I am trying to throw together this crib quilt...and having way more trouble than I imagined.

I've never used this sort of sewing everything into strips and then cutting it technique. Plus, sewing with Flannel in Florida in June is, well...sticky!

Since the strips will end up being cut into smaller pieces to make the 9 patch block, do you all think it would be alright to make them shorter than Selvage to selvage (selvage to selvage on the material I have is very long...and for me, the longer pieces are hard to manage without getting off track.

I'm thinking like 12 inches long, the squares are then supposed to be two inches so I could make 6 strips from each one.

I know this is a really newbie sort of thing, but I am really getting tangled up in the strips and laughing because the pattern said "EASY" on it. I almost would rather cut up 200 little 2 inch squares and sew them together. BUT, I think I should try to learn the strip technique, because if I can master it, I think it would make some things easier...in the future...

Thanks! for any help advice you can offer.

it is fine to cut your strips into manageable sizes- we do it all the time- just pick a measurment which is going to be divisible by the number of sections you are cutting- which you have figured out-
it is always best to have things manageable- you will have much happier time working on and a better outcome of your project :)

Perfectly said.

I do that a lot too as selvage to selvage can be cumbersome. I will usually just add a one inch buffer as I always find when strip piecing like this, my ends never quite line up perfectly, and have the extra material helps me square up the edges when I am done.

Good luck!! remember quilting has no rules, do what works for you.

Cheers!
rachel

Thank you all. I am going to go back and cut some strips, and turn the AC down for the flannel, and hope for the best.

I just kept thinking, what is so easy about this HUGE strip of fabric!

I hope it works out for you!

IMHO it's 100 times easier than sewing 100s of 2" squares together. I love strip piecing and think it is the best thing since sliced bread. When you cut the sewed strips everything is square. There is no way I can sew 2" squares together and not have half of them a little wonky.

Good advice to make an inch longer than what you think to to give a little leeway when you cut them.

Well, I've finally managed to get several of the nine patch blocks put together. Much easier with shorter strips. THanks all! I would post a photo but my camera is not working, and I am not so thrilled as some of the blocks did not line up perfectly....

When ever I do strip cutting I always cut the width of fabric in half before I cut strips. I get straighter cuts by doing this.

first I figure how many strips I need and how wide. This gives me the length of fabric I need. I add about 1 1/2 " and cut across the width selvage to selvage. I then cut this piece in half on the straight of grain then fold each piece and cut the width of strips I need. The extra 1 1/2" is for straightening the fabric. This is a little more work but I get better cuts this way. I hope this is can be followed, HA.
peace :D

It does help! I am not liking this quilt as I am having a lot of trouble getting nice accurate cuts, but...it is a definite learning experience, and may in the end turn out pretty good....

Have you tried using a ShapeCut ruler to help cut the strips? I got mine at Wal-Mart. I don't know how I cut straight strips before I got this. You can probably google it and get a look at it.

Oh, it is a June Taylor Shape cut ruler.

I have to cut the shorter strips because I do not have a space long enough to cut WOF. It works for me just fine. I believe you have to do what makes you feel comfortable with what you are doing therefore you will enjoy the process.

Ahh, I have a June Taylor "perfect Diamond" cutter, but...will look for the shape cutter... it's my first time working with flannel, and oddly, while it is cotton, it does not act like regular cotton.

It is going to stretch in weird ways, especially if not prewashed. I think it stretches even when prewashed though. I just finished my queen size rail fence and I was glad to be finished!!!

I prewashed it and stuff, but really...I think after this one, I am going to stick with plain regular cotton.
Hopefully though my experiement will me good enough for the baby it is intended for!!!

Absolutely. That's what I was going to say is that flannel can be stretchy and difficult for even an experienced quilter to work with. Working with 100% cotton is so much easier. That's not to say that some people don't have any problem with it, but lots of people do. Glad you started using shorter pieces, I totally agree that will help. Good luck finishing your quilt - and the baby is going to love it!

I have to ask if you are using a rotary cutter? and are you folding your fabric in half....cutting 2 thicknesses at once? Most times when I am cutting strips, I will fold fabric down so I am cutting 4 at once....so much easier to work with and much faster done. And you are cutting from selvage to selvage, right?

the worst part is that I have another baby quilt to do, a "Millers Daughter" (Stars through the window) pattern and I have all the fabric for it (all 100% normal cotton). But I have to finish this one first.

