Ok, so I want to get started (finally) on something that tells me to cut the length of the fabric. First, this means cutting perpendicular to the selvedge, right? How am I supposed to do that and be certain I am not going to have waves all over the place??? Yikes-- I have a hard enough time cutting the way every resource I've looked at in the past 3 months says to cut! Should I starch the fabric? Will that help??? Any advice would be appreciated!

Starching always helps stabilize fabric for cutting. Don't be afraid to starch.

Personally, spray starch doesn't work for me; aside from overspraying, I always seem to manage to scorch it. When I starch fabric, I use diluted Sta-Flo liquid starch and saturate the fabric using a painter's brush, toss the fabric in the dryer, then iron with steam.

Actually, cutting the length of the fabric means cutting parallel to the selvedge lines (not perpendicular, which is the usual). The keys to cutting straight strips are: (1) if you fold more than once, make sure all fold lines are equidistant from each other, and (2) most importantly, make sure that your ruler is exactly perpendicular to the fold line(s). How to do the latter has been a topic of previous threads. I use a second ruler along the fold line and butt my cutting ruler against it to make sure I am cutting exactly 90-degrees from the fold line.

LOL-- shows how new to this I am!!! Going to have to look for those posts. Thanks for the quick response!

Prism already gave you good information. :lol:

Try googling "fabric grain line"

there are some informative sites about that

It's basically the way the threads are woven

I do understand the fabric grain, and I have just spent some time just looking at/touching my fabric. My concern is that even doubled over my fabric is longer than my cutting mat. Suggestions on how to handle this?

you could fold it again - but I don't like to cut more than four thicknesses at a time -

I think some people cut up to eight thicknesses

or you could cut one section - move the fabric - cut another section -

that can also be cone - just need to be careful lining up your ruler and making sure it doesn't slip

or you could cut one section - move the fabric - cut another section -

so it's ok to move the fabric? I thought I would make a mess of it and it wouldn't be straight. As for folding it again, I have a pretty tough time with four, let alone 8! :roll:

if you have a big table - slide the mat under the fabric - but lots of people have limited space in which to work

IF I have extra fabric and i have to cut a REALLY long strip - like for a border - once in a while I'll tear it and neaten it up with the rotary cutter later.

I don't exactly recommend this method - but - you will find that there are several ways to accomplish things

Every once in a while when I'm cutting I realize that I've got a V going in my strips - so it is good to unfold your strips to make sure that they are still straight -

Someone mentioned earlier that how you fold your fabric to begin with is crucial - it is

I have heard alot of people make a notch...then rip....that way it goes with the grain parellel to the selvage...
I have never done that...I am tooo scared...
I just cut...
One strip at a time...
K