Sue Kitten

I'm very new to quilting. The problem that I'm having is when I cut my fabric to the specific size needed I either have a slope in the fabric or what I call a hill. I fold the fabric salvage to salvage and same time in half again and then cut to the size needed. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you in advance
Sue

Sunnye

You have to reposition (a little) and square up the fabric again after a few cuts.
Personally, I try not to fold it twice because this always happens to me, but if you don't have that room or arm length, then make sure you reposition every three or so cuts.

Tartan

I would recommend getting a large square ruler. A large square allows you to line up the folded side with the square to keep the strips you cut off on the other side of the square straight.

quiltingsavta

Sometimes folding salvage to salvage doesn't always line up properly. Next time let the fabric lay where it wants...meaning the salvage edges by not lining up - one side may be at a slope, but the fold will be perfect, then fold again. Lay the fold on the cutting mat lining up the fold with the line, then cut the edge so that it is straight. Sometimes a visual is better so if you don't understand what I'm saying let me know and I'll try to take some pictures and send them along.

auntpiggylpn

When I cut fabric that is folded I make sure I line my ruler up with the folded edge not the salvage edge. This really has helped me. I don't get those dreaded "V"s (or humps or hills) anymore.

Prism99

Are you talking about V bends in the fabric strips that you cut? If so, the issue involves how you are cutting in relation to the folds, and actually has nothing to do with matching selvedges.

To get a perfectly straight strip when you cut a folded fabric, the ruler *must* be positioned so your cut is exactly 90 degrees in relation to the fold. One way to do this is to use a T-square, where you line up the non-cutting edge exactly with your fold; the cut edge will then be an exact 90 degrees. The way I do it is to use two rulers. I line up one ruler so that it is exactly on the fold, then butt up my cutting ruler to the end of the positioning ruler. Obviously this is going to work better with one fold rather than two folds. With two folds, the folds must be *exactly* parallel to each other.

To test what I am saying, take a piece of paper and fold it in half. The fold represents the fold in fabric. Cut with a ruler so that the angle is obviously *not* 90 degrees from the fold. When you open up the paper, you will see a V where the fold was. The farther from 90 degrees the cut is, the wide the V will be.

Milli

This helped me, thanks.

NJ Quilter

I completely agree with this. If you're having trouble coming up with a visual, try this...fold your fabric selvage to selvage and hold it in the air - you'll likely see a 'bubble' at the fold line. That 'bubble' is what is creating your 'v' when you cut. Lay that piece of fabric flat on your table and smooth out the bubble. I'm fortunate that I have a large enough cutting surface to not have to fold again. If you must, just repeat that process.

pumpkinpatchquilter

I do this too! Line the fabric up where it wants...as close as I can to lining it up. Also, make sure you're not cutting too fast, and that there are no tucks of fabric hidden in the folds. Sometimes when I have too many layers this happens. Make sure everything is nice and flat, the ruler is lined up correctly, then slowly cut.

Maureen NJ

I 'm not sure I understand what you're all describing but you do want to have fabric lay selvage to selvage. If it doesn't lay flat, stretch the material gently on the diagonal and then it will lay flat. You can't cut off the edge of the uneven selvage side, as someone suggested (if I understood correctly), as then the pattern on a printed fabric may be off. I hope I made it clear enough for you to understand.