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I am about to attempt my very first quilt. I have bought all the fabric I will need.I would like to know how do you manage 4 and 5 yards of fabric? I will be making 12 inch blocks so is it ok to cut the fabric into manageable pieces.

Mary

Norah

In this case, I would leave the fabric open the full width, and fold it accordian style from one end to the other. You can lay it on the table and use it from one end to the other. If your table is small, lay the fabric on two chairs and pull it onto the table from one end. You could cut it into smaller, more managable pieces, but you will waste some fabric. If you are going to wash it, do it before you cut any off. That will reduce the amount of fraying. I usually sew the ends with a line of zigzag to reduce fraying. Good luck. Quilting is a great pastime.

zyxquilts

Hi Mary! Welcome to the quilting board! :D

YES! It is OK to cut your fabric into manageable pieces. If you are planning to make borders with no piecing, I would cut those first so that you know you have enough length for them. After that - away you go!

Be sure to come back & show us a picture too. :wink:

sue

Catherine

Mary, we quilters want to save as much fabric as possible, cause we love it sooo much...do as norah says except you can fold it, just like the fabric store did when they cut it, cut your squares away from the folded edge, this will leave you fabric to work with in the future. did you understand this? You can zig zag ends if you like, I NEVER DO, doesn't seem to make that much difference to the fabric to put in all that extra work, at least for me.

DonnaRae

Mary, If you go to this web sitehttp://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/6105-rotary-cut-fabric.shtml you will see how to cut the fabric. It is important to cut to save as much fabric as you can. You will understand after you make this quilt because you are going to love it and want all the fabric you can get your hands on. All of us are fabric crazy :lol: Good luck on the quilt!