I was given this pattern and spent about $90 on the fabric for the top. I was going to start cutting tonight and it is the first of any like this I've done. Anyone have any insights before I cut the fabric.

I have the pattern but haven't made one yet. I've seen guild members cut out the patches and it's super easy, much easier then the Stack and Whack.

I haven't cut one yet but I did go to a demonstration and the best thing I learned is, lay your fabric out, on the selvage is the manufacturer's name and the little color circles. The repeat of the fabric falls between where the verbage ends and starts up again. Disregard the color circles, start at the end of the verbage (manufacture info) and go to the beginning of the verbage (manufacture info). If you put you hands down on the fabric in those two locations, you'll see the pattern is in the exact same place where your hands are.

Wow thanks. Finding the repeat was one of my biggest issues. When I bought the fabric I asked how long the repeat is and they just said it's usually 12 inches. Usually never works out right for me.

I just stick a pin in a place on the fabric and then line up the pin in the exact same spot on the underneath fabric layers. The repeat is perfectly accurate this way. The four patch saves fabric as you can get many repeats in 1/4 yard.

Thank you. The LSQ said she thought I was over buying but I got what it said plus like 1/4 yard for errors cause as we all know it won't be there later and that shop is like 2 hours from my house.

I made one and didn't buy a pattern...I used this tutorial...

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...81579859euwgqH

It was very easy!! Most important thing is stacking your 4 layers perfect. PINS....use lots of flat head pins!

Here is a link to a pic of mine...

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-140082-1.htm

One little warning....these are VERY addicting!! Now when I go into a fabric shop I find myself looking at all the fabric to see if it will work for another one....LOL

Lots of luck and have fun!

If it's the same pattern I got 3 years ago it's near impossible to understand. I wasn't alone and we asked our LQS to have a class. It turned out to be super easy. The only time consuming part was lining up the print on the 4 layers. One of my favorite patterns :thumbup:

Pick your repeat spot, the tip of a leaf etc. on the selvage side of the fabric. Find that same tip of the leaf on the other side of the FOLD and stick a pin in. Take a long ruler or square and make sure the repeat is running straight on the grain, if not you may need to cut the fabric. I had this problem when I wanted to do my 4PP. The fabric was off about an inch but I managed to cut 3 of my 4 stack of squares and then had to readjust my stack. Hope you have better luck.

Please post when you have it finished. Love to see it.

WOW I cannot believe that said that. the repeat can be anywhere from about 6 to 24 inches. You need to examine your fabric and determine the size of YOUR fabric repeat. Look about an inch or so up from the selvedge for a very obvious item in the pattern, like the tip of a leaf or the nose on an animal. then continue to look down the selvedge edge to see where that exact item is repeated. Measure the distance between these 2 occurances and that's the length of your repeat.

I was worried about this. It calls for different yardage depending on the repeat. I hope I got enough and didn't waste $90. Thanks everyone. I'm going to try cutting it tonight.

I got this pattern all cut last night. Her directions are as some of you mentioned a bit confusing. I especially don't like that she gives no info on how many strips of the block borders to cut, just says cut some. However, I did email the designer and she emailed back within an hour with additional pictures and advise. I'll probably start sewing on it Friday or Saturday.

be sure and pin exact at several places to line up each layer as perfect as you can. The beauty is points matching.
And cut down the fabric as that is always the exact repeat.

I loved making mine. I found some really neat material with interesting designs. The most patternded fabric of the line I used for the 4 patch posies. The coordinating stripe was for the sashing and the small coordinating pattern was for the cornerstones and borders.

I just pinned the the layers of fabric together matching a few points throughout and then cut away. It was a quick and easy quilt to make.

ali

You've gotta measure your repeats yourself. Can't trust any generalizations.

Always over buy--------------you'll find something to do with the excess. Not having enough is ugly!