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Home » How to Cut Squares

How to Cut Squares

May 19, 2013 by Nanny 3 Comments

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We are launching the Let’s Sew – ‘Scrappy Square Swap’ this week so I thought I would run through how to cut squares.  I will give instructions for cutting from a fat 1/4 , cutting from the width of the fabric, using scissors and using a rotary cutter.  I am also giving the instructions right handed – if you are a leftie, just reverse them (I’m sure you are used to doing that – I’m sorry but I am sooo right handed)

So I have washed my fabric (because that’s what I do), I’ve pressed it, folded it in half, selvedge to selvedge or selvedge to opposite cut edge if using a fat 1/4.  This is where you will often find the fabric won’t ‘sit’ right – while you are holding the selvedges together with both hands and the fabric hanging down

See the folds coming from my hand on the left?
Just move the front of the piece a little to the left or right until it does sit right and then you may be dismayed at how much you have to trim off!  You can see on the left how much ‘out’ it is.
1.  Using a Fat Quarter.
 
Fold the long side to long side again, making sure that it is all sitting flat – no folds.

The first thing we need to do is straighten the cut edge – don’t assume that the person in the shop has done a good job!

(a)  Using scissors, a rule, a piece of paper and a pencil

So you don’t have a rotary cutter and a cutting mat – don’t worry!  You can use a rule and scissors – I made my first quilt this way!!

First you need a right angle:  Take a piece of paper – any old piece is fine – and fold it and crease.

 
 
Now fold the fold along the fold and crease again. 
You now have a perfect right angle!

Place the folds along the folded edge of your FQ and mark the upright.

Join the dots with a pencil or fabric pen.  (I used  my Pilot Frixion pen – disappears when you press)
Nanny edit: Please see new, detailed info re these pens here and decide for youself whether you use them.
 
Measure from that line along 5″ both top and bottom and mark. Join with your pen.

You now have 2 lines marked.

Cut along both lines with your scissors.
You now have a 5″ strip.
Open it so that the two short ends are together and repeat the process to straighten the edge/remove the selvedge.
Measure 5″ top and bottom like you did before and repeat.

You now have 3 lines.  Cut along all 3 with your scissors.

and you now have 4 perfect 5″ squares!

Repeat the whole process to get your eight squares.  Well done!

(b)  Using a rotary cutter, rule and cutting mat.

With your FQ folded in half and then in half again, place the fold along a line on your board.  Place your rule so that it is on the same vertical line at the top and bottom of the fabric.  Cut.

You can see how uneven the edge was:

Now flip that straight edge to the left hand side and line it up on the board lines – vertical and horizontal.

Put your rule on the 5″ line above and below the fabric – cut.  Move the rule along, making sure the fabric hasn’t moved, put rule on the 10″ line and cut.

You now have 4 x 5″ squares.  Repeat the process to get your 8 squares.  Well done!

3.If Using width of Fabric:

Put the fold along the bottom line on your cutting mat. ( you can see the whoop in the cut edge on mine as it goes up the mat!)

Move the fabric until the rule can sit on, in my case, the 15 at the bottom and the top and then cut:

(You can see that my strip thinned away in the centre and was up to 1/2″ wide at its thickest!)
NOTE: If you have a small mat, by all means fold the fabric again, just taking care that all folds are removed.
Now that you have a straight edge,  flip the fabric and put the straight edge on the left of your mat, fold along the bottom:
Place your rule so that it passes over the 5″ mark top and bottom, and cut the strip:

Bottom                                                                                                  Top
You now have a 5″ strip the wof  (width of the fabric) and it’s time to trim the selvedges.  So once again, place the fabric along a line on your cutting mat, with the selvedges to the right and place your rule on the upright line to cut:
You now have a straight edge:

Flip the fabric again so that the straight edge is running up the left hand side of your cutting mat and the bottom of your strip is running along one of the lines:

Place your rule on the 5″ line top and bottom and cut.  Repeat across the strip.  You will have 4 cuts:
and you will now have 8 squares and a small rectangle for your scrap collection!
Well done! 
 
I hope that this has helped those who were not sure about how to go about it . Now all you have to do is pop your squares in an envelope with a return addressed, stamped envelope and post them off  – and then start waiting for the postman!
 
Until next time 
Nanny xx

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Filed Under: QUILTING TUTORIALS, SEWING/QUILTING, TIPS/TOOLS, TUTORIALS

Trackbacks

  1. » Quilt-A-Long for Charity – Tutorial 1 Notes says:
    January 24, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    […] and self healing mat – these make cutting your squares a much simpler process but in my instructions, I demonstrate using scissors and a tape measure as well. b)  1/4" foot – take a good look […]

    Reply
  2. 'Dream To Achieve' Quiltalong Preparation - Nannycraft4u says:
    May 14, 2015 at 11:09 am

    […] It would be easier for you if you have a rotary cutter, self healing mat and quilting rulers – I will chat on as if you do BUT if you don’t, don’t panic because you can certainly do it all with tape measure and scissors!  You will find some useful tips here ! […]

    Reply
  3. Make a 9 patch Sampler with Nanny - Nannycraft4u says:
    February 7, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    […] Cut 9 x 4.5″ squares – 5 Dark (black background) and 4 Light (white background) (more details on how to cut squares can be found here ) […]

    Reply

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