Layer Cakes and Charms... use them as is, or re-cut them?

Reply Subscribe

Page 5 of 6

« First

Thread Tools

06-18-2012, 01:10 PM

#41

CAS49OR

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Posts: 2,667

I haven't used them, but I think the general idea is prevention of much cutting. I think I'd just trust the size is accurate if I was going to make a project with them.

06-18-2012, 01:14 PM

#42

Pat625

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: North Pole

Posts: 1,643

The only time I used precuts I ordered them from someone on the board who cut them for me..Great and accurate work!!

06-18-2012, 05:15 PM

#43

sulyle

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Central Florida

Posts: 242

I don't use charm packs much anymore because I've had problems with them being inaccurate. Doesn't make sense to me to pay to have something pre-cut and then have to recut it. Just my own personal quirk.

06-18-2012, 05:38 PM

#44

bearisgray

Power Poster

Join Date: May 2008

Location: MN

Posts: 24,644

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skittl1321

You can't expect them to be 5 x 5 after washing. All cotton fabric is sold unwashed, and pretty much any cotton product will shrink, often more in one direction from the other (hence the diamonds).

Really???????????????????????????????????????????? ??????

And that does not bother you?

06-18-2012, 06:30 PM

#45

fayzer

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Destin, Fl

Posts: 1,878

I don't intend to ever buy jelly rolls or charm packs again. I bought a Martelli No Slip Strip ruler and rotary cutter. I get perfect strips every cut. Well worth the money. If you sign up for their sales, you really get good buys.http://www.martellicatalog.com/mm5/m...egory_Code=STR

06-18-2012, 06:58 PM

#46

Betty Ruth

Senior Member

Join Date: May 2007

Posts: 397

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen

I just don't worry about precision. I'm not exactly precise to start with so I know how to fudge things and make them look perfect on the right side. If you put the crooked part on the inside nobody can see it.

You are my solemate.

06-18-2012, 07:08 PM

#47

Maggiem

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Posts: 217

I buy them fairly frequently so that I can get a little bit of everything without committing myself to yardage. I've never had any sort of problem with the sizes.

The only thing I dislike is when a manufacturer or seller slips a couple of really ugly fabrics into the mix - it's as if someone knew they were really ugly and wanted to get rid of them in a slightly sneaky kind of way!

06-18-2012, 07:15 PM

#48

Neesie

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: Texas, USA

Posts: 5,896

Quote:

Originally Posted by Favorite Fabrics

There have been several threads lately about the (usually small) inaccuracies in the pre-cut fabric bundles that the fabric companies put out.

Which made me wonder... if you have a layer cake or charm pack, do you *count* on them being precision cut?

Or do you generally re-cut and trim them yourself, anyway?

If I bought a pack (layer cake, charm pack or whatever) and the pieces were smaller than they claimed . . . or if they were cut crooked, I would NEVER buy from that manufacturer again. Would rather pay a little more, for something I can trust will be right.

06-19-2012, 04:09 AM

#49

kaylfordsollimo

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2011

Posts: 2,065

The Missouri Star Quilt Co. has at least two videos demonstrating quilts made with layer cakes - the 10 minute block and the other requires one cut (can't recall the name of the block exactly) for a slice and twist. Both quilts are really quick to construct for last minute gifts.
Kay in NJ

06-19-2012, 04:30 AM

#50

Skittl1321

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: Iowa

Posts: 816

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray

Really???????????????????????????????????????????? ??????

And that does not bother you?

No, it is a truth of the fabric world. Almost every pattern I have says "buy extra to account for shrinkage". Cotton shrinks and it is sold unwashed.

If my fabric needs to be prewashed for the pattern to work, I buy yardage. If I'm not prewashing, I may consider layer cakes or charms. I don't usually go smaller than a fat quarter though. I like Connecting Threads precuts, but Moda's are too expensive when you compare to the price of yard goods.