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Originally Posted by Moonpi
For big quilts, I rip them lengthwise.
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Originally Posted by dlf0122quilting
I used to get wavy cuts and it was because I was not "walking" my fingers up the ruler as I cut my strips. If you only hold your ruler in one spot for the entire cut, the ruler has a tendency to shift just slightly and there will be a small wavy area where you were holding the ruler. I learned this from an instructor and I have never had that problem since. I also was instructed that you can cut WOF for sashing strips but borders should be cut LOF to prevent wavy borders. Sometimes I try it LOF if I have bought enough fabric but I do not find much difference as long as I have been careful in walking my fingers up the ruler as I cut. For the newby's, walking is like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" walking by always moving your thumb up to meet your fingers, then move your fingers forward. Another tip is to always hold your pinky finger off the edge of the ruler against the side of the ruler to steady it on the fabric. It is probably just as important that you put little dots of sand paper or Invisigrip or something like these products on the bottom of your ruler so it adheres to the fabric. These little tips saved me so much time and ruined fabric because my ruler was always sliding on the fabric when I would cut. I hope some of these tips will help you. I do not use a metal ruler only because I am fortunate enough to have the Omnigrid (and others) rulers so I do not know if these tips will help you when using the metal rulers but you might try some of them. Good luck.
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for long ruler cuts i take a piece of no slip drawer liner and lay it an inch or so away from the to be cut edge onto the fabric and then lay the ruler down on top of the no slip drawer liner. This keeps the ruler from shifting when you are cutting with one hand and holding the ruler down with the other.'
I try not to buy crap from CHINA, but the $1 store carries this so I can cut sizes to match all my rulers. IF you have a long metal ruler you can spray glue the drawer liner to the bottom of the ruler and save a step. |
I was told to cut your border material the length of your material not across the width. Apparently there is less 'give' to the length so you end up with flatter borders. This is the first quilt I've done it with and so far they do look flat. I'll let you know once it is quilted. Barb
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I was also taught not to piece borders (back in 1982), so I go out of my way to purchase extra length to avoid piecing...though on rare occasions, it has been necessary. When that happens, I usually try to find a creative idea to insert in the border (like blocks the width of the border) that enhance the appearance of the quilt. I would NEVER cut long borders from selvage to selvage and piece them. With large quilts, I also fold the fabric and make one cut to remove the selvage and then another one for each section of border. I have never had a problem with waviness. Maybe it would help to press the folded fabric before making the cuts. Spray starch or sizing on the fabric could help too.
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Originally Posted by eb in calif
for long ruler cuts i take a piece of no slip drawer liner and lay it an inch or so away from the to be cut edge onto the fabric and then lay the ruler down on top of the no slip drawer liner. This keeps the ruler from shifting when you are cutting with one hand and holding the ruler down with the other.'
I try not to buy crap from CHINA, but the $1 store carries this so I can cut sizes to match all my rulers. IF you have a long metal ruler you can spray glue the drawer liner to the bottom of the ruler and save a step. |
The most fun I had with a border was to make 1/2 sq triangles. Use a tone on tone white or tan for one half and then cut up all thoes charm squares you 've aquired. Be sure to also use some pieces from the body of the top.
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Your finished product will improve if you cut crosswise and piece the borders. The reason is because there is no give in the fabric when cutting lengthwise but there is a slight give side to side.
If you have a bit longer on one side than the other be sure you average the length and cut both sides the same and make them fit. Whichever piece is the longer one needs to be put on the bottom so the feeds will ease the excess in without tucks. Divide up the side of the quilt in fourths and the border as well. Match the points. With longer side down sew. Good luck |
i do the diaginal cuton my fabric to .it seemsso much simpler to me .my grandmother used to fold the back of th quilt over to to front an make that her selavage but she also used a sheet for her backs of her quilts .the only way i use a sheet for the back of my quilt is if it is high qulity sheet not a cheepy from walmart.i have picked up a few at the good will that are the higher thread count.an make a betufil backing .matter of a fact i have one i have not used because of the qulity of the thread count in it .it's like a very fine linnen.i want to put it on a very special quilt like on i'm getting good money for our one that i'm going to put on myveryon bed.
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iputit on the bottom of sewing feet so i dont have to chase across the room an on serger feet to.an for a asortment of fabric i get the ones from the carpet an apolsterey material. an get a real good asortment from my aunt for free. can't beat that all i have to do is make sure theres gas in car. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
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Hi - many times the wavy-ness is due to the way you put the border on the quilt. Make sure you cut the length to the length and width of the quilt. Add the appropriate amt for mitered cornors if that's the case. Find the center of the strip and place on the center of the quilt edge. Pin your border in place. If you just cut the border and start at both edges, your border will be wavy, instead of flat!
Terri |
my daughter had her baby it's a little boy 6.72lbs ,183/4inches longgoing to be a brunet i think like his daddy .he came into this world at 5:21am on thursdaymorning.ten fingers ten toes an healthybesides lungs has a little fluid in them an they put him on oyegen on him an he might get to come on home on friday :lol: :lol:
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pittsburghpam::::::I was doing it that way, but I purchased a June Tailor Shape Cut which is a 12" by 12" that has slots cut all across and you just put your rotary cutter in the slots, and you go girl. Then you just keep sliding the Shape Cut up where you ended each time. Also I would like to add in, when I go to square my material up at any time, I use my dh's carpenters framing square. It is faster than laying 2 ruler's down to square. You may have already tried this, but it works for me alot better, but the Shape Cut cuts really straight strips and borders, just make sure when you line that first cut out that it is straight, perfectly lined ,while pressing down with one hand, just rotary cut with the other hand, you don't even have to keep double checking just go, go, go. :)
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Pam:::::I also do the same thing. If I have to peice my borders, I sew straight across, but in my bindings, I sew diagonal. I also like to center the straight across peice with the center of the quilt, if I have to peice my border. :)
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dizzy, congratulations on your new grandbaby. He sounds good and healthy. maybe you'll get a pic soon? :D
Originally Posted by hpylady
pittsburghpam::::::I was doing it that way, but I purchased a June Tailor Shape Cut which is a 12" by 12" that has slots cut all across and you just put your rotary cutter in the slots, and you go girl. Then you just keep sliding the Shape Cut up where you ended each time. Also I would like to add in, when I go to square my material up at any time, I use my dh's carpenters framing square. It is faster than laying 2 ruler's down to square. You may have already tried this, but it works for me alot better, but the Shape Cut cuts really straight strips and borders, just make sure when you line that first cut out that it is straight, perfectly lined ,while pressing down with one hand, just rotary cut with the other hand, you don't even have to keep double checking just go, go, go. :)
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Originally Posted by dizzy
my daughter had her baby it's a little boy 6.72lbs ,183/4inches longgoing to be a brunet i think like his daddy .he came into this world at 5:21am on thursdaymorning.ten fingers ten toes an healthybesides lungs has a little fluid in them an they put him on oyegen on him an he might get to come on home on friday :lol: :lol:
As we say in Cajun dialect -- Cher bebe. |
I would love to know what else you can do with the june taylor shape cut. have seen them so many times, but not familiar with all they do, so wanted to be sure it would do several things before shelling out fabric allowance on another tool. I too, use carpenter's tools and they are fantastic. someone did give me a tip, about metal not always being straight, but I had also said, i had kept a piece of door stripping. I am pretty sure these squares etc. are very accurate and they are heavy enough for me, that I don't get slippage. I have several things in my 'cave' that came from either tools or automotive sections. :D [/quote]
The only thing I've done with the JT tool is cut strips, but that is enough for me. There is no need to move the tool everytime you need to make a cut. Depending on how wide a strip you're cutting, it just stays in place for you to cut. I love it. Queston: :oops: What is door stripping? Is it metal? |
Gail wrote:
The only thing I've done with the JT tool is cut strips, but that is enough for me. There is no need to move the tool everytime you need to make a cut. Depending on how wide a strip you're cutting, it just stays in place for you to cut. I love it. Queston: What is door stripping? Is it metal? yes. I am probably not calling it by it's rightful name, cause i don't know what else to call it, and to be quite honest, (which I always am), I don't remember what I bought it for. (besides door) It's been under a bed for several years, and I just figured I would use it as a straight edge, until someone told me, it may not be straight. It's about 6-7 feet long and hmmm, maybe 2 1/1 - 3 1/2 wide, I believe...uh oh, somebody just got stopped by the police...anyway, it might not be straight. I might have to check the JT tool again. It would be nice to not move ruler for every strip. I am slow, so this might speed things up a bit. thanks gail. |
Gail, one more thing...about the JT ruler, I always thought it looked kind of thin or flimsy. Was always packaged so I couldn't check. I guess you think it's sturdy enough?
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Originally Posted by quiltncrazy
Gail, one more thing...about the JT ruler, I always thought it looked kind of thin or flimsy. Was always packaged so I couldn't check. I guess you think it's sturdy enough?
There's a hole at the top. I hang it on a screw on the wall ( :lol: ) that was left there after my daughters moved out of that room. Goodness knows what they had hanging there. :lol: It hangs flat against the wall and keeps it's shape -- doesn't warp. |
Dizzy,congratulations on the new comer sounds like he is a healthy little tot so go ahead and spoil him that what GM's do oh pls send us a picture when possible
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quiltncrazy:::: with the Shape Cut, you can cut multiple shapes in 1/2" increments, up to 8 layers of fabric at a time, you can cut strips, bias strips, squares, hexagons, fringe, diamonds, triangles (60 and 45 degree) and chevrons. It's been around for a right good while like Gail said, and I have had mine for about a year. I also put those little round sandpaper circles on the bottom edges to so it doesn't slide also. It works well for me as far as staying in place so I can cut faster. I wish you were right next door so I could take it over to you and let you try and see if you liked it. :)
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thank gail. I've seen them so many times. :D
Originally Posted by hpylady
quiltncrazy:::: with the Shape Cut, you can cut multiple shapes in 1/2" increments, up to 8 layers of fabric at a time, you can cut strips, bias strips, squares, hexagons, fringe, diamonds, triangles (60 and 45 degree) and chevrons. It's been around for a right good while like Gail said, and I have had mine for about a year. I also put those little round sandpaper circles on the bottom edges to so it doesn't slide also. It works well for me as far as staying in place so I can cut faster. I wish you were right next door so I could take it over to you and let you try and see if you liked it. :)
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