Best way to get large yardage to cut straight
 

I have washed, dried and ironed my 6 yards of fabric. I know that you are supposed to hold/fold the fabric salvege to salvege and slide the salveges until no wrinkles show on the fold. I can do this in 1 yard increments somewhat without getting "bendy" strips when I need to cut accross width of fabric. I do run into problems when yardage goes beyond my initial 1 yard (or less) cut plane. Should I just cut up my yardage into 1 yard increments, or struggle with the remainder in order to keep the yardage on the straight-of grain? This has bothered me for years! Looking forward to the talented and wise advice from this board.:o

I can usually manage 1 to 1.5 yds max. However, in order to maximize my fabric
usage, I plan how many squares and strips I will need. Make a little diagram and
see how many strips/squares fit in one yard. Then I can adjust a little more or a
little less. I always add one or two inches for safety. Does this makes sense?

I also cut my yardage down to make it more manageable. Usually a yard; sometimes 1-1/2 yards.

I always cut my yardage into half yards to sub cut. I have better control and can keep the fabric perfectly aligned. When I use my Go to cut strips I use a yard of fabric at a time.

I always cut large amounts down to manageable pieces. I find that anything more than 1.5 yards is too hard to handle and make sure it straight on the grain when I cut.

This is our method also. I say OUR because DH and I do most of the cutting together. He runs the rotary cutter.

I wouldn't want to have cut it into 1 yd pieces only to find that I need borders 1 1/2 yard long. And I like to cut binding the length of fabric with the fewest joins possible. Therefore, I leave it in 1 large piece. When folding, I put the selvages together every 1/2 - 3/4 yd & keep holding the previous segment in one hand, the fabric folds accordian style. When I'm all the way through the yardage, I hold it up and let it drop into a fold at the other side. Then I gently lay it down and pick it up again along the fold about every 1/2-3/4 yard. While holding the total yardage this way, I shake it so the grain will straighten out. Then lay it down again and either fold it accordian style or in half, then in half, again and again until its the size I want to store.

Surely if you are planning kaleidoscope quilts you can't cut down .how would it be to use the clips or clamps to hold in place or just fold in half and rinse dry before using again. I would not be in favour of cutting in case I need a longer length.

i keep my yardage long. i do it the same as petthefabric. if my queen quilt needs borders, i want to be able to cut them LOF in one piece.

Since I too like my borders (and sashing, when applicable) cut as one whole strip rather than pieceing them, I usually take large cuts of fabric and cut them down into 2 yard pieces. This way, it's manageable to fold, but if I want a long cut from them, I have plenty of fabric to do so. The way I line up the selvedge and fan-fold is the same as PetTheFabric. :)

I tear my borders first then cut the fabric into smaller pieces.

I recommend the same method as bunniequilter. Tear your fabric, and you'll always have a straight edge! This is also good to remember when making backs. My friend is a longarm quilter, and she doesn't appreciate getting backs that aren't "square up"!

I do as petthefabric and QuiltnNan do. It's not hard to manage at all. I also resquare the cut edge every so often as I'm cutting. I never cut fabric into smaller pieces than I need at that particular moment.

Thank you all for your advice. I have learned several things here.
1. Know what size quilt you intend to make before you cut.
2. Know the cutting instructions of the pattern you intend to use in order to make best usage of yardage. Some patterns call for cutting border strips "length-of-fabric" first, before cutting other strips the width of fabric.
3. It is "OK" to cut large lengths of yardage down to workable lengths. 3 yards is long enough for a king size quilt!
4. After getting the fabric on the straight of grain with salvege to salvage, I think I will pin every half yard through the salveges to keep it from shifting as I go to the next yard and the next. I might even pin at the fold line also.
Then I can fold the whole piece in half lengthwise bringing the fold line up to the salveges. From there, I can fold accordian style as Petthefabric suggested.
Again, thank you all for your suggestions. Very insightful for me.

I learned something new this morning. Thanks.

