Do you cut more than one pattern at a time?
 

I was curious if any of you cut more than one patten out at a time?
In other words, do you cut, say a number of patterns, so they are
ready to sew, when you are?
Hope I,m being clear. Thanks.
Elaine:)

You sound like a production quilter! While I don't hate cutting out my fabric, I'm always eager to start sewing about halfway through the cutting so I can see what it's going to look like. Having the self-control to cut out a number of quilts would probably stretch me too thin.

Yes, I often cut several different patterns out before I start sewing on any of them... I just keep all the pieces and patterns together in a box or zippered pouch. Then, when I'm ready to start sewing something together, I can just grab a new project. I actually plan to cut out two different projects this weekend while camping. The weather should be great so I can cut out the fabric on a picnic table. But, I don't really want to drag my machine with me this time, so, I'll just cut and cut and cut...

I usually have 3 quilts going at one time; one cutting, one machine quilting, and one that I am hand quilting. Keeps me out of trouble (or gets me into trouble..ha!)

I only do one at a time. I love cutting, so I want it to be a part of the process each time. I do cut a bunch of scraps at a time, but rarely for a specific project.

I can't cut more than the project I am ready to start immediately ... otherwise I run the risk of changing my mind by the time I get to the next one that's cut.

I seldom cut out a whole quilt aall at once... I am way to apt to change my mind half way through. And if I cut out 2 or 3 whole quilts at once and just put them in a bag or something by the time I got around to making it there is a really good chance I know longer like that pattern or wish I had used different fabric, or worse yet-find I really needed that fabric for some other project... There is also the issue of starting the project to find there are incorrect cutting instructions and you've wasted all that fabric- have to start all over anyway. Just the thoughts cause me all kinds of anxiety

I do one quilt cutting at a time but I can have multiple things going at once - brainwork of cutting and math, soothing piecework, stressful joinery, and the artsy part of picking patterns and fabrics. If all I have to do is stressful (like the little applique landscape quilt I designed and finished after six month's work!) I won't get any simple stuff done in the off-hours.

Quite often I do. I put together "kits" for baby quilts for a good friend to sew together. I also make "kits" for my quilting group to work on for our "Project Serve" We get together one evening a month for about 9 months out of the year and work on quilts for our local NICU, and other local organizations that love our quilts.

I will occasionally cut out several baby quilts for either boy or girl at once if I have several baby gifts that need to be made. There are two boy babies due in September and October, I will probably start selecting fabrics and make up at least the two, but maybe even 5, so I have a couple on hand.

I guess you can say I am a "Production Quilter" I make from 20 to 50 quilts a year.

i tried that, but if i don't finish all of the cutting, i get lost and/or the pieces get lost... so one at a time for me

wow... that sure is a lot. i used to try to do one big quilt per month, and that seemed like a lot!

Usually I only cut one at a time,but I did cut three at one time. I get bored doing the same block for a whole quilt so I would work on one and then the other (one was a sampler) until all three were pieced, Now if I could just get them all quilted!

Oh my, I just cut enough to get me started as sometimes I change my mind on fabric placements. This way I am flexible. :)

Judy I. Phx, AZ

I usually work on only one project at a time till it is done or goes to the LAQ. But I have the next several (3 or 4) projects picked out with fabric purchased ready to go as soon as the current one is done!

never. I might be working on a couple of quilt at the same time, in fact nearly always am, but precutting a project?? But then other than bonnie hunters I never follow a pattern, they just grow on the working wall.

Only cut out what I need to get started. Sometimes I find I need to tweak a color or fabric before I keep going.

Depends on how many projects I need to get done. I cut out 1 step at a time for mystery type projects, (even if I have all of the instructions). I usually cut out 1-3 small projects at a time otherwise. Big projects (twin or larger quilts), I cut out one at a times. A lot of projects I have been thinking about for several months to years, before I cut them out and make them.

I cut fabric for practice blocks when starting a new pattern just to check seam allowance accuracy and pressing direction. Once that's settled, I cut everything needed to make those blocks and begin sewing.

I rarely, if ever cut out an entire quilt before doing any piecing. I cut a little, piece a little, cut a little. ((sound like the Music Man???)) I have to see what the block or blocks are going to look like and make sure I like everything okay. Many times I find I'd rather construct a block differently and re-figure or re-draft the block then cut. I like the mental exercise. Also have leaders & enders going all the time too!

Jne

I only cut for one pattern at a time. Don't want to make any mistakes getting two patterns confused. :)

Good heavens, no! Way too much risk that I would:
a) change my mind about using those fabrics,
b) change my mind about ever wanting to make that project at all,
c) decide I really wanted to use those fabrics for that other project, or
d) all of the above.

