The Mini Plaid-ish Quiltalong Week 2 — Cutting Your Fabric

Welcome to Week 2 of the Mini Plaid-ish Quiltalong. If you are making a scrap quilt like me, you may still be doing some fabric selecting as we start to cut into your fabric.

There are cutting instructions in the pattern, but I like to write out exactly what I need onto a piece of paper so that I can cross things off as I cut them (especially when making a scrap quilt). 

Here are some good practices when cutting fabric.

Always Press Your Fabric

I know that it can seem like your fabric is already pretty flat, but pressing it will give you more accurate results and will make the fabric easier to cut. Pressing can be kind of a pain (especially if it's hot outside) but it is definitely worth it.

Replace Your Rotary Cutter

Maybe you are more fastidious than most quilters, but I think that the majority of us could use a new blade right about now. This will also help with accuracy and just make cutting more fun. The sound the rotary cutting makes when cutting with a fresh blade is very satisfying.

Clear Off Your Cutting Mat

This is a reminder to me as well because I am a bit of a mess, but cleaning off your cutting math before each project is a good habit. 

Check Value As You Go

I like to keep my phone next to me on my cutting table so that I can pull it out occasionally, switch it to black and white mode, and compare the value of the pieces that I am cutting. Sometimes I am surprised!

Cut the Largest Pieces First

There are several reasons why this is a good idea. If you are using yardage, cutting the larger pieces first will result in more efficient fabric cutting. If you are using scraps, it is easier to find smaller pieces so get those larger pieces taken care of first.

Stack Your Fabrics

Four? Five? Six? Depending on how much you trust yourself and the sharpness of your rotary blade, you can stack several scraps together to speed up the cutting process.

Rulers Matter

My favorite rulers for cutting scraps are my 6.5" Creative Grids square ruler and my Stripology Squared Mini. Find the rulers that work best for you.

Don't Be Afraid to Change Your Mind

Did you cut a fabric and then decide it wasn't what you wanted for your quilt? It's ok to set it aside for a future project and use something else. 

I am simultaneously cutting and selecting my fabric for my rainbow scrap Mini Plaid-ish Quilt and will have a video to share later this week with my progress.