Cutting a straight strip?
#12
Originally Posted by pocoellie
When I cut strips, 99% of the time, I cut with the grain line (lengthwise), then I don't get the V's.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Somewhere near the water in beautiful Michigan
Posts: 772
Originally Posted by MamaHen
Hold your fabric up-salvage to salvage, now move the front salvage piece left to right- right to left, until the fabric looks straight from side to side. If you see little waves in it, it is not straight. It takes a little practice, but it helps. I find that more than a yard or so is a bit much to hold. I also found that if I press out the middle fold, the fabric will fall straighter. Good luck.
You need to look at the BOTTOM of teh fabric as you shift the top layer left/right ... when it appears to fall straight, your threads are likely straight.
Also, check to insure that you are not angling your rotary cutter either toward OR away from the ruler. This can cause waviness in the edge, too.
Make a very narrow trim cut to remove any excess, then if you want to check, make a cut about 1/4" wide from this trim cut. oopen it out and look at the fold(s) for the dreaded v's and w's. If there are none, you're good to go. If you see some, you need to do the "hang test" again until it comes out straight.
HTH,
Odessa
#14
I never wash my fabric. You can iron out the center crease with Best Press. Then hold your fabric by the selvedges until it hangs in a nice straight U. The cut end may or may not match. The other thing you need to do is make sure your rulers is at a 90° angle to the folded edge.
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 74
I watched that video tutorial, thanks for posting it.
I do my cutting with the ruler really differently than she does! I have my fabric folded in half twice, because my mat is only 18x24, but I overlap the 0 on my mat a little bit, line my clear ruler up with that 0 and cut there to get my fabric even. Then I look for say the 5 on my cutting mat, line my ruler up with that 5 and then cut to the right of the ruler, where it looked like she was using the 5 on the clear ruler to see where to cut. But I'm also sliding my ruler from right to left, instead of left to right like she was doing.
I do my cutting with the ruler really differently than she does! I have my fabric folded in half twice, because my mat is only 18x24, but I overlap the 0 on my mat a little bit, line my clear ruler up with that 0 and cut there to get my fabric even. Then I look for say the 5 on my cutting mat, line my ruler up with that 5 and then cut to the right of the ruler, where it looked like she was using the 5 on the clear ruler to see where to cut. But I'm also sliding my ruler from right to left, instead of left to right like she was doing.
#16
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 74
Originally Posted by CoriAmD
You have gotten some great suggestions (I sure do love this board!) - one more - are you starching your material before you iron? I have found this helps SOOOO much! Can't believe I haven't always used starch! :)
#17
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
Originally Posted by ammorgan
Originally Posted by CoriAmD
You have gotten some great suggestions (I sure do love this board!) - one more - are you starching your material before you iron? I have found this helps SOOOO much! Can't believe I haven't always used starch! :)
#18
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
Originally Posted by ammorgan
I watched that video tutorial, thanks for posting it.
I do my cutting with the ruler really differently than she does! I have my fabric folded in half twice, because my mat is only 18x24, but I overlap the 0 on my mat a little bit, line my clear ruler up with that 0 and cut there to get my fabric even. Then I look for say the 5 on my cutting mat, line my ruler up with that 5 and then cut to the right of the ruler, where it looked like she was using the 5 on the clear ruler to see where to cut. But I'm also sliding my ruler from right to left, instead of left to right like she was doing.
I do my cutting with the ruler really differently than she does! I have my fabric folded in half twice, because my mat is only 18x24, but I overlap the 0 on my mat a little bit, line my clear ruler up with that 0 and cut there to get my fabric even. Then I look for say the 5 on my cutting mat, line my ruler up with that 5 and then cut to the right of the ruler, where it looked like she was using the 5 on the clear ruler to see where to cut. But I'm also sliding my ruler from right to left, instead of left to right like she was doing.
#19
Originally Posted by Virginia Smith
Originally Posted by pocoellie
When I cut strips, 99% of the time, I cut with the grain line (lengthwise), then I don't get the V's.
#20
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,189
After I do the 'lining up' thing with the selvage and before I fold in half again (fold to selvage) I hold my fabric by the pressed fold and shake a little bit. This helps the fabric get the true grain. Then I lay on the cutting mat, fold in half again. I also am able to cut with both hands and never use the lines on my cutting mat. I cut my first strip with my left hand with the ruler line on the fold and the edge to cut, then switch to cutting with my right hand and do the same thing. I line up one of the lines on the ruler with the fold line and the cut edge with the width I need to cut my strip/block.
Clear as mud? I'll try and get some pics up this weekend to help.
Clear as mud? I'll try and get some pics up this weekend to help.
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12-05-2010 08:57 AM