Do you cut your yardage down?
 

I bought several yards (7-10) of the same fabric, knowing that I wouldn't use them all for the quilt I am starting, but wanting to keep some for stash; hence, my question~what size pieces do you cut off when starting to cut your block pieces?

This quilt is kind of a make-up as I go because I cannot visualize in my head what blocks I really want to use around a panel. I do know the blocks will be no larger than 9", probably no smaller than 6"......so what would you cut these larger pieces down to? 1 yard??????

Thanks for your advice! I just have a really hard time with such a large piece of fabric :)


Tonya

I leave my fabrics all in one piece ... and cut them down as I use them.

This way, you keep the piece as big as possible. As you said, you are kind of designing as you go. What if you take the notion to use that fabric as the backing? (for this or another project) .... the larger the piece the better as if you have cut it up, you may end up with the need to seam it in one or more places to get it back to where you want it.

I never cut it down until I need it.

I am probably not a help because I don't cut pieces until I know what size pieces I will use. I always cut my biggest strips first (a 9" strip, as an example) and I just kind of keep the rest of the humongous piece somewhat folded as I cut strips from it.

I keep it as is.

Another vote here for not chopping it up ahead of time.

i leave it whole and just cut it off as i need it.

I have cut down large yardage before to make cutting a little easier, but no more than a yard at a time. I like to cut my borders on the straight of grain so I never cut yardage under 3 yards.

I cut as I need it.

I never cut it down either. I like the largest piece I can get in case I need it for borders.

I too leave it whole and cut as needed.

I do not cut my yardage down, unless I have more than 5 yards, then I cut off a strip a bit wider than what I need. I keep all most big pieces at around 5 yards.

To make it easier to manage, I would wind it on an empty bolt, or accordion fold it. I agree you should cut as you need. Never know when you need a large piece...

I don't cut my fabrics down to store them but when I'm ready to cut for a quilt I'll cut off shorter amounts. A pattern will generally call for several strips of the same width so I cut that amount plus an inch or so off my yardage and starch and iron before I cut.

I do not cut mine down either, I cut as I go.

I would keep the piece as large as possible. Since your block will not be larger then 9". I would cut a strip slightly larger then 9.5". Play around with that strip until you figure what size you really need for your quilt. Then go back and cut off only what you need.

I never cut yardage and I don't cut down scraps either, because just never know what size I will need for flower center or a little doggie leg.

For 7-10 yards of fabric, I store it as is until I need it for a quilt. At that time, assuming I need to cut pieces for a quilt top, I will cut off 1 yard and work with that smaller piece. If I know I will need only 1/2 yard, I will cut off that much. If I am going to use the fabric for a border and want to cut the borders on the lengthwise grain, I will cut off as much as is needed for the longest border and work with that piece.

I find it too difficult to cut strips and pieces from 7 yds of fabric. Maybe if I had a much bigger table that could support all that bulk.........

Edit: Oh, and I should add that I pin a note to the fabric that tells me how many yards are in it. If I cut off a yard to use in a quilt, I update the note pinned to the remaining yardage. This saves me from having to wrestle with the yardage to figure out how much of it I have.

I don't cut down larger pieces of fabric - I want the maximum available for future projects. The only time I cut down fabrics is when I've got smaller than a FQ, then its Bonnie Hunters method, down to 10", 5", 3.5, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5 strips. Those are wonderful when I want a quick quilt, as I just go to each size stash and sew from that -- plus I love scrappy quilts, which is what I end up with. Even the uglies go into these piles -- as Bonnie Hunter says, if the fabric you're using is still ugly, you haven't cut (or sewn) it small enough yet! I often turn those around, too, as usually the back side of the 'ugly' fabric is useable 'as is'.

Don't cut it until you need some. Though if I have a huge piece, 10-15 yds, I will sometime cut a 1 yard piece to put in my cabinets and then put the large piece in the garage in my fabric storage tubs, that way I know I have some of a fabric if I am pulling for a quilt.

I follow the Bonnie Hunder Scrap Users system. I cut down anything under a yard. I keep all one yard and more in tact. For more info on Bonnie Hunter go to http://quiltville.com/scrapusersystem.shtml

Cut as I go...leave the rest alone.

I leave it as is. I made want to use it as a border.

Thanks everyone! :) Guess I will try working off of this large piece and see if I can do it!!!!!!

Agree with the others, cut it as I need it.

This is what I do also.

I agree 100%

I agree with this

When I'm buying a large amount of yardage, I usually ask the clerk to cut it in 3 yard increments. I mostly make queen size, and 3 yards is okay for a section of the backing. It's also easier to cut small pieces off a 3 yard piece - working with more than 3 yards is awkward to handle.

Yup same here. It remains in one piece (and on the bolt if I have it) until I need it. I always have a bolt of muslin handy.

I cut it as I need it.

when I get large pieces I do not cut off any until I have a quilt planned and then cut a bit more than I think I will need.then I get a crap pile started for scrap quilts without messing up the big piece-so I still have options later

I usually guess how many inches I will need, make a tear a few inches more, and rip. I find it too hard to work with such large pieces.

NO, NO, NO! Don't cut it down until you are ready to use it . Have someone help you fold it, but don't chop it into pieces!

I keep larger pieces of fabric whole. You never know when you might need that fabric for backing or some other use. I've gotten fabric on sale for a backing, only to have it tell me that it wanted top billing for a top, so change of plans. I might cut off 1 -2 yards when making a quilt, but generally I like to keep it whole. Recently I received some very large pieces of fabric, but I cut off only what I needed, I started with cutting off one yard at a time for my quiting projects and it works for me.

I'm with Donnamarie. I do not enjoy handling such large pieces of fabric. I would cut off some so you have enough for lengthwise strips for borders for the largest quilt you might make. (96 - 108 ?) Then the rest can be cut WOF or any way you like as you need it.

I would "questamate" how much fabric I will need for blocks. You should be able to based on size if quilt and how much of fabric you will use in block. If unsure look on another quilt pattern. Reason for cutting down is that this much yardage is hard to handle on table especially after pressing and then refolding. Sometimes the extra yardage will not lay and will pull the area that you are cutting.

Tonya.......I have found that for me the best way to handle large pieces of fabric is to wind it on a cardboard fabric core (free for the asking at any fabric store). Makes it easy to store and easy to work from. If it is fabric that needs to be prewashed, I use a large basting machine stitch and put the ends together for washing. Much easier to handle and keeps the ends from being a major string mess. Make sense?

I don't cut down my yardage either. I store my fabrics in clear plastic bins and I have one dedicated to lengths that are at least 3 yards long. Oh I dip into it for projects but as long as the remaining piece is at least three yards long, it goes back to the bin. If it is smaller, then it goes in another bin according to color. It the remaining piece is less than1/4 yard,I either cut it in 6" or smaller if it is truly a scrap. This all works for me. Develop a process that works for you which is what I think you are doing. Happy Quilting.

I, also, leave my fabric as is until I pull it for a quilt. One of the shelves is dedicated to storing the homongous pieces!