I'm an intuitive quilter, often working on impulse alone. Cutting up fabric for something that isn't happening 'right here and right now' just doesn't work for me. To each our own, right? :)

I never cut a whole quilt at one time. I can see myself getting it cut and then having it be wrong. It is so easy to move the ruler a quarter inch and not realize it, in my world.

I always cut as I go, get a few blocks made and cut some more. If I make a wrong cut, I only loose a little fabric.
peace

WOW Gayle, I can only imagine doing that many quilts in a year. Congratulations on all that work.

I'm lucky to get 3 quilts done a year. I only cut a few blocks at a time as I'm always worried about making a mistake which I make plenty of!!

If I had a larger sewing room, I probably would cut more than one quilt at a time. I often work on several quilts at a time; but only one of them would be in the cutting stage. Recently, I have been starching my fabric so that it is very stiff. That makes cutting easier. To be honest, I really enjoy cutting.

Several years ago I cut several quilts at a time, put the pieces in zipper bags with sketches of my idea for the quilts and put the bags in a "safe" place. Fast forward to a couple of months ago when I was packing up for our move and I found the "safe" place and all the baggies. They are in a box and I hope I can get to them when I unpack. After that experience a couple of years ago I have not cut multiple quilts again. I also agree -- I am a "free style" quilter -- I may get inspiration from a pattern but rarely does my quilt resemble the pattern, so I don't even cut the whole quilt out at once since I will probably want to make changes to the pattern as I go along. :)

I usually only cut the pieces for one quilt at a time too, but I do have multiple projects going at any given time. One that requires piecing, one that needs quilting, one for applique, one hexie, one embroidery -- that way I can pick up any project that appeals to me when I get ready to do one.

I am a cut as you go quilter. I cut, sew, cut, sew, etc. Right now I have scrappy batik on the wall and need to see what colors I need before I cut. My arthritic hands would have a hard time cutting a whole quilt at one time.

At times I do but I put them all together along with the pattern in a ziplock bag or bin. I think of it as making my own precut kits.

I only cut out the project I am working on. Cutting is not that much fun to me. I cut as I go on a quilt. I do work on several quilts at a time though. I have one on the quilting machine, am piecing on, and maybe binding another. I get bored easily and like to change jobs.

I make only one quilt at a time, but I do cut multiples if I am making small projects for gifts such as bags, table runners, pillow cases, etc.

I once cut the pieces for 4 scrappy quilts at a time. Two of the quilts required 2.5 inch blocks, ( a plus quilt and checkerboard) one was 4x6 inch blocks and the other was strips for a free form log cabin. I cut these while organizing my fabrics, so while I had each out and pressed, I cut the pieces needed, folded up the remaining yardage and put the scraps in the color-coded scrap bins. It's nice to have the projects ready to go when I need a mindless piecing project or Leaders and Enders.

No. I get a quilt started, get bored or frustrated, then there's more cutting for something different. Needless to say, but there are a lot of UFOs here. And more lurking in the stash.

I have never cut out a whole quilt at once. I cut as I go. I like the variety of doing one thing for a bit and then another etc. I can't imagine cutting more than one quilt at a time given my desire for mixing actions up. I also have my sewing room set up so I have to get up and walk to the pressing station, the cutting table, again to mix things up. Probably why it takes me so much longer to get things done but I have fun in the process.

Can I send you my material and patterns?? I hate cutting!

Someone mentioned making kits. This is what I do for my donation quilts so I always have a few ready to sew quickly. On other quilts I may cut ahead, but I NOW always make up a sample of the block or blocks so I know what fabric I intended where. Ask me why I started doing that! I cut out a king sized quilt with fabric I had been saving for ions and then when I got to the sewing stage I couldn't remember what went where esp since many of the pieces were very similar sizes, but differed slightly in # needed. It was a nightmare and took me several days to straighten it all out. Believe me I did not save time having that project ready to go. That poor quilt must have had bad mojo because I made several really silly beginner mistakes in the piecing and now the longarmer I used has had it for weeks because she is way behind.

Very interesting subject. I usually have one or two project going on in the same time. But the main reason for it is because I have small kids at home, so I have to adapt to what they are doing. I can only sew in the afternoon, while they are taking their nap. But when they are playing outside in our garden, I take my Fiskars, my dies and my fabrics outside too and I cut (an easy task to do while keeping them under my eyes). Having always something ready to sew or to cut is my way to be efficient (otherwise I would only be able to finish one or two quilt a year!)

Same here. Actually, I cut and piece one block at a time. Sometimes I'll cut the strips and set them aside, but the actual cutting for the blocks are cut one block at a time.

I have done it and always regret it. By the time I get to the quilt, I have changed my mind about a pattern, or could use one of the fabrics for something else. Besides which, even after quilting for MANY years, I never cut out all the fabric for a quilt without doing a test block, or pieceing some of it first. That way, I'm sure the instructions are accurate and i like the way the fabrics work together.