Hope I make all the mistakes on this one....
and I do feel better hearing that some others have not always enjoyed working with the flannel...

Yes rotary cutter, and still sometimes slipping and cutting through the middle!!!
and 2 at once, if it were not flannel, I'd probably try to cut 4, but the flannel...giving me issues. thanks for the help!

Just a question? Are your finished squares supposed to be 2" or 1.5". If the finished square is supposed to be 2" you will not be able to get 6 squares out of 12 inch strip, as you have to allow for the 1/4 inch seam on each side of your square - you would need to cut your squares at 2.5 inches each.

Too late now, but next time you try a flannel quilt starch the fabric after you prewash it. I wouldn't try less than 3" squares with flannel--it's way too supple for tiny details.
As for strip cutting & piecing, are you using a rotary cutter? Is the blade sharp? Be firm with it. You are the boss. You want to cut it, not carress it.
Can't sew a straight seam? Are you using a 1/4" piecing foot? If you don't have one or can't get one, try an old trick. Place a piece of masking tape (or some opaque tape) on the bed of he machine to the right of the needle, front to back. Be sure the left edge of the tape is 1/4" from the needle. Now when you line up the edges of yur fabric with the edge of the tape you will get a 1/4" seam. Just slow down and keep the edges of fabric right next to the tape.

Oooh Peace by piece, thanks for the tips. the seams are straight for the most part. but I really hate the flannel. Still I'm getting the nine patches together, and once they are done its just a matter of cutting the frame blocks (which are nice and big!!!) and putting it together.
15 more blocks to make.
And no more flannel in my life. ever....I dont care how soft it is!

[quote=Barb44]I agree, if they're a thread off on each block, the whole quilt can end up being a 1/4" or more off at the end.

I don't know what pattern you're using, but this is the one I always use for my scrappy strip blocks: http://home.pmt.org/~awalter/string.html. They are addictive! Remember, when you're cutting the strips, watch your ruler; no matter how hard you try, it keeps moving a smidgen. Maybe you could try this pattern the next time?
Also, for baby quilts, I like cotton on top and flannel on back. That way, flannel is next to baby, but you get ease of working with cotton.
Good Luck!

I was going to suggest the buffer too. It's pretty hard to cut infinitisimally exactly, and so you might come up short at the end without a little extra.

I think in the end this quilt may end up as a toy for my dog!!! But I have learned a lot about Flannel, and gotten some excellent cutting tips.

I am only 6 blocks complete and I want to start the next quilt.

When doing strips, you sew one direction and as you add the next strip you sew the other direction.

Just remember when shortening your strips to allow for seam allowances - Hence, three 2" finished blocks would require a 7 ½" strip. (3 at 2½").

Strip piecing is my favorite way to piece but everybody has to figure out their own ways of doing things. All I can think to tell you is that you should buy a bit more fabric of each in case your cutting the strips smaller leaves you getting less portions per strip than the directions call for. My only quilt using flannel (and I was pretty experienced by the time I tried it) stretched to pieces and was annoying to work with....Good Luck---and I hope you don't have the same problems that I had!!!!

It *IS* soooo stretchy. I really regret my choices. I did finally get my 18 nine piece squares.....as you can tell, not all of them came together perfectly. the stretchy-ness of the fabric made it hard.
My Mom is teling me to put the whole thing together and not to worry too much about the squares not being perfect as it is not a showpiece (ha ha haha..) so I probably will for the experience. and then, back to cotton, and hopefully not making the same mistakes in cotton.

Love the idea of shorter strips to make it more manageable! I tried the selvedge to selvedge way and had a mess when the cats started playing in the middle of them. It's also easier to use up more scraps and get more variety.

You need to do what works best for you. :)

If the squares aren't lining up you might want to use some spray statch on them. You can spray the blocks you've already done too.I've never used flannel but others have said it helps. Post a picture when your'e done.

Would starching help?

Just cut the 'Width Of Fabric' strips in half. Much easier, and just as fast. I don't sew straight enough when I try to sew 'WOF' strips either.

I really like this idea. I don't like working with flannel either and when I use up what I have. No more for me.

If you want the units to finish at 2" you need to add 1/4" for each 2" block (for your seam allowance). cut the strips at 2 1/2" wide then cut off the salvedge and measure the strip. Divide that strip by 2 1/2" . Then you can cut the strips into manageable lengths without too much waste. I hope I've helped :wink: