moonhoney2

I agonize on measuring and cutting. It takes me forever to set the fabric up for cutting. Am I putting too much importance on this?

I see the women on the shows just fly thru the whole cutting part. I understand it's probably just for the show...time limit and all. but I was wondering if people really cut that fast, or do others go like a snail like I do?

Lisa

I could take a lesson from you, I tend to cut too fast and I pay the price later. I cut out some strips last week and used them for a 9-patch baby quilt pattern, I thought I had cut them acturately but once I started piecing them together, I was in for a suprise for how off I was one one of my colors, it really threw the whole thing off! and I had to do some seam ripping and re-cutting (Grrrr!) I told myself then, that I was going to slow that part down abit and get my accuracy back. :oops: I think that it really depends on the individual, how often they cut, and if they learned good cutting skills in the beginning. I really have the most trouble when I need to cut a large piece, a piece thats bigger than my cutting board, I have a very hard time getting those accurate!

DazzleMe!

I guess I am like you moonhoney2..........I always worry if I don't cut the piece out correctly is there gong to be enough fabric left, blah blah, blah.

I think the people on the shows spend lots of time before they go on air to make sure all their stuff is correct. Plus they have other steps in progress so they really don't have to worry about the out come of that one cut.

moonhoney2

Oh, just because I go slow, doesn't mean I'm accurate! :lol: More often than not, I'm off. which was why I was wondering if I put too much effort into it. That, perhaps if I relaxed and cut faster that I'd get better cuts. Altho, I think it may just be a matter of practice to get to the point where the majority of my cuts are accurate, rather than the other way around. :oops:

Moonpi

For straight (90*) cuts, try one of the rulers with a lip on. It has increased my accuracy incredibly. There are a couple brands - I think mine is Olipfa. If the edge of your cutting board is straight, the ruler will be lined up as it should be.

Elizabeth A.

How does everyone cut? My mom likes to be on the floor with a big mat, whereas I like to set and the table with my feet up. I handle the strips as little as possible. I saw on Sue H.'s quilting show that the more you handle fabric the less precise you can be, so it's better to use a little smaller mat and turn it, instead of the fabric.

I cut strips first, one at a boring time, and set them neatly in a pile, then I take about 2 or 3 strips make sure they are lined up together and cut them into squares or rectangles that I might need. If I cut to many at a time, when I try to go "fast" they end up messed up and I stick them in my scrap box. :roll:

blahel

And here i thought i was the only one..i agonize over it too and it takes me so long to get started, even now i have had fabric for a while but havent got the courage up but i am nearly there as Shelley Qs tutorial seems very doable and i might even have a go this morning...

Janeen

I cut standing up at my sewing table (36" high) - I have no luck sitting down - except if I'm using scissors (buwhwhwhahahahaha)

as for getting in the floor - fugedaboutit.... not gonna happen 8)

I also use the ruler with the 'lip' and I take time to make sure the sides are lined up.... no 'elbows' for me... that happened to me once about 10 years ago and I've been really careful about that ever since....

But I'm not fanatical about it.... I think my quilts turn out..... :wink:

zyxquilts

I usually cut sitting down too. I fold my fabric from selvedge to selvedge, then take the fold up to the selvedge too. I straighten the edge on the right side, then flip it so that edge is on the left & the bulk of my fabric is now on the right side (I'm right-handed). I use the side of my mat without the lines mostly, and only use the lines on my ruler to measure. I'll cut 3 or 4 strips, then check to make sure my edge is still square & cut more.
If I have a lot of strips to cut, at say 2.5", I'll use one of my big rulers, start as I say above, but I'll line up my ruler at a muliple of 2.5" - like 10", then start there, then move the ruler to 7.5", 5", 2.5" - that way I've made 4 strips, but haven't had to move the fabric at all! :D
I don't usually have a problem with dog-legs that way either. :mrgreen:

SaraSewing

I think that cutting is like that ominous 1/4" seam. Just a few little threads off makes a huge difference. Speed/slowness isn't a matter, but I truly believe that to make a well fitting pieced product it needs to be as totally accurate as possible. I try to eye-ball the accuracy with every whack. I also think that a dull rotary blade makes me push harder and contorts things out of shape more.