Okay..I am going to make the Disappearing Nine Patch quilt. I have not ever cut or pieced a quilt, but I looked at several YouTube demo's..it seems easy..so I am going to try it.

I bought my material today..bought 5 different fabics, 2 lighter, 2 darker and one for the center..I bought 8 yards total, hoping that will be enough. I need to buy my backing yet.

I have washed and dried the materials..now I need to somehow get them straightened and press them to be able to cut. Is there a tutorial showing me how to make sure the fabrics are straight? I thought maybe you lined up the selvages, but they are way off.
Hoping someone can help. Hugs, Dee in Oklahome

You might listen to this.
Straight of grain
http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3567

This is how I do it, there are other ways as well. I put the selvages together and than scoot them along each other until the fabric hangs straight on both sides. Press lightly. It will not line up even on the edges so just trim that off square with the fold. Clear as mud?

Opinions will vary on this topic ,I am old school and rip mine.

I never worry about the straight of the grain either...I just whack off the ends and start cutting. Never had a quilt go bad yet!!!!

She says it so much better than I can!!

thanks for this link

You rip from selvage down?

This is what I do, too. Kind of like folding a fitted sheet up neatly. You will sometimes have to cut off quite a chunk to get it squared. That means whoever cut it from the bolt didn't cut very straight or it was crooked on the bolt. I don't like ripping to find the straight of grain but with some of the loosely woven "cheaper" fabrics; ripping is the only way.

Width of fabric. Selvage to selvage. You make a little cut into the selvage and then rip down to the other selvage so yes, from selvage down. I had to picture that one to get it--LOL.