Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
folding and cutting a large piece of fabric >

folding and cutting a large piece of fabric

folding and cutting a large piece of fabric

Old 06-25-2011, 06:56 AM
  #1  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
annesthreads's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,145
Default

Help please. I'm spatially challenged and just can't work out how to cut a backing from a large piece of fabric. The fabric is approx. 108in by 80in. I want a backing measuring 72in x 61in. My largest cutting board is 35in x 23in. I have a ruler that will allow me to cut the length of the board. I've been trying to work out how to fold and cut the fabric, but it's beyond me, and I'm worried that I'll ruin it by making the wrong cut - have managed in the past to end up with 2 pieces! Folding the fabric is also proving difficult, as I'm on my own, don't have enough space to lay it out and I think it's not been cut anything like straight.
annesthreads is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:03 AM
  #2  
Super Member
 
Scissor Queen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
Default

Measure off about 80 inches along the selvedge and snip it and tear it. Yes you'll get strings and fraying but it will be straight and on grain. Do the same for the other direction and give yourself about 6 inches extra.
Scissor Queen is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:18 AM
  #3  
Super Member
 
hobo2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boonsboro, MD
Posts: 2,670
Default

Scissor Queen is right. Tearing saves time and gives you the straight grain and solves your space problem.
hobo2000 is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:20 AM
  #4  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
annesthreads's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,145
Default

Originally Posted by hobo2000
Scissor Queen is right. Tearing saves time and gives you the straight grain and solves your space problem.
Thankyou both! - will take a deep breath and try this.
annesthreads is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:25 AM
  #5  
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
Default

tear it don't try to cut it. The back will then be streaight both ways.
Holice is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:41 AM
  #6  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 256
Default

OK - I'm going to ask this question. If there is no salvage on the fabric, how do you know which way the grain is? Is it stretch or not stretchy? Can you tell I am really new to this quilting/sewing thing???
Elisabethann is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:48 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 768
Default

The selvedge (straight of grain) side will not stretch. The crosswise cut will stretch, even if only slightly.

Don't forget to cut the backing several inches larger on all sides than what you think you need.
Carol's Quilts is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 07:59 AM
  #8  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
annesthreads's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,145
Default

Originally Posted by annesthreads
Originally Posted by hobo2000
Scissor Queen is right. Tearing saves time and gives you the straight grain and solves your space problem.
Thankyou both! - will take a deep breath and try this.
OK - have done it and I now have a nice piece of fabric for my backing, with a good margin all round. And I've learned something: the person who taught me always cut, even if it involved complicated folding - which I can never figure out. Tearing will be a great help.
annesthreads is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 08:13 AM
  #9  
Power Poster
 
QuiltnNan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
Posts: 51,433
Default

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Measure off about 80 inches along the selvedge and snip it and tear it. Yes you'll get strings and fraying but it will be straight and on grain. Do the same for the other direction and give yourself about 6 inches extra.
exactly!
QuiltnNan is offline  
Old 06-25-2011, 08:46 AM
  #10  
Super Member
 
feffertim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca
Posts: 2,633
Default

good tip, I needed to know that
feffertim is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
yweinst
Main
6
03-04-2013 07:48 AM
AndysC
Main
45
03-01-2013 09:09 PM
coffeebreak
Main
39
11-20-2012 03:58 PM
irishrose
Main
13
03-02-2011 08:03 PM
SueJ
Main
5
01-06-2011 06:42 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter