I keep finding the same mistakes in my projects. I think part of my problem is that I didn't do anything but tack together pre-made tops at my club for 3 years. I finally start working on my own projects again and it seems as if my cutting isn't as accurate as it should be.

I would love it if someone went step by step into squaring fabric before cutting and the different ways to use the lines on the mat or the lines on the ruler. I don't know how to cut using the lines on the ruler, only the mat. I know that some of my pieces may measure right, but they weren't squared right.

Is anyone out there good at cutting that would put on one of these tutorials? I would appreciate it a great deal.

Melissa

I would appreciate that too!

I need that one too!

I think we could all use a refresher course on those skills!

You can start out by checking to make sure your rulers are as "true" as they can be.

I've had two rulers that I can remember that weren't even true to themselves.

By that I mean - if you are using a square, does it measure the same in both directions.

Start out by making sure your pattern/templates "fit" together correctly. Usually they do, but not always.

Do the lines on your mat line up with the lines on your rulers?

I have a June Tailor Cut N Press - which I like a lot - but the lines are not accurate - I just use the lines to get my corners square and edges straight. They may have been accurate at the time of manufacture, but mine isn't anymore.

I have better success cutting the long strips parallel to the selvage instead of across - that way I have a least two edges with a straight grain line. When I try cutting across the width, I end up either with a bias edge because of the way the fabric is processed or a bend in the middle.

Make sure your blade is sharp.

Go to: purlbee.com/rotary-cutter-tutorial. This is very helpful and may be what you are looking for.

I feel so ancient.
When I started quilting, there WERE no lines on the cutting mats!

I do like that purlbee one. I have never learned how to cut using the lines on the ruler. I think that the one beginning class I took, the teacher was left handed. I find that I cut completely opposite the tutorial, just with my right hand. I'm going to have to learn to have the excess fabric off to the right instead of to the left. I like the idea of the ruler "protecting" the square that you are going to use in the top. The way I cut doesn't do that and if I veer off somewhere, I've ruined the piece.

I hope it's not too hard to retrain myself. I've been cutting the wrong way about 6 years.....rrrrrgggg.

i would also like to see tutorial on using all those "special" rulers, the triangles and such. I am a whiz at the traditional rulers, just have never cut triangles with a triangle ruler, or those other ones that are supposed to make triangles really easy - i'm so NOT into those rulers that I don't even know what they are called - and I've been quilting for 5 years!

I've bought several of those triangle rulers - and have a hard time understanding where to cut with them to end up with the proper size triangle.

So I don't use them.

Maybe a tutorial specifically for all those neat little triangle rulers? Especially the Tri-Recs... those would make things like 54-40 Or Fight so much easier! Or a Flying Geese ruler....

Too funny!! When I started quilting, there were no CUTTING MATS!! :lol:

We used sharp scissors only, and I am still pretty good with them. So I am past old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb-6C...eature=related

http://www.ezquilt.com/tutorials/trirecs/trirecs.htm

Amen to that!! I made my first quilt in 1981 and I hated cutting everything with scissors and using cardboard templates. In fact, I disliked it so much that I did not quilt again until 1999!! Love those cutting mats...........and rotary cutters, and rulers, and everything else that makes the job so much fun now!!!!

Started with scissors only back in the early 1970's. Can you imagine our grandmothers? Mine was born in 1899 & all she ever used were scissors.
Jo

I can't imagine using a trendle machine or whatever it was called. Ran by a foot lever. It's like a stair stepper when you are sitting. No walking foot, no quarter inch foot, no way of cutting all sorts of pieces at the same time...then all that sewing by hand too.

I'm such a 21st century girl. I would be completely lost in the 19th century. I love the history of that time period, but not the idea of living in it!

It's a treadle machine. Some of them had a really nice stitch.

I kind of wish I had one, in case our electricity conks out.