First make a small snip with the scissors and then tear straight. Unpin the fabric, lay it flat, and measure the width. STEP 5: Squaring up a Corner (90 degree angle), STEP 8: No Selvage . 60mm Rotary Cutters will cut through several layers of fabric at one time. You will need a total of yard(s) of sashing fabric. If they don't cut through the fabric easily, or if they leave behind a ragged edge, they are … With the fabric flat on the work surface, use large sharp scissors and cut exactly on the pressed crease. This will make a very straight “line” as that thread is pulled out of the pattern. Cut along this line. Want to join the Make It and Love It CREATIVE TEAM?? See Instructions for details. For example, I wanted to make a 14 inch square…so I placed the end of my ruler all the way up against the right edge (which is already straight) and measured over to the left 14 inches. It is available free to use strictly for non-commercial, personal purposes only. Check out this QUICK VIDEO, all about Bias Tape! For me, if I have to clear a flat spot on a table big enough to lay my fabric out on anyway, it is much faster if I just lay out my mat and grab the rotary than to go slow enough with scissors to get a straight line (but I’m really bad at it hehe). Or maybe you’d like to see how easy it is to create a Blind Hem Stitch with your sewing machine. Now, you have 3 sides cut. Once you’ve chosen your fabric for your next sewing project, refer back to your sewing pattern instructions to see how much fabric you will need. and, in no event, will be liable for any damages resulting from its use. Fabric width (i.e. But for the best results — always WASH & DRY before beginning any project! Make Continuous Crosswise Grain Quilt Binding Strips . However, you can use that ripped edge (even though it’s ripply), to measure over about 1 inch and cut a straight line parallel to the rip. Then fold it the opposite way and and check the other widths. Make your own 1st Straight Edge. Double-fold binding is cut six times the desired finished binding width plus 1⁄4" to allow for turn of cloth (the fabric take-up resulting from folding and wrapping binding around the quilt edge). Almost every single project you make that involves fabric (whether it involves sewing or not), requires that you find at least one straight edge…..and then you can move forward from there. My favorite method for creating a nice 90 degree cut on my fabric, is to match it up with a perfectly square table corner. Continue cutting until you have reached the top. […]. Open the fabric. Jersey fabrics make up a large percentage of this group. Enter the width and length of your finished quilt, as well as the width of the binding strips you wish to use. But I RARELY use one (unless I’m quilting….aaaaand, I don’t quilt very much), because if I only need it for a few cuts, it’s annoying to pull out the mat, the cutter, the straight edge, etc. If you’re cutting a square, and need it perfectly square, fold it in half diagonally to check your angles. The borders usually need to be pieced but less fabric is required. Divide the finished width by this number. Decide on the number of panels you'd prefer. You will need to cut strip(s) that are width of fabric in length and inches in width. Once you figure out how to find that first straight edge, you can make perfectly straight fabric cuts from there on out. Thanks! I agree- Gingher are the best. I’m curious why you prefer to do it with scissors. These, First things first….you need to find (or create) one straight edge first. The first step in cutting long quilt borders is folding your fabric down to a manageable size that will fit on your cutting mat. Thanks for sharing your tips. I don’t know why I didn’t just get them from the start. Lay your cotton blanket panel on your minky right sides together making sure your Minky hangs out around all edges. Cut along the lines you traced using fabric scissors. The cuttable width is the width of the fabric… You can’s always trust that the carpenter was precise either. Now you have a straight edge to use and can use it to begin whatever project you are making. It matters because the marker must be made to use only the inside area of the fabric. (. Then pull that thread as if you are gathering the fabric. Lay out your fabric and your … Which way should the grain run for the width vs. the length. The amount of fabric is expressed as length (in yards) of a piece of fabric the width of which is specified by you. Turn the Fabric. Lay your fabric down in front of you and measure from one of the straight edges, over the amount that you need and begin cutting. (More about, So, if you make a snip along one side of the fabric, about one inch from the edge…, …and then pull the fabric apart and rip it, it will rip right along the grain line. Just one more. If you’re quilting, you’re dealing with fabric and yardages. When calculating the amount of fabric required, Then, line up your straight edge from STEP 4 along the bottom edge of the table. I’m always surprised that you don’t use a rotary cutter for stuff like this. 2. Most patterns provide a few width options for reference. If you look closely though, it distresses the fabric a bit and stretched the edge into a ripple. If not, re-measure/trim/adjust as needed. You’ll also want to pay attention to the width of your fabric! And if the fabric is one of those large-scale prints so popular today, the borders may look better cut across the fabric width. Now, see what the left side of the fabric looks like and see if lines up exactly with the left edge of the table, or if it slightly angles outward or inward. Step 4: Cut the fabric to your backing length and piece together with 1/2″ seam