Thread: Need Help with Cutting Strips

I am having a terrible time with cutting strips for my quilt. I am trying a Bargello and need a lot of these. However, I can't cut them straight, my ruler slides...Help! What is the best way to get even strips?

you could put sandpaper dots on the underside of your ruler, maybe you need to exert more pressure on the ruler...

You can try putting a little piece of sandpaper on the back of your ruler in the corners. This helps.

Also, when cutting, be sure you don't push the cutter toward the ruler. Just go at a good speed with an even amount of pressure. The number one most important, be sure your blade is sharp.

This will take a little time and you will get the hang of it.

Barn

also ironing your material and folding, and making sure it is folded straight, and it is laying flat will help. If you are standing to cut, try standing to the side a little, and lining up you hand with where you want to cut.

Nancy - Click on SEARCH at the top of this page, then type in cutting strips and you will find lots of discussions that will help you.

Originally Posted by quazyquilter

you could put sandpaper dots on the underside of your ruler, maybe you need to exert more pressure on the ruler...

this really helps

My favorite ruler is one with a lip at the edge. Line it up with the edge of your cutting matte and it's much easier to cut straight strips. And the sand paper dots help too!

There is a new ruler out made just for strips and I bought one at Walmart and I love it, my strips are much straighter. It is an acrlyic with precut slits in the square every 1/2 inch and it is about 18 inches wide by about 18 inches long, you lay it on your fabric after you iron and set it up and then cut every so many inches depending on your width of strips you require so you make around 4 or 5 sets at a time. It is a time saver also.

Originally Posted by janedennis

There is a new ruler out made just for strips and I bought one at Walmart and I love it, my strips are much straighter. It is an acrlyic with precut slits in the square every 1/2 inch and it is about 18 inches wide by about 18 inches long, you lay it on your fabric after you iron and set it up and then cut every so many inches depending on your width of strips you require so you make around 4 or 5 sets at a time. It is a time saver also.

This is the shapemaker by June Taylor. I love mine, use it frequently when cutting multiple strips of the same color.

I tried that before posting but I have not found anything yet that really addresses my issue so I thought I would post my question.