You have to keep adjusting the fold of the fabric to line up on the line of the matt and even up the end by trimming. The fold of the fabric does not always lay straight against the the line and so if you don't keep adjusting it to the line when you cut it will bow.

I agree. I think it is the cutter and not necessarily the fabric. These have been some very good tips and I will give them a try on Wednesday at UFO.

Thanks your guys. You are the best for tips like this.

So many instructions tell you to cut across the width of the fabric (42 inches) I cut length wise (up the selvedge) and I never cut a strip longer than 20 to 24 inches. You can fold the fabric once to be able to use a 12 inch ruler. The problem with cutting the width you have to fold twice to use a 24 inch ruler and that is where the bow comes in no matter how experienced you may be. Judy Martin a stellar quilter and designer has always given this advice. Try it.
Happy quilting
Severna

Someone taught me to slightly angle the blade of rotary cutter towards the ruler while cutting to eliminate bowing of strips.

My exact same solution. It has saved me from many a "bad cut" that came before it. Actually, I have two June Taylor shape cuts, best thing since sliced bread.

Pressure on the ruler is the key. All of the starching, trimming and alignment tricks are defeated if pressure isn't maintained from one end of the cut to the other. As one pushes forward with the rotary blade, the blade may push the fabric from under the cutting guide, thus causing a curve. A dull blade, or one which no longer rolls smoothly because of age or dust build-up can make it worse too. David, is your cutting table low enough so that you can sort of lean onto the ruler to keep steady pressure and do you walk that steady pressure evenly as you roll the blade? It gets back to the angle of the dangle thingie.

What is the Go everyone is talking about. Can you send a picture of what it is?

Yes, I would also like to know about this "GO". What does it do etc.

Thanks.

I used to have that happen. I has to do with how the fabric is folded...not straight. I fold it once, pin across the top, press, and then fold it again for approx. 10" widths that fit under my June Taylor Shape Cut ruler. Don't try to match the ends when folding, hold it so that there are no waves in it and pin and press. They don't cut them straight at the fabric stores. Then square up the end and cut from that. That should help. I saw this method once on Simply Quilts.

I spray temporary basting spray on my rulers if they slip, doesn't keep me from seeing the lines, can be washed off later if you like. Gives even grip across whole ruler.

I find it easier if the layers are not too thick

This is what I do.... I cut the first edge off(on the right if you are right handed)...I have the fold on a line of the cutting board. After that, I turn the board around without moving anything. I then put my ruler over the folded fabric and use only the lines on the ruler(not the mat). It comes out perfect every time...no bowing. I hope this makes sense to you. If not I will try to clearify it for you.

I,also, never starch!

I always starch and iron and "square" off the fabric.. never a problem..

first thing - don't assume that if you have the selvages lined up the fabric is squared. Hold up the fabric folded in half and move the selvages to the left and right until the fold lies straight with no wrinkles. Now the fabric is on the straight of grain. Carefully lay it down. Always cut with the fold towards you. Use the fold as your straight line. From Fons and Porter I learned, to cut the first strip a little wider and then trim it down. After that first cut, you can cut to size. Hold up the fabric and unfold - I bet you won't see the dreaded "V"

David, are you cutting a large stack? If you cut to many at one time they tend to bow like that. If so cut your stack in half and see if that helps.

David when you fold your fabric make sure the fold is tight. start your cut at the fold to selvage, the cut will be straight , if the least bit loose it will have a slight curve at the fold.

Nice illistrations Gai.

Go to Harbor Freight and buy a glass pane suction cup handle. It will help to keep your ruler from moving. Also always use rulers with a nonslip surface. You can get things to put on your ruler to keep them from slipping. I can cut very accurate strips this way. It also keeps your fingers away from the edge of the ruler so you don't slice a portion off. I learned that lesson from experience.

gal288 is right they taught us in home ec to do this only no rulers or rotary cutters had to find the thread to square fab pull it out and cut along the space in the 50s

Hi David,
I haven't read all the other replies, so forgive me if I am
repeating what others have said.

Bowed strips occur when first of all you double fold the
fabric. When cutting strips, you should always cut from the
single fold (the way it comes off the bolt, instead of folding
it again from the original fold to the selvege.)

Even when cutting from the single fold, you can still have
bowed strips unless you do one important step. After cutting
two (three at the most) strips, then move your fabric to the
nearest line. You will find that there will be a slight overage
on that line if you have the fabric lined up on both the vertical
horizontal line. You need to put your ruler there and cut off
the sliver that is over the horizontal line to straighten the cut.