allowances. It’s so frustrating. I’m new to sewing and can’t always find really great materials locally. So Gingher won me over! Wizard of Oz. The usable width is the width of the narrowest place minus the width of any unusable selvedge (i.e. (. I, however, don’t have this habit……but wish I did. I, too, used cheap ones until my mom bought me a pair. Find out how you can share your project ideas right here, with readers from all over the world. Let’s talk scissors. How to See Selvage Edges Quilting fabrics are usually 42 to 44 inches wide when measured across their width from selvage to selvage. Line up the edges and make sure they’re even….and that the corners are folded right in half. If for example, your window is 50 inches wide, then you would want to buy fabric that is 75 – 100 inches wide or you can sew narrower fabric together as panels to achieve the width. So check out this tutorial on How To Cut Fabric Perfectly Straight…and Square It Up. And I have cut miles and miles of fabric. Great tutorial! The user assumes the entire risk as to the calculator's quality, performance and accuracy. But, you can still cut nice even lines, without the cutter. So, cut off the line of selvage in a straight line….and you have your straight edge of fabric to work from. In my example below, I measured over from the left edge of the fabric 14 inches and then made a cut down by that small arrow at the bottom. Though, you can use one if you want to. Use one hand to hold the fabric steady, and the other hand to cut the fabric. How to make your fabric cut edge straight. If you have a hard time cutting a straight line that matched the edge of the table, use a straight edge of some sort and draw a line. Just remember, cutting things even and precise will make your project process a lot smoother. However, if I’m cutting long lengths of fabric, sometimes I take this shortcut. Start with a large, flat cutting space. If you want to pre-wash FQ’s, try pinking the edges or serging them to deter them from fraying. Can you tell me as I look to make a small weighted blanket, which way of the fabric should be the length and which way should be the width? Hands down. Cut the Minky about 1” away from … In order to cut your strips, you’re probably going to have at least one fold in the fabric. (. Your measurements are set, your fabric has been prepared, and you're ready to cut. Measure and record the width... 2. Stretch fabric is a generic term for any textile, knitted or woven, that has a greater amount of recovery and stretch than is normally expected. the calculators calculate what is needed given the information provided. Reach inside the fabric rectangle and turn it right side out. The Fabric Size Calculator quickly shows you how large a pattern will be on nine different fabric counts at one time. This is your best choice for your first rotary cutter. And none of this will be done with a rotary cutter. So, straight up and down from one selvedge edge to the other. You enter the dimensions of the piece of fabric you wish to cut and the number of such pieces that you want to cut. Using the ruler is the method I used most often and seems to work the best for me. I have used a variety of scissors and yes, I have bought certain scissors because they were a lot cheaper. and, if so, how much. A nice straight edge of fabric isn’t so hard after all!!! And that’s it! … Thank you for the tutorial! And then you can cut everything else from there. Great explanation for cutting fabric straight! (The calculator defaults to a value of 43 inches.) Repeat and continue cutting up the fabric until you’ve cut high enough to meet the other dimension you need. But let me tell you — fabric isn’t so scary. Find out how you can share your project ideas right here, with readers from all over the world. Fold your cut length of fabric in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and selvages perfectly even. Or, just for fun, here’s a quick VIDEO tutorial for Popsicle Cuffs! Rotate your fabric to that 4th side and measure over the same way you did above. Is the selvedge to selvedge the width, In the case of a 38W x 42"L blanket? Cornerstone Fabric: There is a total of cornerstone(s). Using your measurements from above you can now determine how much fabric you will need to buy, for one cushion I will need 25″ of 54″ W fabric for the main part of my cushion and a minimum of 1 yard for cording. While this may seem simple, there are several steps that need to be taken to ensure that the fabric is on the straight of grain and as flat as possible. And a whole lot LESS hair pulling will be involved! Most typical way to get the straight edge is to tear it from one side. You'll have a rectangle of … Your email address will not be published. 45mm Rotary Cutters are perfect for cutting through one or two layers of fabric. The seam allowance used to attach the binding should be equal to the desired finished width … Want to join the Make It and Love It CREATIVE TEAM?? You don’t want to use that as your straight edge that you base everything else off of…..because, well, it’s bumpy. . Regarding the washing and ironing step: what are your thoughts on pre-washing those store bought fat quarters? These textiles can be stretch-woven fabrics, single knits, some double knits, and even bias-cut fabrics. Here is the easiest way to cut a half-width of fabric. If there is fabric hanging over the edge, it will most likely pull the fabric and will cause uneven lines without you realizing it. So, if you can find the exact grain, you can use that as a guide to create a straight edge. That's great for small projects… not so practical on a piece of linen 250cm wide and 4 metres long! I have used those for small projects time