Cutting long strips of fabric
01-19-2012, 09:06 PM
#21
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I had to do this in a class I took. We refolded the fabric end to end and taped two long rulers together. The teacher held onto the rulers and I used the rotary cutter. Gotta tell you - it wasn't the most fun thing I've ever done and I can't believe the teacher held those rulers while I was moving that blade towards her. I think I would have done it the other way. I now have a pattern that has me cutting two 6 1/2" strips the length of fabric and I'm a little nervous.
01-20-2012, 11:40 AM
#23
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
I have never had a problem cutting four pieces of fabric with a new rotary blade. I open up the fabric. Fold the length of the fabric and SEW the selvages together on one side. Fold again and sew the selvages together (same side) again. Press the fabric. You now have a piece of fabric that's straight on one side, folded and pressed. Start cutting on the side that's unsewn and work your way across the fabric. Unless you have something larger than a king-size (104 inch length), you only have about 3 yards of fabric (9 feet) folded into a four thickness piece of fabric that's less than 30 inches long.
01-20-2012, 02:34 PM
#24
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,258
So interesting to see this question. It is the same question that I Googled and that lead me to this board! The answers were very similar to the ones posted here. Have enjoyed reading this board almost daily since then. I had to cut 10 inch wide by 80 inch strips for the border from such pretty fabric. It really slowed the progress of the quilt because I was so afraid to do it. I ended up using the marks on my cutting mat for the 10 inches, which I don't normally do, and then just kept sliding the fabric up as I cut. I lined my 24 inch ruler up with the 10 inch markings. Turned out just fine.
01-20-2012, 03:51 PM
#25
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,453
To cut a long length like that I measure and move the ruler along as I go. I don't cut right to the end of the ruler so I then have the same line to line it up, then I remove the selvedge. The next strip I will have measured at the same time as I measured the first as well as any subsequent strips. May take longer but I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist.
01-20-2012, 03:59 PM
#26
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: St. Louis suburbs
Posts: 6,084
Eleanor Burns started out ripping fabric and I remember doing it also many years ago. Not too long ago, I wanted some very long borders without cutting them or piecing them so I ripped them. My husband helped me and I went really slow and it was okay. They were perfectly straight and even, but they did have loose threads. I cut the loose threads and ironed the edges and am very happy with what I ended up with. I remember learning in 7th grade home economics how to rip to get an even edge.
01-20-2012, 05:11 PM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,695
I agree -- rip it. I cut the cross-wise grain (selvage to selvage) and rip the lengthwise grain (parallel to the selvage). Ripping is the best way to be sure the long strips are truly on the straight of grain. I also rip the crosswise grain to get a good edge before I start my cutting. The fabric on the bolts is so far off grain I ...... no I should not get started. 
01-20-2012, 05:55 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Alabama
Posts: 649
Charlotte the selvege is the side that has the colors dots you can match to the fabric or the side where the streth doesn't stretch. Clear as mud, huh. I was wondering, my name is Charlotte also and my website is Charlotte-quilts.com
I couldn't help but notice your name.
I couldn't help but notice your name.
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