It’s fabric cutting time!
Now I know this can be an intimidating point in the quilt journey.
You’ve got your pretty fabrics that you’re in love with and you don’t want to be wasting a single inch.
I hear you.
Which is why, today we’re taking things a step further and focusing on how to cut your fabric to not only maximize your yardage, but also set yourself up for nice even cuts.
If you missed Part 1: Pressing, I recommend reading that first before diving into your fabric cutting session, as your pressing habits will have an impact on your cutting results!
Ok, so you’ve got your fabrics nicely pressed and wrinkle free. You may have used starch, opted for a starch alternative, or decided to go ‘au naturelle’ and forgo all stabilizers. Whatever pressing journey you’ve taken; the next steps will be the same, but you will want to handle your fabric as little as possible in accordance with the level of starch you’ve used.
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
FABRIC CUTTING ESSENTIALS
To set yourself up for the ultimate cutting experience, here are the essential cutting tools I can’t make it through a fabric cutting session without.
SELF-HEALING CUTTING MAT
*Self-healing cutting mat – invest wisely here. Not all mats are created equal and we quilters put ours through the wringer. I also recommend getting the largest version that will fit your table or sewing space. This is particularly handy when it comes to cutting your fabric. The more space you have the less you need to move and shift your fabric around. Plus, it also means you’ll have to fold your fabric less times to fit it onto your mat to make your cuts. This will become more evident when you see the cutting in action (below) 😉
ROTARY CUTTER
*Rotary cutter with a nice sharp new blade. This is a key component to fabric cutting success. A nice sharp blade cuts through fabric more efficiently, resulting in less fatigue for you, and doesn’t shift/ pull/ tug/ skip fibers as much as a dull blade will.
REPLACEMENT BLADES
*Replacement blades – stock up, your future self will thank you! Plus, it will encourage you to replace your blades more often. See point 2 for why this is important!
QUILTING RULERS
These are the 3 I can’t live without:*8 ½” x 24” *6” x 12”*12 ½” x 12 ½”
FABRIC
For my Holiday Shattered Star quilt, I’m featuring a mix of AGF PURE Solids with the Little Town fat quarter bundle. In the video, I’m working with *AGF PURE Solids.
Shop my essentials notions here: Amazon Influencer Shop
HOW TO CUT FABRIC
I thought the best way for you to understand how to cut your fabric was to show you a fabric cutting session in action! I address some of your top fabric cutting questions and walk you through how to cut yardage and a fat quarter, with a little PSA on how sharp those rotary cutters are (yup, speaking from experience on this one!). Come check it out!
SHATTERED STAR QAL WEEK 2 GIVEAWAY
This week’s giveaway is sponsored by LDH Scissors & Soak Wash!
I can’t make it through a fabric pressing session without my go-to starch alternative Flatter spray! This stuff is not only efficient at relaxing your creases without any nasty chemicals, but it does it all while smelling fantastic too! Soak Wash is giving one lucky winner: 1 bottle of unscented Flatter spray, 1 bottle of Pineapple Grove scented Flatter spray + a Flatter caddy (which is pretty nifty and handy!).
I didn’t put much thought into my cutting tools initially, until LDH Scissors sent me a pair of their tailor sheers and it was like cutting through buttah! I couldn’t get over how different the cutting experience was. Cutting took on a whole new enjoyable meaning and I’ve been hooked on good quality cutting tools ever since. LDH Scissors is generously giving one lucky winner a pair of blue soft handled scissors!
To enter the giveaway, you must:
- Be a Shattered Star QAL newsletter subscriber (sign up here)
- Be following @LDH_Scissors, @soakwash and @shannonfraserdesigns on Instagram
- Post a photo on Instagram of your cut Shattered Star quilt pieces between October 19, 2020 and October 25, 2020 at 11:59pm.
- Instagram account must be public.
- Tag @LDH_Scissors, @soakwash and @shannonfraserdesigns
- Include the hashtags #shatteredstarquilt #shatteredstarqal
Week 2 giveaway is open internationally.
Still plenty of time to get the Shattered Star quilt pattern and sign up for the quilt along!
Good luck and happy fabric cutting!
xo
Shannon
PS After a quilt cutting session, I like to do a quick cleaning to wipe away the dust fibers that I’m always amazed to see collect on my cutting mat and table. Check my Sunday Studio Maintenance for more cleaning tips 😊
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