfect seam.

Sometimes for feeding your fabric through along your foot it helps to make a “butting” edge. Layer several pieces of painters tape exactly on top of each other. Then lay them on your machine bed right up against your foot (if you have an adjustable needle) so that it feeds evenly under the foot.

Happy quilting.