Cutting Large and Trimming Down
 

I was asked for some clarification on this concept and realized that I am self-taught and don't know if there are books or videos or people that specialize in teaching others. Maybe some of you know some resources. Maybe some of you are resources and can add some tips.

While a lot of what I do now turns out to be vision adaptive, it actually started out as more accuracy faster, easier, and ultimately more fun even with the extra steps.

Short form (for me anyway) is that not all geometric shapes are the same -- but squares and right triangles are generally pretty easy to work with. Mostly I just cut each piece about 1/4" larger than directions/block diagram might call for -- it is important to keep in mind that (2) 1/4" = 1/2 total extra which is plenty extra. I already pressed each step and was checking my subunits for quality control when I decided to go large. I typically cut from strips or scraps and I'm not really wasting much fabric in the long run, not more than one extra strip or so per project.

Basic theory: I can cut down, but I can't cut up.

Goose units are a great time for this. I could trim off wonky corners but I couldn't make up shortages, and since I was already handling and trimming the units, why not make it worth the trim??

Here's my latest Goose units showing the made and pre-trimmed with the positioning template. If you are like me, don't use it for cutting! Line up the ruler next to it, remove the plastic and trim away.

With you on this!
I definitely make FG, HSTs, QSTs larger to cut back. And yes, would sooner have a reasonable piece to trim (not ridiculously huge!) rather than a few threads.

Crisp, sharp corners and edges piece together oh so much nicer than raggedy wonky ones, while producing better looking finished blocks when combining the pieces.

Yes, some extra wastage happens, but oh so much more worthwhile for the more desirable results.

I try to make large and square down everytime. Not always possible but it does make a nicer block.

I'm with you. I would much rather sew big, cut down, and have a nice looking unit rather than try for exact accuracy and end up sewing more units than I need just to get enough units that are good enough. Seems like I waste more fabric when I cut and sew for a unit to not need trimming than when I cut big and trim.

Same here, as I have learned that if I make HST's bigger than what I need and trim down, they allways come out right.

I prefer trying to sew to the correct size for most things, though I agree that it's better to be too large than too small; I use a very scant seam allowance and often need to do some trimming. For flying geese and square in a square units (which are always wonky for me) I like using the Deb Tucker trim down rulers.

Do this all the time with HST. I would rather make just a wee bit big and trim them, than to make just them just right and find they are wonky or have stretched through stitching and pressing. I either end up trimming anyway to fit or trimming to a smaller size that won't fit for the pattern at hand.

I agree extra is much better. I don't understand the mindset of but it wastes fabric. How much food do you scrape off dishes after each meal?

When cutting with a rotary cutter and rulers I always cut larger do my piecing and cut down. That is a standard for me. I can never cut straight triangles or seams so I always need to square things up to be precise. I bought the Accuquilt system a little over a year ago and have discovered the perfect cuts help me out better thought I still find it necessary to trim down sometimes as my 1/4" is sometimes not the Accuquilt 1/4". It all works out though and the accuracy is what is important thing. You can't make something larger but you can always cut down.

..........Paper Piecing to the rescue for SIAS perfection!

Love it! Totally agree.

True. But even with the paper piecing method, you cut big and cut down each section.

But oh so worthwhile for the results!

Yeah, and it sure saves your sanity. (or at least minehttps://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png), as I think that all things are possible with paper-piecing.

Totally agree!!
I've found that PPing is something to do when I am too tired to really pay attention and want to quilt. Getting those amazing results, keeps me going and going .... and oh so productive!!! (and maybe more tired?)

I also cut a little big. I am not known for my “precision”. Also - this post reminds us again that there is not just one way to do things and that one size does not fit all so to speak! And another thing is that if something isn’t working for us regardless of “I was always taught to (fill in the blank) it is okay to try a different way.

I totally agree about the advantage of paper piecing for accuracy. Removing the paper was the downside of that method for me. Then I discovered paperless paper piecing. It’s done with freezer paper. You don’t sew through the paper; you fold on the line and sew beside it. The same pattern can be used over and over so it saves paper and it saves the aggravation of needing to remove the paper from your stitching.

