How to Fussy Cut
08-24-2010, 01:09 PM
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,387
I cut a 4.5 inch square from template plastic
then I put 1/4 inch masking tape around the edges to "frame" the cutout
(or you could just mark a "seam line" on the template
cut your first piece
if you are OCD - you can cut your first square - then lay the cut square on the next "cutting site" - line up the pattern - and cut them one by one -
This is one place/time where I do think starching/sizing before cutting is worth the effort.
then I put 1/4 inch masking tape around the edges to "frame" the cutout
(or you could just mark a "seam line" on the template
cut your first piece
if you are OCD - you can cut your first square - then lay the cut square on the next "cutting site" - line up the pattern - and cut them one by one -
This is one place/time where I do think starching/sizing before cutting is worth the effort.
08-24-2010, 01:30 PM
#4
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 67
OK, this is definitely not as easy as having the perfect template but it will work.
Take any square, relative clear template that is larger than 4.5" and mark off two sides of the square with tape. I often use Scotch tape that I place so that the middle of the tape is about where the exact measurement should be and then mark the tape with the exact measurement with a bright colored Sharpie pen marker.
To cut, pick your fussy spot, cut the two sides that the square template defines, rotate/move the template and line up your tape marks with the cuts, and cut the final two sides.
The problem with this method is that since you have to move the template, the final patch is more to prone to error.
When completely done cutting all of your squares, remove the tape and your template is good as new.
Take any square, relative clear template that is larger than 4.5" and mark off two sides of the square with tape. I often use Scotch tape that I place so that the middle of the tape is about where the exact measurement should be and then mark the tape with the exact measurement with a bright colored Sharpie pen marker.
To cut, pick your fussy spot, cut the two sides that the square template defines, rotate/move the template and line up your tape marks with the cuts, and cut the final two sides.
The problem with this method is that since you have to move the template, the final patch is more to prone to error.
When completely done cutting all of your squares, remove the tape and your template is good as new.
08-24-2010, 02:32 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 535
I'd suggest cutting out a 4 1/2" square opening in a piece of thin, but stiff, cardboard. Use the opening to mark a square on the fabric and then cut. Once the first one is marked/cut, use the corners of it to exactly locate/mark the corners of each additional square. Be careful to not enlarge the opening of your template while marking the fabric. (You might have to make several identical cut-out templates if you're marking a lot of squares...) I used this method to fussy cut a circle for the center of a Wagon Wheel block and it worked really well. I could see exactly what the piece looked like before I marked it and cut it. Good luck with your quilt!
08-24-2010, 02:36 PM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: West Coast
Posts: 9,267
Originally Posted by DoxieMom
I'd suggest cutting out a 4 1/2" square opening in a piece of thin, but stiff, cardboard. Use the opening to mark a square on the fabric and then cut. Once the first one is marked/cut, use the corners of it to exactly locate/mark the corners of each additional square. Be careful to not enlarge the opening of your template while marking the fabric. (You might have to make several identical cut-out templates if you're marking a lot of squares...) I used this method to fussy cut a circle for the center of a Wagon Wheel block and it worked really well. I could see exactly what the piece looked like before I marked it and cut it. Good luck with your quilt!
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