Iceblossom

I figured this out a number of years ago when I had an exactly Olfa green piece of fabric and even though my vision was much better then, I still had a hard time cutting. I'm using this more and more, busy prints and black fabrics are also improved by simply slipping a piece of fabric under the cut edge of the fabric to provide contrast. I like using envelopes, they are a nice weight and size but this just shows a piece of typing paper.


You can't see it so well, but that's an entire bolt of this almost-Olfa green fabric at the thrift store and I am prepared to use it!

Stitchnripper

That is a great idea - my vision is fine but I think that would help me improve accuracy. Thanks!!

Onebyone

Those yellow lined rulers give me a headache. They are so hard to use even with good eyesight.

GingerK

Yes I have also used that trick when the fabric and the mat are too close in colour. I also turn over my mat to cut smaller pieces of batting because of the residual fibers. I have found a bathtub scrubby helps remove the batting fibers from the mat.

toogie

Great tip!
I was telling my sister about your fabric finds at your Thrift Shop because I recently got her started quilting. We both wanna go meet & shop with you!-lol- I can't comprehend anyone getting rid of a bolt of fabric or how much it would cost at the Thrift Shop. Amazing

Iceblossom

A lot of it is timing and a lot of it is Seattle is relatively a very wealthy area. I go looking on a regular route to several stores, I don't always find things and I turn down more fabric than I pick up. But I have a list of things I'm looking for and so I look.

The bolt cost $15 and I snatched it up! There were two other partial bolts, Kaffe Fasett at the same time. One was exactly Olfa green and one was very peach. I let someone else get those.

The back I recently completed is made with a happy piece of 3 yard Makower that was $5.99 and I paid full price for that one. The other half is a batik, it is a couple yards longer and was also $5.99 (Goodwill is typically closer to $2/yard, St Vincent I go to is usually still closer to $1/yard) but it was on tag day (linens) and so I got it for half off! A back for less than $10 is a lovely thing.

Sure, a lot of the fabric I find is harder to use than others and you can't just go out looking for a particular shade of blue or whatever, but if you can see the potential and you go often you can get some good buys. One thing I know, if you don't pick it up when you see it if you go back even 15 minutes later someone else has taken it.

Tartan

​Wow a whole bolt, congratulations!

ube quilting

I fold darker fabrics inside out to the lighter side which also helps with the needed contrast.

Ariannaquilts

I really do miss finding things at Goodwill, I just recently went trying to find some fabric for a tester for a dress no such luck. I go to two different ones and nothing. I’ve noticed some areas have better things than others.

janjanq

Thanx for the tip. Definitely going to try it.