Just wondering how all of you cut your border fabric in one piece...say about 60 inches long. Do you use a rotary cutter or scissors? I'm struggling with this...not having any success with the rotary cutter.

I never have. Just sew strip together.don't know how u would do that. Did u check you tube? Thought I saw a tute once on it. Was one continous piece.

I use the rotary for most everything as it will give a much more evener cut.

If you're having problems, perhaps is it time to put in a new blade?

Usually I would not cut a full 60" strip ... rather I'd cut and join.
If two pieces, join in the centre.
If three, I'd put WOF in the centre, with short pieces on each side to make the full 60".

How and what I'd do, would be dependent on how long the other side is, and whether there are joins. Also, how many borders I'm working with. You want to change where the seams are on each layer of the border, so they are less noticeable that they'd be if they were stacked up on each other with each seam aligning.

I fold my fabric from end to end then cut with long straight edge and my rotary cutter. I got my straight edge from Home Depto in the tool dept. it's about 5 foot long made of metal.

:thumbup:

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I also fold mine from end to end and use my rotary cutter with my omnigrid ruler and 18x24 mat. Haven't had any problems as long as my blade is not dull.

Lengthwise - parallel to the selvage. I'll cut that first so I have the longest pieces possible and I make sure that the seams are not at any corner.

I just finished a quilt top yesterday that has seven borders. The last border was 7.5 x 88. I folded my fabric end to end so until there were 8 layers to cut. I then put in a NEW rotary blade. Cut through all the layers (parallel to the selvage)like it was butter. I will admit that I was nervous when I cut that last one but it worked out fine. I think a new, sharp blade was the key to success. I used a 6x24 ruler on a 23x35 inch mat.

if you want to cut your borders lengthwise you need to carefully fold your fabric into a manageble size- make sure you line up the folds well- trim the edge so it is nice and even- line up on the folded edge and cut your borders to the width you need-
or you can use a ruler with your fabric opened up and using chalk/pencil/or some other marking tool and draw the line the width you need then cut on the line with scissors

If your borders are coming out crooked then your fabric isnt squared. I used to have this problem all of the time. It's a pain to have to square and my hardest problem was you lose some fabric but at least you aren't losing fabric because it's curvy. My one teacher only tears her borders; she says it's the easiest and you'll always get them straight.

I cut my borders lengthwise cuz I really don't like to have joining seams in borders. I have an 81" table that I lay the fabric out on, folded selvage to selvage. I slide a 24" cutting mat under the fabric along the edge I'm cutting and use my 24" ruler. If I need more than 81", I carefully slide the fabric down and continue the cut. Cutting that way, there's no risk of elbows from folds and I cut the two side/end borders at the same time.

I rip it.

I prefer to cut lenghtwise if I have enough fabric. Fold it so that it is squared up - no ripples in the fold line. Make your first cut (to cut off selvedges) a generous cut. Before you make another cut - pick up your first cut and check each fold line to make sure you don't have the dreaded V. If you do, re-fold.

Cut one piece at a time, check each piece for the dreaded V before you cut the next!!

And use a brand new rotary blade.

Rip it!

I use the rotary cutter and cut the whole length if I have the fabric, which I would if I bought it for the quilt.. I did a kit and it didn't have enough to do in one strip so had to piece.

I piece my borders. If you do a diagnal seam you can hardly see it.

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I definitely will follow them.

I tear my fabric usually 1/2" wider than I need..works perfect every time!