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I wish I could skip all the tedious cutting!
lgrande   Advanced Beginner MT USA Member since 1/18/12 Posts: 1041	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/6/13 2:13 PM I'm starting a wool-look, simple quilt intended for my dear Brother. What I'm not enjoying is the time-consuming cutting of the rectangles. It's slow going because they need to be (almost) fussy cut because they're plaids. It's slow going because I can only cut for a short while and then I find my attention going in other directions. I just don't much enjoy the tedium. I just want to it to be over with so I can get on to the other parts that I can enjoy, like the sewing! ------ Linda Bernina 830LE Bernina B530 Janome 6600P Pfaff 1209 Babylock Evolution Janome 644D
SouthernStitch   Advanced LA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 8184	Login to reply to this post In reply to lgrande << Like this post Date: 2/6/13 2:24 PM I feel your pain! I had to fussy cut most of the squares on my cowboy quilt. I was so tired after that, I don't even consider anything that looks like it has to be fussy cut. Then to make things worse, I chose to back it with 8 large pieced rectangles. 4 of them were -- you guessed it --PLAID!! Okay, not so bad. I managed to get them square after some steaming and stretching. Pieced together, they look fine! I'm thinking GO ME!! Now it's laid out on the floor ready for basting. After all that work, I'm guessing that the plaid, which is on the right and left on the top and bottom, just isn't going to line up. I'm a beginner, and I'm sure the quilt isn't as square as it should be. If I line it up perfect on the top, it won't be on the bottom. I just know when you look at the back, it's going to look terribly off grain! I'm such a perfectionist this will make me nuts. So my motto now is NO MORE PLAIDS -- EVER!! ------ Bernina 730E, 530, and 350PE Singer 221 FW, 403a When life gives you green velvet curtains, make a green velvet dress.
PattiAnnJ   Advanced OH USA Member since 12/3/06 Posts: 4987	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/6/13 2:34 PM I guess this could be summed up as, "choose your battles carefully"! Would it help, or have you tried useing template material and drawing the pertinent sections of the fabric pattern on it for duplicating the cuts?
lgrande   Advanced Beginner MT USA Member since 1/18/12 Posts: 1041	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/6/13 2:41 PM I have approx. two thirds of the fabric cut out. Some of the patterns are crooked on grain. I lined up the plaids as best I could but there is no perfection. Some will be a bit wonky and there was just nothing I could do about it. I've cut the worst of them...the rest of the fabrics are herringbones and muted stripes so they'll come along much more easily. I love the fabrics, they're really nice and masculine lookiing in autumn colors. And they're very soft textured. It will make a lovely quilt when finished. ------ Linda Bernina 830LE Bernina B530 Janome 6600P Pfaff 1209 Babylock Evolution Janome 644D
DonnaH Intermediate TX Member since 10/1/03 Posts: 466	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/6/13 2:59 PM This is why I like to cut plaids on the bias, lol. But I don't think I'd ever try making a quilt with them - except maybe a crazy quilt!
Learn To Sew   Intermediate WA USA Member since 4/12/05 Posts: 7994	Login to reply to this post In reply to DonnaH << 1 member likes this. Date: 2/6/13 3:18 PM Is it called a crazy quilt because you would have to be crazy to make one? Or does making one make you crazy? I am in a good mood today, so a little bit of word play is in order. ------ Quilting is relaxing to me. I love to play with fabrics, patterns and colors. Bernina 630 machine only Pfaff 2036 Babylock Molly Bernina 1200DA serger Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L
aslinnd Beginner AUSTRALIA Member since 5/28/07 Posts: 576	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/6/13 3:59 PM When I've had blocks or sections where I know they are not going match up, I find that you have to pick the strongest design element or design lines and make those match. Because the eye tends to take in the big picture or overall design, if those seams work the imperfections in the finished product are much less noticeable. I hate cutting odd shapes and triangles and I have had some early disasters. On shifting fabric I am a big fan of a light weight iron on interfacing I do that now if I use silk Dupion or linen before I cut it, makes no difference to look or weight really but makes it heaps more fun to use in quilts
Franksdottir   Intermediate Member since 4/25/08 Posts: 2407	Login to reply to this post In reply to lgrande << 1 member likes this. Date: 2/6/13 7:21 PM I don't know if this will help, but our foremothers did not fussy cut for regular quilts. If you look at antique quilts you will find stripes, plaids, and other directional fabrics cut just any old way. Those ladies did not waste anything, and you can often find directional fabrics pieced together to make pieces large enough to piece the pattern with. ------ Barb
Cat n Bull   Advanced NC USA Member since 2/17/06 Posts: 1931	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 2/6/13 7:30 PM That's why I NEVER cut everything out first, then sew. I can;t deal with the tedious repetitive stuff! I cut, sew, cut some more, sew some more. ------ Cathryn
lgrande   Advanced Beginner MT USA Member since 1/18/12 Posts: 1041	Login to reply to this post In reply to Cat n Bull << 2 members like this. Date: 2/10/13 10:10 AM Cat, Your advice was excellent. I cut enough squares to get started (about a third of what I'll need), then moved on to the piecing. Much better. Now when I go back to the cutting I am actually enjoying the process knowiing that I don't have to cut all 200 blocks at one time. ------ Linda Bernina 830LE Bernina B530 Janome 6600P Pfaff 1209 Babylock Evolution Janome 644D

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