Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Fussy Cutting >
  • Fussy Cutting

  • Fussy Cutting

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 08-05-2016, 04:01 PM
      #1  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Mar 2016
    Posts: 2,853
    Default Fussy Cutting

    I'm a new quilter. I really like "I spy" quilts and have participated in two small swaps (and hope to participate in others). I learned quickly that you don't want to fussy cut anything. However, before I figured that out, I acquired several pieces that will require it. Also, I buy fabric that doesn't look like it will need it and it does. So, either I throw that cow fabric (and others) in the trash, or fussy cut it.

    So far, my efforts have wasted lots of fabric and yielded few usable pieces. Often, I miss-cut and it's the wrong size or not square. Other times, I mess up three images in the fabric to get one.

    Is there a trick to it? I've looked on youtube.com and each has a little piece of fabric that they fussy cut an image from on a rotating cutting board. If you just whack it up into smaller pieces and fussy cut it, I got it. You can't put a big piece of fabric on a rotating board, though.

    It seems like there should be a way to cut an accurate image out of the bigger piece without destroying the surrounding images. Am I dreaming?

    bkay
    bkay is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 04:14 PM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    QuiltnNan's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
    Posts: 51,430
    Default

    it is best to use a ruler or template that you can see through. make sure that an important part of the design does not fall in the seam allowance.

    here's a you tube video that might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3BCfko6Bc
    QuiltnNan is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 06:16 PM
      #3  
    Power Poster
     
    sewbizgirl's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Mississippi
    Posts: 26,171
    Default

    Usually you do waste a lot of fabric by fussy cutting. In order to get those 5" squares you may have to ruin the three potential images around it. It all depends on how far the design is scattered and the size of the squares. So keep that in mind when you shop for I Spy fabric. Smaller prints don't require fussy cutting, but big pictures of objects will. And the other things around them will get chopped up in the process.
    sewbizgirl is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 06:23 PM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    Kassaundra's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2014
    Location: Rural Oklahoma
    Posts: 5,374
    Default

    I love fussy cutting!!!! I call cutting willy nilly haphazard where ever the number lands as "cutting fabric like a barbarian" lol lol lol I do cut fabric "like a barbarian" for normal quilting. But I do several projects that are intensely fussy cut. (La Pass) The easiest way I have found is to use a see through template and draw around the cutting line (outside edge of the template) and cut w/ scissors.
    Kassaundra is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 06:36 PM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2012
    Location: Twin Cities, MN
    Posts: 2,509
    Default

    I love fussy cutting. When I buy fabric with a specific image, I buy it knowing that I will "waste" fabric. See through templates or rulers are a must. As they say, "practice, practice, practice". Keep at it, and you will have your "light bulb" moment. Good luck!
    Anniedeb is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 06:51 PM
      #6  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Southern USA
    Posts: 16,165
    Default

    There are many fussy cutting rulers and templates available. Using a regular ruler will frustrate you. Cut the fabric in 1/4 yard pieces to use the rotating mats. There will be waste when fussy cutting and many times you will have to cut into another image to get the seam allowance. If waste bothers you then don't do fussy cutting.
    Onebyone is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 06:54 PM
      #7  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,501
    Default

    I usually use a rotary cutting ruler in the size square I want. I can see through it and I cut my square out of the fabric piece where the best image is but try to keep it along the edge. Fussy cutting kind of makes Swiss cheese out of fabric if I cut more then one from each piece. You can order I Spy squares from online fabric companies if you don't want Swiss cheese fabric remnants.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 07:08 PM
      #8  
    yel
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2013
    Location: 1000 miles from nowwhere
    Posts: 671
    Default

    I have been quilting for years and finally bought the rotating mat why I didn't buy one sooner I don't know .....just love it and also got a set of fons and porter fussy cut square ''rulers'' life is good [used my 60 % off at joann's was reasonable
    yel is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 07:09 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Chula Vista CA
    Posts: 7,378
    Default

    Making "I Spy" quilts are my favorite - and I do a lot of fussy cutting. Nothing annoys me more than to see a kids quilt and the main character has its head cut off. I don't care if it a charity quilt or not - no child wants to see that. There is a lot of waste - but that goes with the that type of quilt. Several of mine are hexagon quilts and the hexagon template that I use to cut them out I can see thru, for my squares I have a clear ruler so they can be centered. When I cut out the images I do use the 28mm rotary cutter, it doesn't make a big slice. The only other way to do it would be to outline your template on the fabric and cut it out with scissors. (Which I am not willing to do.)
    quiltingcandy is offline  
    Old 08-05-2016, 09:09 PM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Pratt Kansas
    Posts: 1,222
    Default

    I make a reverse template slightly bigger than my block-including seam allowances. . (Paper with block sized hole cut in it) I mark the corners with a mechanical pencil (its a thin fine mark) I then rotary cut it. It was slightly bigger, so you see your marks outside the rotary ruler and they get cut away.
    quiltmouse is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    Pommom
    Main
    12
    11-10-2010 05:24 PM
    Suz
    Links and Resources
    1
    10-27-2010 08:53 PM
    JackieG
    Main
    16
    07-27-2010 11:56 AM
    craftybear
    Links and Resources
    3
    04-18-2010 07:26 PM
    rexie
    Main
    5
    01-05-2010 08:11 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter