Cutting for a Swap Tip (from one of my mentors):
Avoid sending duplicates or ruining the count by color coding the fabric before cutting:
white, grey, & black
red, orange, pink, & purple
blue, aqua, & green
yellow, cream, tan, & brown
Cut color coded stacks to the desired measurements to achieve the swap count (example: a 10"x10" cut makes 16 2.5" charms - 15 to swap & 1 to keep). You can cut 4-6 fabrics in a stack at a time which makes starting & stopping faster & the color code indicates where to begin later. Align a color coded stack on a lined corner of a marked cutting mat & place fabric with a stripe on top which enables cutting straight lines throughout the stack. Fussy Cuts are cut separately to center the focal point then added to their color stack, adding an element of surprise to the receiver! NOTE: Fabric color is determined by the background, if unsure use the dominant fabric color.