wash, press, fold, cut, repeat

The question that I am asked most frequently, especially from my knitter friends, is "where do I begin to make a quilt."  So I've put together a little tutorial of the steps I take and the tools I use to begin the process.  

1. Wash all quilting fabric in cold water and a small amount of laundry detergent (about 1/2 of what you would use to wash dirty laundry).  Washing removes the sizing and printing chemicals in the fabric and allows the fabric to shrink to it's final size.

2. Press the fabric once it comes out of the dryer.

 

3.  Fold fabric in half, selvage to selvage.  The above photo shows a half yard of fabric folded in half selvage to selvage.

Then bring bottom folded edge up to selvage (top) and fold in half again.  The fabric is now 4 layers thick and ready for cutting.

4.  Lay the bottom edge of the folded fabric flush against a horizontal line on the self healing cutting mat. 

Note about Materials:  Purchase the best quality materials you can afford.  You only need a few basics so spend your money on those.  Save by not buying all the quilting "gadgets" that claim to make everything easier but only end up collecting dust.  A good cutting mat and rulers last forever - all of the materials I am using were purchased eight years ago and are in wonderful condition after much use. 

You will need:

a good quality self healing cutting mat - 24" x 36" is best

2 acrylic cutting rulers.  At least one should be 6 1/2" x 24".   The smaller ruler pictured above is 5" x 18" and has a black plastic lip "gadget" on the bottom edge that is supposed to make cutting fabric easier but it makes such a mess of the folded edge that I only use this ruler for measuring (see below) and never for cutting.  See what I mean about buying "gadgets" - I bought this ruler eight years ago when I didn't know better.

a 45mm rotary cutter. 

I have these sandpaper dot stickers on the back of my cutting ruler.  They help keep the ruler from slipping while I cut and have held up amazingly well after all these years.  I think they're from lowe's.

Back to cutting the fabric.

5.  Trim the right side edge to get a straight clean edge before beginning to cut.  In step 4 you lay the fabric flush along a horizontal line on the cutting mat.  Now place ruler close to the right side edge of the fabric - you do not want to trim off any more than you have to.  Place bottom edge of folded fabric flush with any horizontal line on the acrylic ruler  - this assures a perfectly straight cut - and trim.

Now there's a straight edge on the right hand side of the fabric.  I will begin cutting the fabric into 3" strips.

6.  Use 2 rulers - right one placed horizontally for measuring and left ruler placed vertically for cutting - to cut fabric into strips.  Note how the bottom edge of the ruler on the right and the horizontal line of the cutting ruler on the left line up with the bottom edge of the fabric.  Position the measuring ruler first and then butt the cutting ruler up against it - making sure that the bottom edge of the fabric is even with a horizontal line on the cutting ruler (left).

7.  Place your left hand on the cutting ruler like so, slide the measuring ruler out of the way, and cut.

One 3" strip cut selvage to selvage. 

Repeat for desired number of strips.

8.  Unfold strips and press.  These are ready for sewing.

To cut squares, use the same 2 ruler cutting method to cut the strips into squares.

I mainly use squares to piece triangles.  Triangle tutorial here.  

And I use strips to piece squares.  The nine patch quilt below was made out of 3" strips.

I am making another nine patch quilt and I will show you how easy it is to make nine patches out of strips.

 

I will leave you with a little "mama lesson" that I learned today.  Remember when I posted that I cut a whole bunch of our daffodils to bring inside?  Well a certain five year old happened to be paying close attention to what mama does when new flowers come up.

And here is the result. 

I have learned to be mindful of the actions that I model for my kiddos and my girlie told me she picked them for me, because "I love you, mama" - now what mama could be upset about that!

 

Comments

[Andrea]

Thanks so much for the tutorial!! I am one such knitter who is continually drooling over all the beautiful quilts I see in blogland (yours especially)! One of these days I am going to make the leap and just see how it goes. I'll be bookmarking your tips!

