Continuing on with the Beginner Quilting Series. In this post, we will go over how to accurately cut fabric. We will also go over how to manage yardage, especially on a smaller cutting mat and space.
Managing Yardage
If you buy one yard of fabric off of the bolt you will have a 36” length of fabric. That one-yard cut will also be about 42” wide. This is folded in half so it comes out to about 21” from the folded edge. Unless you have a larger space and a larger cutting mat. Working with this larger piece of fabric can be hard.
My rotary mat is 18” x 24”. So I won’t be able to cut my entire one-yard cut of fabric without moving the fabric. This is what I do instead.
I look at the cutting instructions for the pattern I am making. This could be anything but for example, my pattern tells me to cut 2 strips 5” wide and sub-cut this to 16 – 5” squares. I will then lay my fabric down and cut an 11” strip of fabric from my yardage. 10” because I need two strips of 5” and an additional inch for wiggle room.
Notice my ruler in the picture below is on the 11″ line on my cutting mat. I am not concerned right now with having my fabric straight or ironed because I am just cutting this so I can more easily manage a smaller chunk of fabric.
Cutting Fabric Accurately
Now take this 11” strip of fabric to the iron and iron it flat. Then take it back to the cutting mat and smooth it out with your hands so it is flat. Line up your ruler along the folded edge making sure that it is straight. Notice that the 1 3/4″ line on my ruler is lined up with the folded edge along the bottom of my fabric. Doing this will keep the fabric strip from having an elbow in it after you cut.
Then make a clean-up or straightening cut with your rotary.
I then rotate my mat so now the straight edge is on my left side. By rotating my mat I am disturbing the fabric I just cut. I then line up my 5” line on my ruler to the edge of the fabric. My fabric is under the 5″ line on my ruler but not past it.
Cut the 5” strip making sure your rotary blade is right next to the ruler’s edge. Go slow and stop to walk your hand up the length of your ruler before continuing to cut the fabric. This will keep the ruler from twisting while cutting your fabric.
Now that you have your 5” strips cut it is time to sub-cut your 5” strips into 5” squares. Line up your ruler on the end of the fabric strip where your selvage is. Make another straightening cut.
Rotate your strip so it is now on the left side of your mat.Line up your ruler on the fabric making sure all 3 edges top, bottom, and left edges are straight with your ruler.
Make your 5” cut and now you have your 5” squares. Continue making the cuts needed.
Take your time when cutting. Thankfully, quilting isn’t a race. The more you practice accurate cutting the faster you will NATURALLY become. Breathe, go slow, and enjoy the journey you are taking.
Let me know if this was helpful to you? If so, please let me know in the comments or share with a friend.
