Cutting Fabric Strips with Rulers

Last Thursday I explained my technique for straightening the edge of my fabric before I started cutting into it. This Telecast Thursday I want to show you how to cut strips from your fabric after it's been straightened.

It's important to learn the correct cutting method so that you don't get wavy strips. It's so frustrating to cut 10 strips only to realize that each one has a big wave - or two - in it! Certainly not desirable! 

To properly understand this technique and learn the little tips that will help you in cutting your fabric strips, watch the video below or on my YouTube channel.

Keep in mind that this is my method for cutting fabric strips: there are other ways to do this that you might want to investigate too.

What are your best tips for cutting fabric strips? Leave me a comment below telling me your favourite technique.

Creatively,

I'd love to have you join me and hundreds of other quilters in my private Chatterbox Quilts' Facebook group. This encouraging and sharing group provides lots of help and inspiration to all quilters.

Squaring Up Fabric with Rulers

It's another Telecast Thursday and this week I'm addressing a question that I've heard many times: how to I cut my fabric? Do I use the lines on my ruler? Do I use the lines on the cutting mat?

There are many ways to cut your fabric, but you always want to start your cutting with a straight edge, so the most important part of cutting your fabric is how to straighten your edge so the rest of your cuts will be straight.

I use the lines on my ruler to straighten up my fabric edge and I'll show you that in the video below, but before I can start cutting, I want to be sure that my fabric is folded evenly. if the fabric is askew, so will be the cuts!

Watch the video below to see my technique or view it on my YouTube channel.

There are many ways to straighten your fabric edge, but this is the method that works best for me.

How do you straighten the edge of your fabric? Leave me a Comment below to describe your technique.

Creatively,

P.S. I invite you to join my private Chatterbox Quilts' Facebook group. This encouraging group is the place to learn and share with other quilters. 

Slice and Insert Quilt Block

Happy Telecast Thursday! This week I'm going to show you how to make another quick quilt block, but this one doesn't use the stitch and flip method. I know! Such a departure!

Rather than stitching and flipping, we are going to be slicing and inserting this week. This Slice and Insert quilt block has a real improvisational feel to it and since there are no lines to follow when slicing, you are completely free to do your own thing with it.

You'll need 3 fabrics to make this block:

1 background fabric

2 contrasting fabric strips at least 1 1/2" wide

To make this block work, you need to be sure that there is a strong contrast between the background fabric and the two fabric strips. I've chosen a black and white print for the background fabric and two solid colour fabrics (red and blue) for the strips. By choosing the solid colour fabrics, I've created a modern looking block.

This is a perfect quilt to use pre-cuts: a layer cake piece for the background and jelly roll strips for the inserted strips.

You'll be slicing the background block on a diagonal, but not corner to corner. You'll then add the first fabric strip and I've shown you a handy way to get everything lined up properly that I learned from Jacquie Gering.

The technique is easier to understand by watching the video below or on my YouTube channel to see how this block comes together.

This Slice and Insert block is a good way to use up excess fabric strips, perhaps those left over from binding pieces.

This will be the last Quick Quilt Block in the series - for now. You can find all of the other Quick Quilt Blocks in the playlist on my YouTube channel.

What has been your favourite Quick Quilt Block in this series? Do you have other blocks that you consider quick to make? Let me know in the Comments below.

Creatively,

P.S. I'd love to have you join me and hundreds of other quilters in the private Chatterbox Quilts' Facebook group. Learn and share with other quilters in this encouraging group.