cutting out directional border fabric
 

What is the best way to cut fabrics that need to be "right side up" in the borders? The fabric needs to go across the top and bottom and up and down on the sides. I've tried to do this in the past and the cuts came out crooked. Thoughts for the directionally challenged?
Michelle

Just did this on the last quilt I made. I cut the sides from the length of fabric; top/bottom from WOF. Granted this was a baby quilt - although on the large side for that but the same principles should apply for larger quilts as well. I generally also only cut one border at a time. Put the first cut piece next to the correct/corresponding side/end then cut the next and so on. And each time I work with a directional fabric I ask myself 'why did I pick THIS fabric for this?'.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

I find a line(s) on the print to cut on - and use those same lines for all four strips. You might need to stare at the fabric for a while to decide where to cut it. Remember to allow for seam allowances.

I follow the print of the fabric and totally ignore grain lines when I am cutting a printed stripe. (which causes me great pain when the design is printed off-grain)

..and don't forget to miter the corners..

Sometimes you can just re-think what it means to be right-side-up. If the borders all point in, or out, that often looks great, and you don't have to struggle with cutting some lengthwise and some from WOF. Or you may want the top and bottom borders to be right-side-up when you stand at the foot of the bed, but the sides to be right-side-up when you stand at the sides of the bed, so again you don't have to cut some lengthwise and some from WOF.

Chances are the print doesn't exactly follow the grain line of the fabric, in which case you will be cutting it on print/off grain in order to position the print the way you want in the border's width. Using a chalk marker like the one Clover makes, I'd first take a ruler and mark all the way from top to bottom to get a sense of where you will end up cutting.

The other consideration is whether you will need to cut parallel to the selvage or across the width of fabric. I've found it much easier to not piece borders with directional fabric, but understand this isn't always possible.

I did this once and that was the last time. NJ quilter has it right on. That is the way I did but what a waste of a chunk of fabric if doing a large quilt. I precut my fabric squares with the fabric next to the side borders. You have to be so carefully and mark things out and check them again before cutting.

Go to www.jinnybeyer.com Look at her videos, she has a video about working with border prints

Thanks for all your advice. Yes, I am asking "why did I choose this fabric!?!?!"