Accuracy matters in quilting … especially when it comes to cutting the pieces for your quilt blocks.
Before you make your first cut:
- Starch your fabric. This gives you more control over your fabric as the starch holds the fibers of your fabric in place and gives it more body.
- Have a good ruler. It is helpful to have a ruler that has both 1/4″ and 1/8″ marks. You will also find that thin lines on the ruler are easier to use than thick lines. (More on rulers later in this post.)
- Have a sharp 45 mm blade in your rotary cutter. A sharp blade prevents accidents and ensures accurate cuts the first time.
- Have a nice cutting mat. A self-healing cutting mat is really nice to have if you quilt a lot as it will last longer.
- Standing to cut is easier. Julie and I both find it easier to be standing to cut. If you have the space in your sewing area, a table at standing height with your cutting mat and tools is really nice to have.
Now let’s jump right in to the video with Julie’s cutting tips:
First: Make one straight cut on one side of your fabric. This will create a straight edge to work from.
Second: Rotate your fabric 90 degrees clockwise. Line the ruler up with your original straight edge and make your second cut.
Third: Rotate your fabric 90 degrees clockwise again. Now your left edge and bottom edge are perfectly straight cuts with a 90 degree angle. Line your ruler up with the left and bottom sides to the first measurement and make your third cut.
Fourth: Rotate your fabric 90 degrees clockwise one final time. Now you have three straight edges … the top, left and bottom. Line your ruler up with the left, top and bottom sides of your second measurement and make your fourth cut. If you are cutting multiple pieces, simply slide your ruler over for each subsequent cut.
It really is quite simple to make accurate cuts so long as you have the right tools. A nice, sharp blade, a good cutting mat and an easy-to-read ruler make all the difference!
So let’s talk about rulers. Turns out Julie and I both like completely different brands so we will simply talk about the sizes we recommend. If you are just starting out there are three rulers that really are helpful:
- 6″ by 24″ Ruler: This ruler is great for your width of fabric (WOF) cuts.
- 3″ by 12″ Ruler: This is helpful for subcutting smaller sizes from a width of fabric or pre-cut piece of fabric.
- 12″ Square Ruler: A square ruler is a great tool for squaring up blocks after they are completely pieced or for trimming your applique blocks for quilt assembly.
We do recommend keeping within the same brand if possible. Rulers are made with very precise technology these days and they are very accurate so maybe this is an old habit of ours. At the very least, try to use the same ruler(s) throughout one entire project just in case.
We hope you enjoyed this video and these quick tips. Thank you so much for being a part of our quilting friends. Explore our YouTube Channel for more tips and we invite you to join in on the fun of our Stitches of Love Block of the Month Clubs!
Happy Cutting!
Julie and Brittany
The Mother Daughter Duo of Stitches of Love