It doesn't matter how carefully you cut each strip, the fabric
needs to be straightened in this way about every 2 - 3 cuts.
If you will do these two things, you will have straight strips -
no bowing.
Have a Blessed Day!

When I have a yard of more of fabric, I cut off a piece approx. 24", instead of trying to hold up all the fabric. Do you use a specific size?

I line my 12x12 ruler up to the fold of the fabric, then butt my 6x12 ruler to it and make my cut. I too recheck for squareness every 2-3 cuts and more often than not find I need to square it up again. I never have V-strips any more

When you purchase fabric it is never straight. When you put the two selvege edges together you may see the there is a lump at the point of the fold. Move over one selvege edge to the left or right until you get a smooth fabric. Doing this while standing up or else you will not see the problem or the difference in how the fabric lays. Now all you have to do is to use either folded or selvege edge as a straight edge and cut a straigh line from fold to selvege. Cut a small sample to check the straightness of strip. That's it.

Sometimes my strips are straight and sometimes they're not. I'm gonna try out some of these tips and hope for better results. Thanks all.

I used to freak out when I saw my Lqs owner take our 44"folded fabric and then fold it again bring the fold from the bottom to the selvage.....I thought, OMG, there is going to be a "V" in it......it didn't happen.
So I went home and tried it. I did not starch, just folded where there was the four layers, smoothed, and smoothed, then cut the end to square up. My secret is using the June Taylor slotted template ruler.....you don't pick up the ruler and moving it each cut. This big square template slotted ruler lays on the folded fabric....line up the fabric fold on the bottom line, insert your rotary cutter into the desired strip slot measurement and cut. cut, cut....up to 9 strips without moving the ruler. It comes in different sizes. Watch for those Joann sales and coupons.

D in TX

what the heck is a Go baby??

It is smaller than the GO. Light Weight.
I have the Studio...it is a monster...very heavy. But love it.
D in TX

David: I havn't read all the posts but so far I havn't seen a description of exactly what you are doing. A clear and complete description of how you are folding your fabric, straightening up, etc how you hold the fuler. Motion of rotary cutter. Appears most of the responses are based on assumption. It might be just an adjustment in what you are already doing.

I love this board!!! Everyone is so helpful :D

It's not the cutting-I did a Moda jelly roll quilt & the bowing drove me crazy & I swore Moda had cut the strips off grain but that wasn't the problem---When sewing long strips together alternate the end you sew at--always starting at one end stretches the fabric a tiny bit but it bows on long strips. alternating which end to start sewing corrects for this and I haven't had a problem since-sorry Moda!!

What's the GO?

David, you have five pages of very useful tips so I have nothing to add in that dept., but want to ask you to keep that wonderful sense of humor throughout your quilting. It's refreshing for us and does keep one from getting discouraged.

David - when you have the fabric ready to start cutting - I find that if I refold it every two to three cuts - it helps a lot to eliminate the "bows" - don't cut from the same fold all the time, in other words. Let us know how you these suggestions work for you.

The GO is a cutting machine. works a bit like an old mimeograph maching in that you put dies on the tray and crank them thru the rollers and it cuts your shapes.

"My quilt instructor suggested cutting fabric doubled once and held up selvedge to selvedge and then moved back and forth so the fold lies even."

To me this is important step #1. If the fabric is not folded on the line of the woven thread it can never appear straight when cut. It is easier to work with smaller pieces rather than 5 metre lengths however. Take the fabric, gently press, starch if you wish. Take hold of the selvedges right and left and bring them together. (Newbies remember we are cutting across the width of fabric ,the selvedges run the length.)Hold the folded fabric in front of you , the folded edge hanging down, then manipulate the selvedges back and forth until the fabric falls evenly without a wave or buckle to be seen. Lay it on the board with the fold closest to you . Then line up the ruler on the fold line VERY carefully. Cut to square the fabric, then cut your 1st strip. You may need to move to the opposite side of the table to do this accurately. CHECK THAT THE STRIP IS NOT BOWED! Repeat the whole process if necessary! Moving the fabric to the mat can sometimes mess with the selvedges again,be careful with this step, be patient !

Remove the strip, do not move the fabric piece until you have run out of room to cut. Realign cutting edge every 3-6 cuts, but keep checking your strips for accuracy. Always sew long strips in opposite directions to keep from creating bowing after sewing. I hope this helps a little.

Ditto David, no starch necessary.

I make sure when I am cutting strips to see if my fabrics line is still straight after cutting two or three strips. This is very important when you are cutting strips.

What is a Go Baby?

David, It may help to straighten the edge (cutting edge) of the fabric after every couple of cuts. Also, my 22" ruler started wearing out in the middle. I bought a new ruler and that helped tremendously. Good luck!