This week is all about cutting your fabrics. It seems straight forward, it's just cutting fabric, right? This design is not dependent on evenly cut strips, but they do need to be cut straight. Check out my handy videos for my tips and technique on doing this. As always, email or comment if you have any questions.Cut all of your fabric in lengthwise strips (from selvage to selvage). Ensure that all your ends are straight. There is no prescribed width to the strips, they are all random widths. Mine ranged from about 1.5 inches to 3 inches, but I didn't measure at all. From each 1/2 meter (yard) of fabric I would aim for 8-10 strips.
Once your fabric is cut you will get a better idea of how the fabrics work together. If any are jumping out at you as not playing nice with the others now is the time to replace them. For example, I'm not so sure about the one for mine that is second from the left in the top photo. It might be too light. But I haven't decided yet. It isn't a light, light one. In the photo below you can see the one third from the right that is lighter. I doubted that one and kept it in to great effect.
Next week will be sewing the strips and pressing. Yes, pressing. In the meantime, put a fresh blade in your rotary cutter and cut away.If you are quilting along with me please let me know. I would love to be able to share your work with everyone else. I'm going to add a blogroll of participants on the site. If you don't have a blog then you can also link to a Flickr photostream. And speaking of Flickr, is there an interest setting up a group for the Quilt Along?
We are fighting the flu in this house. That means I will get lots of quilting done or none at all!
10 comments:
I'm doing the quilt a long! I don't have a blog but I am putting a link to my flickr set. I think I have picked out some of the drabbest fabric ever but for some reason I was very attracted to them. I'll probably give this to one of the guys in my life when done. Can't wait to see how it turns out!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/baileygirl5/sets/72157622680839516/
Hi Cheryl, not taking part this time around, but I'm following your quilt along anyway and I have to say that I really like your idea of the videos. They're so helpful! When it comes to actions, videos are worth more words than pictures :)
Look forward to the rest, and like most other quilt alongs, I'll probably jump on the bandwagon in the future!
Cheers,
Christine
The videos are wonderful. I've been teaching myself to quilt and videos like this have been incredibly helpful! Thanks for the tips!
I'm still working on a quilt along from a few months ago ... your videos are great and I'm planning on following along to learn! Thanks for all the inspiration on your blog!
Good luck battling the flu! My teenage daughter just went back to school today, after a week out with H1N1, and my husband had arthroscopic knee surgery this morning, so I am behind the curve (as usual - sigh). But I am 95% sure about my fabric choices, at least. I'll have to take them outside to have a look in natural light tomorrow morning - if it's not raining - and I'll post some photos on ye olde blog. P.S. Your videos are great! It's always nice to have a refresher!
Yay i was looking forward to your quilt along! Altho i am not taking part this time around, but I'm following and plan to follow it all the way! I am new to quilting and these videos are really helpful to me! Thank you so much for having this "Quilt along"! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Count me in! I've been MIA due to puter problems but think I'm good to go once again and ready to celebrate with a new project. I have an idea and a couple of fabrics in mind for a spring quilt. This design will bring it all together.
great videos! i love seeing you in action. i also love seeing your strips all cut out. it's going to be a stunning quilt!
Hurray! I was hoping that you'd put some lessons in video!
I've made a few hand-stitched follow-the-line quilts, but am very intrigued about doing something with my machine; I can't figure out how to do stuff from books (you should have seen my previous crochet attempts!) so the visuals here are super helpful. Keep these videos coming please!
Good job with the instructional videos and fun to see you in live action! (Sharing this info is so valuable, you are doing a great service. I remember when I first started quilting there were quilt show on TV, that no longer seem to be in production. I learned so much from watching those shows and the experts demonstrate the tricks of the trade.)
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