I have the same problem so I am of no help. I will be looking
for the answer too.

When I started quilting, I was told that squaring up your fabric will only be accurate for the width of the ruler you used. If you use a 6" ruler, you should square your fabric every 6". But I still have trouble. I can't double fold the fabric or I'm doomed.

Yes, the secret is to line up the ruler with the fold, then cut down the side to straighten the material, and each time you want to cut a strip, do the same thing and also don't move the fabric, if you move the fabric you have to line up the ruler with the fold again and again and again... you soon learn the hard way... it isn't hard, it is just knowing what to do...

Also only fold the material over once... not worth the risk folding it over twice... only takes a few minutes extra to do the fold over once and cut on each strip... more accurate that way...

David, I think it moves if you have more than two thicknesses of material. I know it it slower, but I stick to only two or three thicknesses and never have a problem - any more than that, and there is movement. We don't have the starch trend here as much as you seem to do it in the 'States, so that could help,I suppose.

I found this on youtube hope it helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_eue...eature=related

When you cut in with it folded you will get a dip in it have to cut it single layer

... just one more suggestion - make sure your fabric is straight of grain .. if the fold is slightly off, has kind of a kink or wrinkle when you hold it up by the cut edge, you will not get a straight strip.
If it's looking kind of iffy - iron out that center fold line, hold it up again and sort of shuffle the fabric if needed so the 2 selvedge edges line up... you can then actually fold it 2 times and still get nice straight strips - but practice on a few before you do that :)

I did the same thing on nearly everything I cut until I tried putting 'gripper dots' on the back of my rulers. While cutting, the ruler can shift as you cut away from you, especially if you don't stop midway, and move your hands carefully. I now have 'dots' on all my rulers and templates. MUCH more accurate cutting. I hope this will help you too!

* I also use sizing to iron before I cut. It seems to keep everything lined up better for me than starch did. Individual preference I'm sure, but hey try anything, right? :D

GaiGai gave excellent illustrations. Many quilters match up the selvedges and then cut. The selvedge is not important, but the fold is. If you cut straight from the fold, it does not matter that the selvedge does not line up.

Starch is your friend.

Sandpaper on the back of your ruler is helpful. Use an office supply cheapo punch, fine sandpaper & glue on with rubber cement. If all else fails, just use the rubber cement!

I too have problems when I cut my fabric. I'm not talking about a little 1/8 of an inch , I can be off by an inch when I cut 44 inch fabric. I think it has something to do with which fold you use. I just can't figure it out.
I can't cut the whole 44 inches so I fold it in half. I have it lined up salvage to salvage , fold it in half and then fold it again. I have started by lining up the ruler on the original first fold and I have done it by lining it up by using the second fold. I open it up and I have this hugh bow in the strip. I doesn't happen every time but it is happening more and more. I can't figure it out.

Minniesewta ... when you buy your fabric it is folded on the lengthwise grain .. if that is a good fold, and you can tell by checking the selvedge and making sure there isn't any wrinkle or wobble in the fold line you can get it ready to cut .. but if there is anything crooked, straighten it out before making your square up cut .. I will iron that center fold clear out if it's kinked. Now that you have your center, you can fold it edge to edge, lay your fabric to the right and measure from the left. I lay the fold on a horizontal line on my mat, check a couple of times, and then square off that left edge using a vertical mat line that is pretty close to that edge. Once that is straight, you can line your LONG ruler up at the width you want, say 2 1/4 for binding strips, and holding the ruler FIRMLY with your left hand, cut along that right edge holding your rotary cutter nice and straight. Always use sharp blades in your cutter - and close it after each cut. Now pull away the strip you just cut, measure again, and proceed just like the first one, don't slide your fabric until after your 3rd cut .. then, make sure your fold is still on a horizontal line, check to see if your cut edge is still straight on the vertical line - if not, trim it before cutting another strip. BTW- this cut is called WOF - width of fabric, meaning selvedge to selvedge. Keep your ruler nice and tight to the fabric .. if it feels llike it is sliding - you are not holding it straight down, but letting your hand go to an angle, and that will push the ruler out of alignment.
I probably cut 20-30 strips a week - and I learned the hard way!

I am intrigued. What is a Go Baby?

This is the same way I get my material squared. I pin the selvages together down the whole length. Lie flat and use a ruler to smooth while holding selvages in place. I then fold in half and pin the selvages to the fold, making sure that it is even selvage to fold. The Taylor Shape Cut fits perfectlly.

Gagai,
Very good point.
Thanks for the help.

This is the best solution to the problem. Also iron the fabic if you continue to have a problem. It is with the folding of the fabric that you are getting the problem. The fabric needs to be fairly stiff and flat.

I used to have the bow problem when I folded my fabric twice (4 layers). The problem was that the inner fold was not exact. So now, I fold once, hand crease the fold well, and then take the fold up to the salvedges and smooth the fabric from the top down to the double fold, and that has alleviated the problem for me.

Diane

It could be the placement of your hand on the ruler. It is a skill that is learned and can be very difficult to master. I use my hand like a "spider" and put my outer two fingers on the mat so I have control.

I have this problem too, so now I press and fold once and I get it right this way.

Cookie

too many folds. Fabric come folded once, then fold one more time only if you need to or don't have the room to lay the fabric with just the single fold. Be sure to square up the fabric before cutting and square again every 2-3 cuts. Good idea, in regards to the non-slip dots.

There was a suggestion a while back on the board that when you are cutting strips you cut one strip in one direction, and the next strip in the other direction. That may help.
Susan

Sometimes you might be letting the long ruler move so that is no longer straight. Also, if you are cutting more than one strip, you should stop and see if your strips are still straight, if not, clean the strip up and start again. Hope this is clear to you.

Hey David I can sympathize with what you've encountered. Here's what I learned/was taught - before you begin to make any cuts, hold your fabric up by the selvages. Look at the fold in the fabric - does the top layer look like it's shifted or pulled a little either left or right? If so, and you just lay the fabric down and cut your 2 or 3 inch strips, when you unfold, they will form Vs. Move the top layer of fabric a little left or right until you don't see that shift/pulled look; then cut a straight edge. From the straight edge then measure your strips and cut. There are two straight-of-the-grains - one horizontally (with the length of the cut fabric) and one vertically (selvage to selvage). It's the selvage to selvage straight-of-the-grain that is giving you problems. When it's lined up correctly, all cuts will be without the V. Fabric gets stretched on the bolt, causing the selvage to selvage to shift, hence V cuts ensue. Hope this helps.

i believe it is as simple as not folding your fabric.

I think your fabric is off grain. Maybe you haven't squared it up? Ask how I know these things :oops: :oops:

thank you ,thank you Gaigai. I was having problems also squaring fabric. liked you tutorial.

I read somewhere that if you cut one strip, then rotate the fabric and cut a strip, then rotate again, and do this until you have cut all the strips, it won't bow. I only tried it once and it seemed to work.

This is what I do also. I used to end up with those curves all the time until I got my fabric aligned correctly by doing the above method. You can really see this if you shift the fabric back and forth while looking at the folded edge. It soon becomes obvious when it is aligned and when it isn't. Try it and you'll see.

Someone, don't rememberwho, told me to always lay fabric with fold on line in front of me and cut the fold first (cutting up toward the salvage

A lot of good advice!