Cut my first quilt today - a few problems

bkay2000

8 years ago

I decided on doing a 9 patch lap quilt as my first project after being frightened out of the log cabin for my queen size bed. I ordered a couple of charm packs to really simplify the project.

For the white, I bought some Kona cotton. I had a hard time squaring up the fabric. I ripped it to find the straight grain of the fabric, and it would not line up. (This reminded me of 8th grade Home Ec back in the 60's.) I pulled it across the bias, I ironed it. I pushed it. I poked it. It still wasn't straight. Finally, I just cut it. I cut 5" strips and then cut into 5" squares. Am I taking these online tutorials too literally?

I found that my squares varied by a 1/16 of an inch. Is that common? Do you trim the blocks when they are finished? Or, does it all just work out? Or, do you get better at cutting?

I found my rotary cutter was not consistent. Sometimes, It cut perfectly. Sometimes, it would skip spots. By the end, I began to figure out how to make it work somewhat better. Long cuts side to side worked better than up and down. Short cuts up and down seemed to work pretty well. If I cut slower, it seemed to work better. It's a fiskars cutter. Is it just inexperience or should I try another brand?

Thanks,

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bkay2000
Original Author

8 years ago

No, I don't do pinterest. I'll try youtube.

Thanks,

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Comments (11)

jennifer_in_va
8 years ago
I have always used Fiskars brand cutters and have never felt they were inadequate. You'll get more adept at using it. You need to practice how it feels, where/how you have to put pressure, and how to keep the rulers from moving. If it is skipping a spot consistently, there could be a bad edge on the blade--you can try a new blade and see if that's better. [Be CAREFUL!]

If your rulers are sliding while you put pressure against it with the rotary cutter, there are products that adhere to the bottom of the ruler to help it grip the fabric. Little sandpaper dots work as well as rubber, tapes, etc.

Cutting will become more accurate as you go. It is important to cut accurately because if you are off at the very beginning, then the inaccuracies will compound themselves as you go. With that said, it's unrealistic to expect perfection as you are just learning.

Go for it! You are on your way! As you have more questions, just ask here. We've all been there and are sure to answer them.
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love2sew
8 years ago
Wow Bkay you have got a lot done already with a pattern, fabric and some cutting. Cutting with a ruler and rotary blade does take some practice but you will get better the more you do. Take breaks when it gets frustrating. If you have a nearby quilt shop, they would definitely help you with your cutting at a not too busy time in their shop. If you have enough pieces cut for one block, sew it together and see how it looks. Keep us posted on your progress and take pictures when you can.
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bkay2000
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm waiting for the charm packs to arrive before I can sew.

I didn't want to use my old portable machine because I had no place to leave it up. So I bought a used machine in a cabinet just like it (Singer Touch and Sew) for $50. It needs new feed dogs, so I'm also waiting for those to arrive. (Not sure yet if this is a long term hobby or just an item on my bucket list, so I didn't want to invest a lot in a machine, yet.)

I'm going to make my blocks and then decide if I want to make it a "disappearing 9 patch", which looks great in the photos.

bk
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missouribound
8 years ago
On the 1/16" difference when cutting...

when You cut, is your blade perpendicular? When I first started cutting, I found had some differences in the finished sizes and realized I was holding the cutter so the blade was at an angle, so the blade was actually cutting under the ruler a bit. I started paying attention to keeping the blade straight and now my pieces are the same width.

About your cutter blade skipping, the only thing I can guess is that you have a nick on a blade. I dropped a cutter with a brand new blade, first time I have ever dropped a cutter and on a tile floor, and it flatted the blade in one spot and now it skips. I'm too cheap to just throw out the blade, so I go over my cuts twice and promise myself every time that I'll never drop another one.
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fran1523
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Although it's important to have those cuts as accurate as possible, don't be intimidated by 1/16" of an inch. Fabric is somewhat forgiving and you can stretch and scoosh and make it fit when you put the blocks together. I have to admit I'm not really a perfectionist but after it's all done, only you will notice the tiny imperfections. Just try to have one with it.
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Dingo2001 - Z5 Chicagoland
8 years ago
BK are you on Pinterest at all? You can search for cutting tutorials and see it "live". I find it helpful to see a demo!
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viola_masterson
8 years ago
A tip passed down for generations is to wear gloves, get the fabric nice and wet (dripping) before cutting with metal scissors. You'll go through a lot of scissors because they rust be works like a charm.
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bkay2000
Original Author
8 years ago
I bought a book on rotary cutting at half price books today. Hopefully, that will help me get my cutting more precise.

bk
gramsherry
8 years ago
I love precuts, especially charm packs. Don't want you to be disappointed but the 5" charm packs from Moda and others are not always a square 5". Don't want you to think it's your cutting or anything. This is a common complaint of those who use precuts. That's why I love the altered nine patch. You just lay out 9 - 5" charms that you like together. Sew them up. When you are done you square them up so they are all the same size. 3 x 5" = 15 less the 1" seam allowance you will get in each row will give you a 14x14 nine patch in a perfect world! I square mine up to 13.5 and then cut in half 6.75 one way, then cut the block in half 6.75 the other, you have four wonderful blocks from each 9 patch. Do this to all and then lay them out so seams don't come together. It is the most forgiving quilt pattern I have ever used. Great for beginners and quick for those who want to whip up some quick quilts.
bkay2000
Original Author
8 years ago
Now, I'm having trouble getting the seams to match. I'm going to try pressing the seam allowance open. I read that in an old "best tips" thread on this forum.

bk
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Cut my first quilt today - a few problems

bkay2000
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Cut my first quilt today - a few problems

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