and again because I don’t need a whole bunch of that one kind of fabric and because I usually find them in prints I love, and I do choose to pre-wash them, but they fray so much!!! The following chart is a useful tool to have on hand when you’re purchasing fabric yardage. . Ideally, your chosen fabric will have a cut width equal to your desired panel widths. This will be based off of the pattern view and size you choose. And then cut. My grandmother is an excellent seamstress and she swears that if it’s cut nice, it’ll sew nice. (. CUT THE BIAS STRIPS – Determine what length of cording you need to complete your project. Want to make sure you buy the correct size fabric or need to convert a pattern from one fabric stitch count to another? They make a HUGE difference. Stretching fabric along a cut edge will not give the best estimate. A great way to check yourself and be sure that you cut even lines, is to fold your fabric in half and make sure that the width along one end is the same width as the other end. So if your pattern ever calls for width of fabric or WOF, now you know! Once you’ve made a few cuts along your fabric, you can fold it up and keep the two edges even along the side that are already cut (the left side in my case) and then use the folded over fabric as a guide to cut your opposite edge of fabric (the right side in my case). Folding and Cutting. You'll need some overage in order to piece the final join of the binding, typically 10-12 inches is recommended. I made a small cut right where the arrow is pointing at the bottom. It's very helpful. Most elastic fabrics are knits. the usable width for which the cutting-marker is planned) should be determined in detail prior to planning the cutting-marker. Calculate the Fabric Size Required. Having trouble finding that info anywhere. 1. Sometimes you’ll have fabric that doesn’t have a straight edge to start with (like the selvage edge I explained above). Cutting out my fabric sizes for my cushions. I don’t know if you can tell, but my fabric slightly angles out to the left, as you get higher up on the fabric. And at first, they have been awesome. Then, click the Calculate button. Using the strip width determined earlier, cut strips from selvage to selvage until you've cut enough fabric to surpass the required length. Make sure the rotary blade is installed in Clamp B with the gears on the blade aligning with the gears in the Adaptive Toolset. What that means is width of fabric, and your width of fabric is your fabric cut from one selvedge edge to the other. Thank you in advance. Some neat tricks, thanks for sharing :D I love to see how other people work and do things. Oh, and those corners…yep, a lot of times it’s crucial they’re at a 90 degree angle. I linked to this post from my blog here: https://www.sewingshop.net/blog/cutting-fabric-straight/, So how in world do you cut the “points” off all these beautiful tops and dresses I just want the hems straight not out. This calculator is designed and copyrighted by Quilter's Paradise. In fact, always have an iron handy while sewing….it makes such a difference to sew things flat after you’ve sewn them! Everything is easy to understand, especially with your clear photos! Make sure that the fabric scissors are sharp. I think finding that first straight edge can sometimes be tricky, and that’s why I get emails about it. Step 2: Press the Load/Unload button on your Maker to load the mat into the machine, then press the flashing Go button and … You will need to cut strip(s) that are width of fabric in length and inches wide. Choose Your Fabric! So trim that up with your scissors until the fabric is in line with the edge of the table. Quilter's Paradise makes no warranty or representation as to the calculator's quality, performance or accuracy, Great tips, thanks! *Tip: Fold the fabric and stretch along the fold. Because when it comes time to cut something up and it hasn’t been washed, I make little adjustment to my measurements and such, knowing it may shrink a little. In case you have any stretching, leaving yourself a little extra Minky is always better than cutting too short. Or have you always been too nervous to Install a Basic Zipper? My very FAVORITE pair of scissors of all time…..are Ginghers. Move the ruler up and continue measuring and cutting, just like you did previously, making sure to cut directly towards the measurement you need on your ruler. (. Woven fabric is created with woven threads that run vertically and horizontally, called fabric grain. Complete the form to calculate the amount of fabric needed to bind your quilt. In fact, I have gotten this question for years and always seem to forget to share what I do. And most things don’t have to be absolutely perfect in all angles and measurements like quilting does. Great tips! Test the fabric perpendicular and parallel to the selvage to determine proper stretch direction and percentage. Wash & Iron Fabric. Or counter corner. For a patterned fabric you can also snip the edge of the fabric and fray it just enough to loosen one thread parallel with the snip. Seriously, you’ll love this! With an iron, press a hard crease on the fold. The maximum width of the cutting-marker is constrained by the usable width of the fabric. -Ashley. (. Your fabric must be straight and square or you will get wonky cuts at the folds. lol… I have to use cut and rip, or I'm there forever…. Then, slide the ruler up a few inches, making sure that it’s sill lined up with the edge of the fabric (the right edge in my case), and then measure over again the same amount (14 inches in my case)….and then continue cutting until you reach your measurement. So…..don’t rush through the cutting, do it right the FIRST time!