I totally agree about the advantage of paper piecing for accuracy. Removing the paper was the downside of that method for me. Then I discovered paperless paper piecing. It’s done with freezer paper. You don’t sew through the paper; you fold on the line and sew beside it. The same pattern can be used over and over so it saves paper and it saves the aggravation of needing to remove the paper from your stitching.

apologies, Iceblossom for the hijack.

ok....I have a dark little secret. For the most part, I avoid patterns that require real precise piecing. My bad....but it works for me. and overall my points are getting better with just plain repetition. One reason I like doing the Bonnie Hunter mysteries....usually lots of practice with points.

No hijack! I'm looking to collect various techniques and hints. I have used Paper PIecing, especially for those sharp V type angles/blocks, but to be honest I hadn't even thought about it being an accuracy tool for general quilting -- I think about it for tiny horrible awful intricate blocks only...

The trimming rulers and the other ways to make things are also good. I use templates and trimming down, I get confused with the multi-use trimming rulers and so I just keep sheets of the gridded acrylic template plastic around anyway. Another thing I'll do is put a piece of the 1/4" quilting tape (in my quilting toolbox) to mark lines/trims on my rulers. Helps me keep consistent, otherwise I have to keep counting and sooner or later something gets mis-cut.

Edit/PS: Every year my Tuesday quilt hostess tells me the same thing (because it's true) about the Bonnie Hunter mystery -- but you don't like thousands of little triangles. I'm planning on year 3 in a row this year!

Same person is also a fan of the folded paper piecing technique. She loaned me a book and I have a baby quilt of Paper Pieced Pandas on the to-do list.

Oh that sounds too darned cute!
IceBlossom ... Can you share a link for us to see the pattern?
Please? and Thanks!

The book is Painless Paper Piecing by Marjorie Rhines, is all about the folded technique and was highly recommended to me -- because as I say, paper piecing is not part of my strong skill set.
Here's an amazon link -- although there is an expensive copy, there are also more affordable options.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0971450110/ref=sr_aod_dp_img

The pattern itself is Su-Lin (Panda Bear) and I haven't found a very good picture yet, get a file not find error...you get a suggestion that the book is out of print and maybe you can find it on amazon! Here's the not very good picture that leads to the file not found link.
https://www.quiltdesignnw.com/ppp-gallery.htm

When trimming down, I like to use my rotating mat or even just a small mat on top of my usual cutting mat. It makes it much easier to turn and trim quickly without disturbing anything.

I recently made a quilt that had directions for cutting 5 3/4 squares to make half square triangles. I thought it was so much easier to just cut 6 inch squares, and trim. I am relatively new to quilting and have trouble squaring blocks if I don't have a ruler that is the same size as I want to trim to. This is one of the areas I am willing to spend money. I have a lot of rulers now.

Reader1, that's how it starts! Just so much easier to cut an easy measurement and you get the perfect results in the end.

One of the things I keep in my sewing tool kit is 1/4" quilters masking tape. When I don't have the exact perfect ruler, I will mark my cutting line with the tape, if you put it on the bottom of the ruler it can help with just a tiny bit more traction. Putting it on the top is usually 15 seconds faster and easier, doesn't really matter much except helps me be consistent.

edit: I should say that for my first 20 or so years of quilting I was all about being very precise. Very precise with my grain line. With my cuts. With my seams. Even with the amount of fabric I bought. I started shifting to this cut large idea about 20 years ago and the end result for me is that my blocks are better, and it is ultimately faster and easier and less stressful than the precision method.

Recently, I found bags and bags of HSTs at a thrift store - obviously someone had projects in mind but there was no evidence of what they were planning to do with them, and the squares ranged from 1-3/8" to 2-1/2" and were frequently somewhat off-kilter. On a rough day a couple of weeks ago, I turned my back on my current project and started playing around with these new-to-me bits... cutting them all down to a consistent size (1-1/4") gave me some good therapy and I have been able to make 5 small blocks out of them. No idea what I will do with those blocks, but it was a lot of fun and I still have a large biscuit tin full of more of these little bags of treasure to play with in the future. I also have more confidence in the idea of cutting down to make something workable and less stressful to deal with. :-D

I would be lost w/o my Bloc Loc rulers for HST's. I get much better accuracy. Also my flying geese ruler. I'm not one to buy every ruler on the market but those are very valuable to me.
I use the making larger method a lot. The little waste is totally worth having a block that isn't wonky ( my specialty haha)

Gemm, you might want to look at Bonnie Hunter's website for a cute idea for your HSTs. Her leader-ender project that she put out this month uses them. She put them together in to little fish shapes. You can use any size scrap or pieces that you have.