July 15th - Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prize Announcement
July 22 - Cutting
July 29 - Half Square Triangles
Aug 5 - Flying Geese
Aug 12 - Building Block Centers
Aug 19 - Building Block Surround
Aug 26 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky
Sept 16 - Star Surround Parade and Grand Prize Winners
So here we are at July 22nd and this weeks assignment is cutting your fabric!! So let's get right to it :)
THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - CUTTING
We will start but cutting out the pieces needed for the stars and surrounds. If you have problems viewing any of the charts, just click on them and they will come up larger :)
SAME LAYOUT
If you have chosen to do a same layout project, you will need to use the following 2 charts to cut your star and surround fabrics.
Start with your 2 fabrics chosen for the star centers. Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of the star A and star B fabrics. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (45) 5" x 5" squares from your star A fabric and (45) 5" x 5" squares from your star B fabric.
Now you are ready to cut your surround pieces. Using the chart below, cut the number of square for your desired size and layout from your Surround Fabric. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (27) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" and then (108) 4 1/2"" x 4 1/2" squares.
SCRAPPY LAYOUT
If you have chosen to do a scrappy layout project, you will need to use the following chart to cut your star and surround 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 (3) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" squares then (10) 5" x 5" squares, and then (12) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your first fabric. Then repeat that process for each of your remaining 8 fabrics.
SAME OR SCRAPPY LAYOUT - BACKGROUND
Whether you are choosing to do a same layout or a scrappy layout project, the background fabrics you will need are the same.
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 (54) 5" x 5" squares then (108) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares, and then (108) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your background fabric.
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 but 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 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.
So let's show how I like to cut using the example we have been using so far, the 3 x 3 layout of the 32" block for the stars and surround. This is a 2/3 yard cut.
So to start, I would align my fabric with the fold on the 0 horizontal line and trim a straight edge along a left hand horizontal line of my mat and trim the selvages using a horizontal line along the top of my mat (normally 21"). Then I would cut a 9 1/4" strip. From that 9 1/4" strip I would sub-cut (4) 9 1/4" squares. (You are always cutting in even numbers as you are cutting through 2 layers of fabric creating 2 pieces each time you cut.) 3 of those squares I put in my finished pile and the fourth I will sub-cut into (4) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares. Then from my yardage I would cut a 4 1/2" strip and sub-cut it into the remaining (8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares needed. Finally, I would cut (2) 5" strips. The first strip I would sub-cut into (8) 5 " x 5" squares and the second I would cut (2) 5" x 5" squares and then scrap the remaining part of the strip.
And way easier than reading all of that . . . Your cutting would look something like this :)
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 Christa Quilts and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long.
This weeks prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Christa Quilts
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 Monday 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 :)
And Don't forget to add your beautiful cut up fabric to the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group!!! I am so excited to see all of your beautiful fabrics all cut up ;)
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!!
.JPG)
