I am making a quilt that calls for 7" borders cut length of fabric for each side. They are 90" each. Of course my ruler is 6 1/2 in.
How do you cut them that length and keep them straight? Thanks
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I am making a quilt that calls for 7" borders cut length of fabric for each side. They are 90" each. Of course my ruler is 6 1/2 in.
How do you cut them that length and keep them straight? Thanks
I rip the borders. I snip every 7 inches then rip the fabric. Or I might go a little bigger and then after ripping fold the strip of fabric and trim with a ruler.
That is the way I was taught by a quilter who earned her living designing and making kits and I have never regretted it, her saying was "I rip to sew"! It works so well for the likes of me who can't stand up to cut making cutting so much easier.Originally Posted by Pagzz
I have a large cutting mat that I pull out for this kind of cutting. After squaring up or cutting off the selvage, I use the grid on the mat to get the 7" wide needed. And I fold the fabric so that I am cutting about 15" for each cut with my 18" ruler.
I also ripped my borders when I made Queen size quilts. Also ripped the binding while I was at it but added an 1/8" to the width. You loose a little fabric by ripping. Border can always be trimmed when the quilting is done and before you attach the binding.
A Good Friend, like an old quilt, is both a Treasure and a Comfort
Having had problems with puckering when ripping, I carefully cut off the selvedge with scissors; fold the length of the fabric in half twice (only) so the cut edges line up (to reduce cutting slippage from having too many layers) and folded piece fits on cutting board. Measure width of strip and cut a short cut at each folded edge of fabric, then turn too-narrow ruler back to line up with these slits and cut the rest of the way.
Retired math teacher --
I CAN FIGURE IT OUT!
I cut just about everything on a table that is 18" x 24". As long as you fold the fabric so the folds are parallel with the selveges, and cut on a 90° angle, your fabric will be straight.
I fold the fabric selvege to selvege (the long way), then I fold it again. At this point the yardage is about 9" wide and 4 layers deep. I square off the raw edges at the end - line the ruler up with the selvege end and the folded end, and cut the raw edge. Then measure and cut the piece I need.
If you don't want to piece your border, you can fold and cut the long way. If you end up cutting more than 4 layers, just make sure you have a sharp blade in your cutter, and cut slowly.
Peckish aka Peggi
http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com
I have tried tearing fabric a couple times, and I am not a fan. I know it works for others but I just didn't like how stretched the fabric was and how much I had to trim off.
Peckish the instructions call for each piece to be cut length of fabric 90". If I folded it enough times to fit my 24" mat I don't think I could cut through it, or do you keep moving it to get the uncut portion on the mat?
I don't like the distorted 1/2 inch that ripping causes. I would rip 8 inches and then accordion fold the ripped 8 inch piece and re-cut to the correct width. If you only have a 6 1/2 inch ruler you will need to use the lines on the cutting mat or put another ruler behind it.
I square up one end. Mark 7 inches in along the length. Then I use a LONG straight edge/yard stick I bought at Lowes & draw a line connecting the marks. This (see link) one is 6 foot long & not too expensive. I have another than is 4 foot long. They have a hole drilled in the end for storage. I store them via a screw on the sewing room wall behind the door. This keeps it from getting bent. This is the 6 foot one I bought: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?...llow&cId=PDIO1
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