How to Cut Fabric for Quilting
- 1). Make a list of all the quilt patch sizes and numbers that you need to complete your particular quilt pattern. Know ahead of time what you will need so you don't waste fabric.
- 2). Press your quilt fabric to smooth out any wrinkles, if needed. Fold your fabric in half, making sure that the fold is straight and not along a bias. Fold the fabric again in the same direction, making a folded piece with four layers.
- 3). Lay your fabric on the cutting mat with the folds at the top and bottom and a raw edge at the right. Line up the edge a little past the line marked for 1 inch.
- 4). Place the ruler on the fabric so that the right edge of the ruler rests directly on the 1-inch mark on the mat. Hold the ruler down firmly with your left hand. Do not allow any part of your hand or fingers to protrude over the edge of the ruler.
- 5). Click open the rotary cutter and place it on the bottom edge of the fabric, right next to the ruler. Push the cutter up along the ruler, cutting through the layers of fabric as the blade rolls along the surface. Keep pushing until the blade rolls up and past the top fabric edge.
- 6). Remove the fabric strip to the right of the ruler and discard it. This is the raggedy edge of the fabric and rarely of any use.
- 7). Move the ruler to the left, taking care not to dislodge or move the fabric at all. The distance that you move the ruler will depend on your quilt pattern. If you are cutting 4-inch squares, move the ruler from the 1-inch to the 5-inch mark to create a 4-inch strip. Cut your fabric into the appropriately sized strips.
- 8). Move the strips into the same position that the fabric had after you have finished cutting strips. Cut off any uneven edge on the right, then keep moving the ruler and cutting until you have turned the strips into the correct size of squares.
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