** NOTE - This post is part of a series of posts for the Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long. If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of 4 of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :) Here is the schedule
Feb12 - Half Square Triangles
Feb 19 - Building Block Centers
Feb 26 - Building Block Sides
Mar 5 - Building Block Corners
Mar 12 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky
April 2- Star Light Star Bright Parade and Grand Prize Winners
So here we are at Jan 29th , so let's get right to it :)
THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - CUTTING
All of the cutting will be done using the same type of charts that we have been using so far. Simply find the size block and layout that you are making and that will tell you the cutting you need to do. If you have any problems viewing any of the charts, just click on them and they will com up larger :) Here is the finished sizing chart, just in case you need a reminder of the block size and layout you are doing :)
PRINT FABRICS
We will start but cutting out all of the "print" fabrics.
Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of your fabric cuts. For a 2 x 2 layout there will be 4 fabrics, for a 3 x 3 layout there will be 9 fabrics and for a 4 x 4 layout there will be 16 fabrics. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (1) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" square, (20) 5" x 5" squares, (4) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares and (8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your first fabric. Then repeat that process for each of your remaining 8 fabrics.
** Note - When cutting the first large block (Some number and a 1/4") I like to cut the strip the next inch up. This allows me to sub-cut the most amount of pieces from the left-over strip. So in our example, I would cut my first strip 10" wide, then sub-cut a 9 1/4" square from it and then I can subcut all of my 5" squares and on down with the smaller squares from the remaining strip piece :)
EDIT - I have heard that there are lots of you wanting to do some "custom" layouts (yippee!!) and need the cutting broken down a bit. So I hope this helps. Here is the image of a block. The yellow blocks are your basic squares, the red blocks are the HST's and the purple blocks are the Flying Geese.
In the print layout directions, the first cut is for the Goose of the Flying Geese unit, the second cut is the HST's, the third cut is for the sky in the Flying Geese unit and the last cut are the basic squares. So in our example this is the colors for the cutting.
From each of the (9) 3/4 Yard Cuts
(1) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" Square
(will make the large triangle "Goose" in the outside FG unit)
(20) 5" x 5" Squares
(4) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" Squares
(will make the 2 small triangles, "sky" in the inside FG unit)
(8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Squares
I hope this helps. If you have any other questions on your particular layout, please don't hesitate to send me an email and I will get back to you asap :)
BACKGROUND FABRIC
And now, we can move onto the background fabric :)
Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from your background fabric. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (9) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" squares, (108) 5" x 5" squares then (36) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares, and (72) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your background fabric. For the sashing from your background fabric you will cut (12) 4" x 32 1/2" strips and (4) 4" x 110" strips.
** Note - On the longer sashing strips you will need to piece together strips to reach the desired lenghth. So in the example we have been using, you will need to piece 3 WOF strips together and then trim the strip down to 110 1/2". Then repeat this to make a total of 4 strips that measure 110 1/2" :)
CUTTING TIPS
Here are a few helpful tips if you are new to cutting or just want to see how I like to cut. This is the way I like to cut, it is not the only way to cut, so if you do it different, great :) Do what you are comfortable with. This is just more tidbits that might help save your some time and eliminate waste.
1 - Always press your fabrics first, it takes a second more but will help in keeping your pieces accurate. I like to keep my iron at a super hot setting and use a little extra water from a spay bottle if I have any creases or folds that don't want to come out with a simple pass of the iron.
2 - Check the sharpness of your blade before starting to cut. Sometimes I like to layer my fabrics a bit, especially if I am cutting several fabrics all the same way (like in the scrappy layouts.) I never like to cut more then 4-6 layers at a time, and if I am cutting that many layers I always need to use a really sharp blade. But if you are still beginning, I don't recommend cutting more than 2 layers of one fabric at a time as the fabric really tries to shift the more layers you have.
3 - Whenever cutting yardage, I always like to cut with the fold in my fabric lined up along the 0 horizontal line on my cutting mat. I always start by cutting a straight edge along the left hand side of my fabric and then (as long as my yardage is short enough) trim the selvages from the top of my fabric. (Almost always along the 21" horizontal line)
4 - I like to cut in strips and use the lines on my mat as cutting guides rather than my rulers. Once I cut all of the strips I need, I slightly separate the different size strips, still keeping them aligned along the 0 horizontal line and the nearest vertical line, and then sub-cut the strip using the horizontal lines on my mat. This allows me to cut a lot of squares quickly.
5 - When cutting strips, I always like to start with the largest piece first. So I cut a strip the width of my largest piece (*See the note of cutting it to the next inch) and then sub-cut that strip as needed. When sub-cutting, I always start at the top of my strip and work my way down, thus allowing the scrap to be on the fold and creating 1 large scrap instead of 2 small scraps. Any extra of that strip can normally be sub-cut into smaller pieces needed thus eliminating waste.
NOW GO START CUTTING :)
I hope these cutting tips help :) Now, have some fun with your cutting! Here's my fabrics all cut up :) This weeks assignment wasn't to hard, right :) And now the fun part, you can enter to win the weekly prize :)
The Weekly Prizes are sponsored by the
Fort Worth Fabric Studio and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the
Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long.
This weeks prize is a
$20.00 Gift Certificate to Fort Worth Fabric Studio
So what do you have to do for a chance to win this Gift Certificate? Simple . . . Just link up your fabrics all cut up at the end of this post :) You can link to a blog post or a flickr picture, or whatever. Just make sure to link up by next Wednesday morning as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of next weeks post :)
If you don't get your cutting done by next week you can still link it up :) (just not in time for the prize :) The linky will remain open until the end of the Quilt-A-Long. So if your out of town, or just had a busy week, no worries!!! Just link up when you can :)
So let's get cutting!!! And if you have questions, don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com. Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
Blog Hop we were asked to make another designers project and add some Valentine's flair to it. So that got me to thinking, Valentines is all about love. Well what our family loves to do more than anything is camping. (The dirty faces attest to the joy here ;) 
