Whether it’s long rows of sashing or long borders, getting them straight and flat is essential. Especially if you are making a wall quilt.
To get to a beautiful finish, we need to start at the beginning. Straight, careful cutting; accurate piecing, and consistent blocks make for flat borders and nicely squared quilt tops.
Let’s make a panel quilt— good practice for sewing long pieces accurately.
Trimming/squaring a large panel on a 18x24 cutting mat doesn’t need to be difficult. It is a little stressful though. You generally only have one shot at getting it right so how you fold it is important.
Trimming/squaring a large panel on a 18x24 cutting mat doesn’t need to be difficult. It is a little stressful though. You generally only have one shot at getting it right so how you fold it is important.
First, line up the salvages.
Then line up the fold with the salvages.
Make it stand out
Line up the folds with the lines on your cutting mat. Be fussy! A little extra care now will give you a straight foundation to build each border on your quilt.
Measure twice and trim each side of your panel.
To trim the top and bottom, simply fold the other way, line up the fold and cut edges with your cutting board. Measure twice and cut once.
Cutting all of your fabric should follow these steps. Line up your salvages to the fold, then line up both folds on your cutting board. The more accurate your cutting the easier the sewing.
Sew Sincerely,
Mary