Having trouble cutting into your fabrics, I love some of mine soooo much that I have a great deal of trouble doing the first cut. I think maybe I should save it for a better project etc, any ideas how to get over this ?

Those very special fabrics that you just hate to cut.....just imagine how pretty the quilt will be when done.

I have the same problem that is why my stash keeps growing. It is a shame all my too pretty to cut don't blend or I could have one beautiful quilt.

let me know when you find out

I look for Big Block patterns, where lots and lots of the fabric will show.

I was once told "Those beautiful fabrics that you just can't cut into.....do it......otherwise your grandkids will inherit that fabric and make Halloween costumes out of it"

Oh Just the thought of that makes me want to quilt
:0)

Only those with big designs thatI'm afraid I'll lose by cutting. My LQS has a lot of patterns for those, though.

So agree with Lilrain,, when my Mom passed, , I found yd & yd of fabric & patterns unopened. Would much have preferred to have found finished quilts.

I don't have that problem. The fabric that I really love is always the ones I want to cut up first.

I tacked up two Japanese fabrics, that I can bear to cut, like they were art works (which, actually, they are). One is in my bedroom, the other in the Quilt Room.

It's not so much the cutting, it's the hoarding. I find that I don't want to use any of the fabric up, because I might need it later!

If you're not sure if a pattern is right for a fabric, put up photos here and ask us.

I think that most of us become emotionally involved with our fabrics. As I near the end of some of my favs, I almost go into mourning. I catch myself trying to substitue another fabric instead of using the ones I truly love. That is the power of the beauty of fabric.

Make something out of it, that you will use often. Put a smaller piece of it in a picture frame and hang it up.

Yes, I have some that I'm saving till I find that special pattern or until I think my quilting skills improve enough to really showcase them.

There is actually a pattern called Just Can't Cut It by All Washed Up

The only time I have trouble cutting into something is if I can't decide on a pattern in the first place, not because I might find a better pattern later!

Like gollytwo, it is the gorgeous Japanese fabrics I have trouble cutting. Purchased 2 gorgeous prints for OBWs last week and I am having so much fun with the mirrors..who knows when I'll get them cut.

When the perfect pattern comes along you will be glad to cut it up. I have experienced this phenomenon a few times. Until then, don't fret.

Thats why I have yards and yards and no finished projects!

I love that pattern! I have used it several times....all on fabric I just couldn't cut!........ :-D

I have that problem, worry that I will mess up, or not use it to its full potential. Ends up sitting around stored for years. There was some i found recently and asked myself "why didn't I ever use this, its georgous?" I still need to use it LOL!

I know what you mean! Crazy as it sounds, I am in mourning for a purple batik I call Patty Purple because it looked just like the purple glaze one of my neighbor's potter friends made up to put on ALL her pots. Her name was Patty and she called it Patty Purple. It was such a cool color. I used my batik in a class auction project (that I didn't win :( ) and now I only have a strip abouut 4" x 6". That's it. It's gone. I am so sad!

I have a separate place in my stash I refer to as the Fabric museum. It where those just to beautiful to cut fabrics are placed. Yes there are times when one comes out and makes it to the cutting table , and there is that really long pause, like ....is this it ?, is the project truly worthy? Some get replaced when a get a superior fabric , and the old museum piece just does not look as fabulous as the new.
I have family that has there own "museums", but we always have to check each others out.... and tease each other about having to search or frisk each other after they have been checking it out. When we go fabric shopping together , we always tease each other and ask " Is it a museum piece"?

I Have fabric I just couldn't cut. Then I found a pattern called
Easy Breezy.You use your fabric almost as long as your quilt top.
It has an inside border, a Zig Zag border & an outside border.That
way you get to enjoy your whole piece of fabric.I just made this & got rave reviews at the quilt guild
.Rockey

I use to be like that. But since I had bought that fabric for a specific project, I forced myself to cut it and use it; then I found I could not wait to put it in other projects. I might even purchase more of the fabric so I can use it in lots of projects. I find that my budget does not allow me to just look at fabric. A very smart man once told the that money only has value if you spend it. I think that also applies to fabric, it only has beauty if it is used and seen by others.

Once I put cutting in prospective, I no longer had a problem with the first cut.

I can hardly wait to get start on those fabrics and see them in a finished quilt. I would never use small pieces.

Here I thought that I was the only one who had fabric that is just too pretty to use, so I take it out occasionally and look at it and pet it, fold it up and put it back. No, too nice to use in that project or any other one so far. I know it makes no sense and the thought of my grandchildren using it to dry the dog off after a swim in the pond just makes me physically ill. Maybe I had better re-think this hoarding issue.

that even happens with a strip or a charm. I will start to use it and then see how extraordinary it is and want to Save it. hahahaha... It's hard to move through that.

I feel your pain. :-(

I have a book called,"Just can't cut it." there are many patterns for large pieces of fabric.

My prescription for this.
1. Gather a favorite fabric
2. Gather your best cutting tools
3. Take a good stiff drink
4. Cut up at least half of each piece into the sizes you cut your scrap into. For me that's 5" charms. Don't save more than a FQ of small prints, 1/2yd of medium or 1yd of large. If you have 4+yds, save about 2 so you can use it as a nice wide picture border.
5. Put the cut pieces together with the yardage
6. Troll your pattern collection, books, online, quilts you've often wanted to do, and imagine that fabric in them. I generally find something that will take my imagination.
7. If you can't bring yourself to do any of this, then hem it and use it as a bed sheet or table topper. Either way it gets it out where you can see it and enjoy it even more.

ditto carrie, I buy my fabrics to cut amd make quilts,

OMG, 32 yrs ago my sons used this beautiful fabric I purchased to make curtains and table cover. I came home from work to find my fabric cut by my sons to use for capes and curtain for their play. You can imagine how upset I was. Today, thanks for bringing up that memory. Really made my day. I hadn't laughed in 4 days. Had back surgery.

there is a pattern and a book called Just can't cut it. I have been many quilts using it. The book is by Pamela Mostek, the patten is by All Washed Up Just. Check out www.allwashedupquilts.com. You can also checkout sewmuchfunincolumbus.com, they have two great patterns, Big Picture and Portrait in Flight hope this helps. I made a great quilt with big picture. I will post it for you to see if you like Good Luck

Oh I do identify with this problem.Only certain people get stuff made from my special stash, and although I love to share my quilts sometimes its a struggle.

I am new to quilting and I brought some Moda Blackbird design fabric which I will use when I am advanced in quilting (my quilt). I also have some vintage fat quarters that are part of my decor (The pattern for the vintage will be a row by row pattern designed by Sandy Klop of American Jane Patterns that would work perfect, americanjane.com I think will work well.

Here is the same :-D , but I found: if I did not do it now I will do nothing.

Days pass, life is short, thoughts r too many

So the fabric with u now will be nice for next quilt ,and will be the best 4 that pattern :-P

Go ahead and cut it, if you don't chances are, someday, someone, will do it for you~

What a wonderful statement! I'm gonna have to remember this...and say it to myself, over and over! Then we can all enjoy my favorite fabrics :)