What am I doing wrong cutting long strips that they bow?

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02-27-2011, 01:25 PM

#101

My Cat's Belle

Junior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Murphy TX

Posts: 129

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

02-27-2011, 01:48 PM

#102

lizzy

Super Member

Join Date: May 2010

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 1,201

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.

02-27-2011, 03:22 PM

#103

Susanb

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Seaside, OR

Posts: 109

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.

02-27-2011, 04:43 PM

#104

betbet

Member

Join Date: Nov 2009

Posts: 43

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

02-28-2011, 10:13 AM

#105

grammysharon

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Monmouth, Oregon

Posts: 5,884

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

02-28-2011, 05:03 PM

#106

skeet

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: st. cloud,florida

Posts: 310

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

03-01-2011, 10:41 PM

#107

garysgal

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: in the heart of the awl

Posts: 1,015

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.

03-04-2011, 05:34 PM

#108

KLO

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: North Central, NC

Posts: 2,741

Quote:

Originally Posted by gal288

The fabric is not on grain, it's that simple. I have always realigned the fabric, never use it the way it comes off the bolt.

Unfold the fabric,, press out the center, hold the 2 selvages edges together, move the fabric left or right untill there is no distortion in the folded edge. There will be bumbs & bubbles in the fold when it is not straight, but as soon as the grain is aligned, the fabric will lay smooth.

I then lay it on the ironning board, press from selvage edge to fold, being sure to keep selvages together. If you get a bubble when pressing, it's still not onn grain.

Have done this method for over 40years & it works, just a little practice to learn.

Good luck

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.