Welcome to Week Two!
This week we are prepping and cutting our fabric! If you are just joining the sew along this week, then check out the original post that goes over all the details of the Lava Blooms Sew Along and week one’s post that’s all about choosing fabric.
Prepping Your Fabric
Whether you pre-wash or not, make sure you press your fabric. I also recommend starching your fabric. It really helps with getting more accurate cuts and since we will also be working with pieces cut on the bias, it will help prevent the fabric from stretching.
Cutting Yardage
Once your fabric is starched and pressed, line up your selvages and smooth out the fabric toward the folded edge. Make sure the crease is nice and even. Lay your fabric down on your cutting mat, with the selvage edge at the top. Place your ruler on the right side and line up the lines of your ruler to the bottom creased edge of the fabric as shown in the photo below. I’m using a Creative Grids 8.5″ x 24.5″ ruler and highly recommend this size!
Trim off as little as possible on the right side of your ruler so you have a straight edge to start with.
Rotate your fabric so that the freshly cut edge is on the left side. Line up the lines on your ruler with the creased edge of your fabric (now at the top) and also with the freshly cut edge on the left as shown below.
Cut the needed strips, making sure that the top crease continues to stay lined up with the lines on your ruler.
To subcut, lay out your strips horizontally (with the selvage on the right) lining them up with the lines of your cutting mat. Trim off the selvage, then rotate your fabric so the freshly cut edge is on the left. Line up the lines on your ruler with the edges of your fabric on the top, bottom, and left. Cut the needed subcuts, making sure that your fabric continues to stay lined up with the lines on your ruler.
NOTE: You can use the lines on your cutting mat to line up your fabric, but don’t use them to line up your ruler to cut the fabric. Instead use the lines on your ruler with the edges of your fabric to get straight cuts.
If Using the creative grids stripology ruler
My all time favorite tool is the Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler! It makes cutting, fast, easy, and fun! Did I mention fast? Below I share how I use the Stripology Ruler to cut yardage.
Fold your fabric in half width wise so that your selvage edge and crease are aligned as show below. Lay your fabric down on your cutting mat, with the selvage edge at the bottom.
Place your Stripology Ruler over your fabric lining up the dashed line on the left to the edge of your fabric and lining up the first white line on the ruler with the creased edge of your fabric on the top as shown below.
NOTE: Make sure your bottom crease is even as well. If it’s not, you will get uneven strips.
Trim at the 0 first to get your straight edge, then continue to cut through the slots of your ruler being careful to measure out the number of inches and only cutting through the correct slots.
To subcut, rotate your fabric strips horizontally (with the selvage on the left) lining them up with the lines of your cutting mat. Place the Stripology Ruler over your fabric, lining up the dashed line on the left to where the selvage ends and lining up the horizontal ruler lines with the freshly cut edges of your fabric as shown below.
Again, trim at the 0 first to get your straight edge (and to cut off the selvage), then continue to cut through the slots of your ruler being careful to measure out the number of inches and only cutting through the correct slots.
Watch me cut yardage using the Stripology Ruler in this short video!
Cutting Fat Quarters
If you are making the fat quarter scrappy version, make sure you follow the diagrams in the pattern as you cut, so you maximize your fabric. I suggest using a regular acrylic ruler to cut your fat quarters rather than the Stripology Ruler.
This Week's Sponsors & Prizes
The prize for Week Two of the Lava Blooms Sew Along is a $25 gift card to Midlife Quilter and the Barton pattern bundle from Sara Lucille Handmade that includes her latest pattern release, Barton Cottage!
To be eligible for this week’s prize, post a photo to Instagram of your cut fabric by 8pm PST on January 30th and use the hashtag #LavaBloomsQuiltSA in your caption! A winner will be randomly chosen on January 31st! Remember that your account must be public to participate.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
Sylvia
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