[Stephanie]

Wonderful tutorial. Coming from someone who quilts, it's always nice to see others approach at it. I learned a few new tips from you, like the sand paper stickers on your ruler....genius! Plus using two rulers at the same time for cutting, I'm surprised at myself that I am not doing that one already, but great tip! Glad I stopped over here, there is always more to learn and it's so fun learning from friends :)

[Nancy]

Thank you so much for sharing your tips--sand paper dots are definitely in my future. I may also get a nicer rotary cutter (since I didn't follow your advice of buy the better quality one :) )

Your little flower picker just loves her mama~

[Meg Evans]

I am in love with that nine patch quilt! You're giving me the quilting bug. And I just love that bouquet of flowers just for mama.

I'm off to a knitting date where I am hopefully going to finish the seed stitch on this sweater!

[Denise]

I will be coming back to this post for sure. I am thinking of starting a quilt for our bed. This will be a great reference - thank you!

[Jodi]

Great tutorial, for sure. I love the idea of using sandpaper dots to hold the guide in place. I always learn something here -- that's why I love visiting. And that nine-patch. I must make one, as soon as I finish my Adirondack Spring quilt.

[Its_Lily]

I love the tutorial you just gave us. Very helpful indeed to those of us who are not yet quilters. I have a question though. What do you do with your old rotary cutting blades? I have some and it seems wrong to toss them when I think we should be able to take them to get resharpened. I hope I'm not the only one pondering this.

[christina]

I love your tutorials! Washing the fabric is a good idea; I never wash mine but maybe I'll start.

[Lisa Q]

thanks girl. I have a question...when I cut my strips, I use my clear ruler and use the grids on my mat to line everything up, then I use the grids on my ruler and cut on the left side of the ruler...seems like my strips are straight...but now I'm not sure I'm doing it right? Sometimes I am not sure I'm precise enough...you know what I mean? Anyways, thanks for being so available, whether it's ruler questions or sweater concerns..you're the best! Have a wonderful Friday!

[Karen]

Looks like good therapy, cutting fabric, especially if your ruler doesn't slip!

One time, I came out to find all my little sprouts in the garden had been picked by a little helper who had thoughtfully "weeded" for me. It is hard to be mad when the intention is good.

[AJ]

Great tutorial. Love the colorful quilt.

[laura]

looks like you've been keeping busy! and what a sweet little bouquet of flowers.

[leslie]

that quilt is AMAZING!
i have been in the mood to sew lately... getting all my fabric out in the morning... never sewing a stitch. soon, i hope.
thanks so much for the tutorial... and the sweet story and photo of your girlie!

[MrPuffy]

Gosh, what a great tutorial. For those of us who have had absolutely no experience with sewing this is tremendously helpful. When I get a sewing machine I'm coming back to read this again! Thinking about your gorgeous quilt will be my motivation :)

[Ruth]

What a super tutorial. It is so clear and easy to follow. It makes me want to start a quilt. I have this bookmarked because it is definitely on my list of things I want to try.

Your daughter is too sweet. I remember when we first moved into this house there were daffodils and hyacinths planted by the back door and every year as soon as they flowered the kids would pick them and bring them in to me. Precious memories.

Ruth

[katie]

I adore the quilt! it is beautiful!

[Imene]

I love this tutorial. Simple enough for a beginner like me! Thank you Larissa

[kristyn]

thanks larissa! this is perfect and already on my printer!! it will be my reference tool when I begin cutting all my fabric. first step...wash fabric. I think I can do that! your knowledge, skill, and willingness to share is invaluable to me. thanks for that!

[Suzanne]

I have never had anyone show me how to use two rulers to cut fabric. Using the second one sure to measure the fabric makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that tip!

[Mackenzie Haydu]

This is a really cool tutorial! I wonder though, I might be using my ruler backwards (maybe it's a left handed thing?), but where you use two, I just use the one big one...let me see if I can explain...Say you want a two" strip, okay? You lay your fabric out, and place the ruler at the left hand side of it. You line up the left edge of the fabric so that it is 2" under the ruler, so that the bottom of the fabric runs on one of the horizontal lines, and the edge of the fabric is along the intersecting 2" line. Cut along the edge of the ruler, and you have a two" strip! I think it's the fastest way I've learned to do it, it saves having to line things up on multiple tools, which can be a hassle sometimes (at least for me!). Anyway, I hope that made sense!

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