ruck9085

Does anyone have a handy tip for cutting folded fabric without getting that wavy jag?
Sometimes use my 12.5 shape cut ruler with the cutting grooves and I nearly always have to fold the fabric, sometimes three times to get the needed length. Every time I do, I get this swerve sort of, it's never perfectly straight when I unfold the strips and tugging it into place when I sew makes my strips un-straight. What am I doing wrong?

Maureen NJ

I saved this info from Prism on a previous thread. Bends are caused by not having your ruler positioned ***exactly*** 90 degrees from each fold. Since you are double folding, you have to make sure that the ruler is hitting *both* folds at 90 degrees.

Basically, before cutting, you need to measure from one fold to the other fold all across the fabric, making sure that the distance between the two folds remains the same. If it does, and if you get your ruler lined up at 90 degrees from one fold, it will also be lined up at 90 degrees from the other fold.

Incidentally, holding the selvedge edges together and sliding them until the fabric hangs straight has nothing to do with whether or not you get bends in your cuts. It's a nice thing to do to make sure that your fabric lies flat on the table, and may help slightly with keeping the cuts on-grain. That's it.

If you want to test out the 90-degree angle thing, take a few sheets of paper. Fold them (with edges matching or any which way). Be careful to position your ruler on the fold for the 90-degree angle. (This simply means that the cross lines on your ruler match up perfectly with the fold.) Cut. Now do another one with the ruler just slightly tilted off that 90-degree angle. When you unfold the two pieces, the 90-degree cut will not have a bend; the other will. The farther away your ruler is from 90-degrees to the fold, the bigger the bend will be at the fold.

You can double-fold some paper and test again. With one sheet, make sure that the folds are equi-distant from each other; with the other sheet, make sure the folds measure closer at one side and farther away from each other on the other. Cut both with the ruler positioned at 90 degrees from one fold. You will see how having the folds equidistant from each other are the key to not having bends in the cut strips.

Peckish

I agree 100%. I cut nearly ALL my yardage on a little 2-ft mat, which means it's folded. As long as your ruler is perpendicular to the folds, your cuts will be fine.

rryder

Use a large square ruler if you have one. Place one of the horizontal lines along the bottom fold of your fabric--this will help you keep your cuts perpendicular to the selvage.
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Onebyone

Good lighting and standing over and looking down at the ruler and not across it from the bottom up really makes a difference.

wesing

Here is the thread Maureen refers to. There is some other good info on the thread, but Prism's post was the most helpful to me. Hope this helps.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t264611.html

joe'smom

If your fabric is lining up with the ruler on the side and on the bottom, you're good to cut. If the fabric isn't lining up with both the side and the bottom of the ruler, it means the fold is off, and your cut will have a bend. Don't cut until both edges line up with the ruler.

ManiacQuilter2

I use another square ruler to add to the length (on the fold) showing that I am straight on the fold. Sometimes check that the fold in itself is straight.

recycler

What a great question! I have been quilting for 30 some years, have taken several classes, read a gazillion blogs, but have never heard this. Luckily I haven't had the wonky strip thing happen very often, but when it does, I just say a few choice words and work with it. Can't wait to put this in my bag of tricks!

ruck9085

I did it!!!! Awesome! Thank you!