you will get lots of conflicting advice because we all have our own preferences and methods that work best for us.
for me ...
pre-wash the fabric
starch the heck out of it. the stiffer the better
fold it very carefully so you are cutting on the straight of grain.
for borders and strip piecing i cut up and down along the warp (the side that doesn't stretch). no wavy borders, strips stay straight when sewn together
i prefer rulers that have very thin, but clearly visible lines and markers down to 1/8th of an inch
check along both the bottom and side(s) of the ruler to make sure it's lined up correctly.
use the lines on the ruler ... never the lines on the mat
cut standing up. better view of the fabric and ruler; arms and boobs don't get in the way.
watch this space for many, many other ways of doing things. ;-)
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- necessity is the mother of invention. lazy is the crazy aunt.
