cutting strips

I'm making cushion covers and I need to cut three strips 7 1/2" wide and
3 feet long. I can't figure out the best way to do this to make sure
they're nice and square and even. The fabric has no pattern and isn't
the kind that will rip along a straight line.

The best plan I've come up with so far is to lay the selvedge on a line
on my cutting matt and then mark 7 1/2" away from that at lots of places
and then join those with a straight edge, but my experience with that
plan hasn't been so positive in the past. The marks never end up lining
up all that well and it's tedious. I don't find the grid on my cutting
matt helps because I can't see it with the fabric on top of it. I've
never understand quite how that's supposed to work.

I wish I had a 7 1/2" wide board but I don't and don't know how I'd go
about getting one. I have a yard long cutting matt, a metal yard stick,
a rotary cutter, and shears. I don't have a t-square but I'd buy one if
you think it would help. I don't have a 3 foot long cutting surface
either so I'll have to do it in several stages.

So, does anyone have a good method for cutting nice, even strips?

Thanks,
Dawn

Dawn Alguard wrote:

I'm making cushion covers and I need to cut three strips 7 1/2" wide and
3 feet long. I can't figure out the best way to do this to make sure
they're nice and square and even. The fabric has no pattern and isn't
the kind that will rip along a straight line.

The best plan I've come up with so far is to lay the selvedge on a line
on my cutting matt and then mark 7 1/2" away from that at lots of places
and then join those with a straight edge, but my experience with that
plan hasn't been so positive in the past. The marks never end up lining
up all that well and it's tedious. I don't find the grid on my cutting
matt helps because I can't see it with the fabric on top of it. I've
never understand quite how that's supposed to work.

I wish I had a 7 1/2" wide board but I don't and don't know how I'd go
about getting one. I have a yard long cutting matt, a metal yard stick,
a rotary cutter, and shears. I don't have a t-square but I'd buy one if
you think it would help. I don't have a 3 foot long cutting surface
either so I'll have to do it in several stages.

So, does anyone have a good method for cutting nice, even strips?

Thanks,
Dawn


I fold my fabric very carefully and use a rotary cutter and a quilter's
ruler. I usually draw lines for wider stuff like your seven and a half
inches. Use a biro for greater accuracy on those lines: once you cut
along them, no-one will see them inside what you are making!

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Dawn, if you haven't cut your fabric yet, go to your nearest
quilt shop and they usually are willing to make these types
of cuts. I know my local quilt shop let's her shoppers come
in and use her tables. It's worth the try....all one can say is
no. ;]

Donna


"Dawn Alguard" wrote in message
...
I'm making cushion covers and I need to cut three strips 7 1/2" wide and 3
feet long. I can't figure out the best way to do this to make sure
they're nice and square and even. The fabric has no pattern and isn't the
kind that will rip along a straight line.

The best plan I've come up with so far is to lay the selvedge on a line on
my cutting matt and then mark 7 1/2" away from that at lots of places and
then join those with a straight edge, but my experience with that plan
hasn't been so positive in the past. The marks never end up lining up all
that well and it's tedious. I don't find the grid on my cutting matt
helps because I can't see it with the fabric on top of it. I've never
understand quite how that's supposed to work.

I wish I had a 7 1/2" wide board but I don't and don't know how I'd go
about getting one. I have a yard long cutting matt, a metal yard stick, a
rotary cutter, and shears. I don't have a t-square but I'd buy one if you
think it would help. I don't have a 3 foot long cutting surface either so
I'll have to do it in several stages.

So, does anyone have a good method for cutting nice, even strips?

Thanks,
Dawn

Lucky you!
We are in the finishing stages of making a dozen can-can skirts. Each skirt
has three layers of ruffles and each ruffle starts out as an eight inch by
10 metre long piece of white broadcloth! I am so sick of ruffling I could
hurl - that and the fact that one person who offered to help has not shown
up yet - grrrrrr! Oh well, more work but more money I guess...
Cynthia

"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
Dawn Alguard wrote:

I'm making cushion covers and I need to cut three strips 7 1/2" wide and
3 feet long. I can't figure out the best way to do this to make sure
they're nice and square and even. The fabric has no pattern and isn't
the kind that will rip along a straight line.snipSo, does anyone have
a good method for cutting nice, even strips?

Thanks,
Dawn


I fold my fabric very carefully and use a rotary cutter and a quilter's
ruler. I usually draw lines for wider stuff like your seven and a half
inches. Use a biro for greater accuracy on those lines: once you cut
along them, no-one will see them inside what you are making!

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!