Cut on cross grain or straight grain?
#1
Cut on cross grain or straight grain?
I'm making Two Gray Hills: https://www.swdecoratives.com/shop/P...s-x4505755.htm
The quilt emulates an old Navajo weaving. The pattern-maker was ingenious in designing the quilt as series of pieced strips, which further gives it the feeling of a weaving. Notice in the photo that the pieced strips run vertically.
I'm trying to figure out which would be better: cutting the length of the strip pieces on the cross grain (more stretchy) or straight grain (more stable)? All the strips are 1" wide (finished).
BTW, I'm going to try paper piecing this. I have some software from my fashion sewing days which allowed me to work up each individual strip pattern and I've printed all 22 of them on a large plotter (roll of paper).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
The quilt emulates an old Navajo weaving. The pattern-maker was ingenious in designing the quilt as series of pieced strips, which further gives it the feeling of a weaving. Notice in the photo that the pieced strips run vertically.
I'm trying to figure out which would be better: cutting the length of the strip pieces on the cross grain (more stretchy) or straight grain (more stable)? All the strips are 1" wide (finished).
BTW, I'm going to try paper piecing this. I have some software from my fashion sewing days which allowed me to work up each individual strip pattern and I've printed all 22 of them on a large plotter (roll of paper).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I'm guessing that you are making strip sets then cross cutting. In this case I would cut them cross grain. I think that you can more easily control the stretch sewing the long strips into sets. The stitching will stay the stretch in this direction. Then, when you cross cut, you will have the straight of grain on the edges, keeping that stable.
#6
cut your strips on the warp/straight/parallel to the selvage.
your seams will stay straight more easily and you won't have wavy strip sets.
you will need the stretch when it comes time to line up all those sets to get straight looking dark bits of square & rectangle shapes.
your seams will stay straight more easily and you won't have wavy strip sets.
you will need the stretch when it comes time to line up all those sets to get straight looking dark bits of square & rectangle shapes.
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#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 512
#9
Until I found this board I didn't realize that cutting crosswise is a better way. I used to get so frustrated with wavy borders. I've had great success since I started cutting this way. Thanks everyone!
#10
The second quilt was paper pieced (irregularly shaped triangles), and it came out with perfectly matched seams. Made me pretty happy
On this one, since it's meant to look like a weaving, I want to absolutely ensure that every seam matches up when I sew the final strips together. I don't feel like I've built enough skill yet to manage doing that without paper piecing. If I were making this for myself, I'd go for it. But this is a gift quilt, so I'm extra nervous.
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