I also never cut mine. do not want to find out later that I need a longer piece and have to buy more.

I hold one hand on the lower left corner, put other a bit over a yard farther in on the top side, then swap, keep moving down the fabric that way. Gets fabric in a little better shape, although some will never get straight.

I agree!!!!!

This is pretty much what I do too (unless I can get DH or another pair of hands to help me fold).

However ... If I have say 4 yards of fabric and I only need to cut 1 yard or less ... I'll only worry about folding 1.5 yards properly to make my cutting for the project then refold the remaining fabric to be wrapped onto a core and stored.

When I have a piece that long, it generally means that part of it is backing. I measure that piece generously and rip it - then can generally deal with the rest of it without too much of a problem.

I never cut up long yardages until I am ready to use in a project. Then plan for what I want to do and then know if I can cut one yard chunks at a time. For cutting I can then do 1 yard at a time so that it stays straight. I do not take a real long time to fold that long yardage precisely selvage to selvage when I am just putting it away. Life is too short - I get it sorta there and put it away. When its time to use it then its time to fuss with it.

Hope you all read between the lines. LOL After I place my hands side-goggling I stretch the fabric and then stretch the other way. So much for leaving out inportant info! Duh to me!

if you are cutting from large pieces, you need to realign every half or so yards. One well known quilter/writer suggests checking about every 6" of cut to make sure the ruler hasn't slipped. I have a "big board" and I alighn the ends and lay the piece over the board and then iron. As I go along I check to make sure the fabric has remained straight. this usually works.

I try to square up the selvage with the edge of the fabric, making sure the beginning fabric cut line is straight. Then if I am careful, the cut lines are going to be straight. Good luck

I don't cut my fabric, even the longer pieces. I'm afraid of how much I would waste if I cut it up. I hang the fabric pieces over the staircase and get the edges to line up. I prefer 3 yards or less, but the longer is doable. It's folded in half lengthwise and I've learned to adjust it so that the edges are even. I give it a sharp snap (like when you are folding sheets). I fold it by wrapping it around my 24" ruler, then slide the ruler out and fold the fabric roll in half. It stacks up quite nicely that way.

I was taught to straighten the grain of fabric by pulling the bias of the fabric until the selvages are parallel. When the yardage is very long this is rather daunting to do. However, if you find a "helper" it is very doable. Find the true bias and have you and your helper move down the length of the fabric (pulling in the bias dimension) at the same intervals-maybe 6 inches at a time. Check frequently to be sure you are maintaining the straight grain. I like to do it this way so I can make borders on the lengthwise grain whenever possible. Keep the options open by keeping fabric in one piece. I might add that I like to cut lots of pieces lengthwise rather that crosswise because it is more stable.

If I need to keep it straight, I will cut in about 1 inch and rip it, then trim the ratty edge. It works for me.

I know if I cut the yardage it would wind up in the wrong spot and I'd be short of fabric! LOL

When I fold long yardage I start in the center (3 yds in your case) and line it up there. Then I work toward each end. While not perfect every time, it's better than cutting in the wrong place. Fabric can always be ironed again when I know exactly where to cut.

I would assume this is for when you are ready to use it, not for storage. I wouldn't think cutting fabric into "manageable pieces" is a good idea if don't know what you are going to do with it yet.

If you need larger pieces, say for a back, you can straighten it in sections. I bought a bunch of yardage from a quilt shop that was closing and managed to straighten it and ruler fold it by doing it in sections without cutting. Most of what I got was still on the bolt, so you know how large those pieces were.

Sorry for the stupid question, but once you get it straight, do you cut along the salvage or against it, or does it matter?

this has been a great thread... I've always wondered this, but didn't ask... Thanks everyone!!

If I am cutting borders and binding I cut with the length of the fabric when I have that much length. If I am cutting strips for piecing I cut across the fabric. The crosswise has a smidgeon more give than the lengthwise, so I prefer it for easing patches/blocks together. If you cut your borders from the crosswise you will almost always end up needing to piece them.