Lanalee

I have about 4 yards of flannel I need to cut into 6" blocks for a ragg quilt. What is the best way to cut this so I'm not dealing with 4 yards flapping around in my way.

Thanks
Lana

athomenow

Can you fold it like you would any other fabric so you can cut into 6" strips and then squares from that. That's how I do it.

Lanalee

Because flannel is so bulky, and I was concerned about getting wavy lines, I was hoping there was another way other than folding it several times.

Fabaddict

you can fold it in half and roll it up on a long ruler, and use that same ruler to cut it into strips, then use a shorter one to cut the squares

quiltingcandy

I start out cutting it into one yard pieces and then cut the six inch strips and then into squares. Not so concerned about the wavy since you are making a rag quilt. Flannel is so flexible it will stretch where you want it to go.

mary quite contrary

I often put the fabric on a chair beside my cutting table so the weight of the fabric doesn't pull it all off the table.

Lanalee

Thanks, I apaprciate your responses. I forgot that I didn't have to be so fussy with ragg quilts.

wvdek

Here's what I would do:
After washing to preshrink the fabric, dry in dryer, iron, then fold selvedge to selvedge. Here's where most folks rush through - match up the selvedges all teh way across so that bottom is straight and if you end up short on either end. make your straight cut. Then fold fobric over itself until you have about 24' showing then cut into 6" strips with your roatary cutter and 6x24' ruler.
Continue unfolding fabric and cutting until whole piece is cut into strips.
Then, place two strips ,one on top of the other lengthwise on mat, measure into 6" and cut through all layers. Do this until all pieces are cut.
You should prabably put a new blade in before cutting and another when all done. I have found cutting flannel is hard on blades even more so than fleece, I think.

Hope that all made sense.

PWinston

My solution to that was to purchase Connecting Threads charm squares of their flannel line. Of course, those are only 5" square but it sure saved a lot of cutting time, plus you got variety of fabrics with it.

watterstide

Exactly how i do it..most people line up the sides..and that is the wrong way to do it..sometimes you will loose alot of fabric on the ends,
but if you do it the right way, the dreaded "v" won't be an issue.