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    Home » Quilt Alongs

    Handmade Christmas Quilt Along- Start Cutting

    Updated: Aug 20, 2016 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 10 Comments

    Okay, Quick post today- Just want to keep everyone on track… I’m going to be out of town for a bit in October and didn’t want to leave you guys “high and dry” while I’m gone, so the cutting post will be divided into 2 parts.

    Handmade Christmas Quilt Along

    So ready???

    Let’s start chopping up some fabric!

    First of all- if your still not sure what you are doing, grab a piece of graph paper and start sketching out your plan…

    -where each fabric is going
    -what size you need for each piece
    -how many pieces you need to cut
    -colors, size etc…

    This is a sketch of a quilt I just finished- I went as far as to color in the blocks, it ended up helping quite a bit – you think you’ll remember that stuff, but if you put down your project for a week or so, trust me you’ll forget.

    The best way to drive up the cost of a quilt and waste fabric is to start cutting before you’ve got a good plan in mind.

    Second-

    Once you are sure what you are doing- start cutting…

    Here are a few great tutorials if you are a beginner at cutting fabric with a rotary tool.

    Rotary Tool Basics from Natalia at Piece & Quilt
    another great one from Amy at Diary of a Quilter She’s also got great tutorials on basic quilting supplies, how to piece a quilt etc...
    As for me, I’m going to start cutting into this stack this week-  All 6×6 squares- Luckily I bought the 30’s prints already cut into 6×6, so I’ve only got to cut the Sarah Jane Fabrics.
    I’m going to fussy cut the fabrics with the illustrations- do you know what fussy cut means? I didn’t for forever!
    It’s pretty simple, it just means that you pick the exact part of the print you want to cut- Your “fussy” about what your piece will look like-
    For example on this print- I’ll “fussy” cut the fabric with the girls playing so that the girls are in the center of the block…
    IMG_3810
    from fashioned by meg
    The pieces of this placemat were fussy cut- see how the design is in the center of each square? (we will not talk about how much I covet the fabric in this placemat- seriously a print with VW bus on it?– augh,  love love)
    This method yields beautiful results, but beware you’ll use up more fabric, so make sure you’ve got extra.
    Okay- you’ve got until October 26th to finish cutting out your quilt- I’ll be “checking” in with you before then so you don’t forget- That’s 3 weeks- plenty of time…
    Then we’ll start talking about sewing the quilt together. We’ll piece the quit together in November, then start quilting and binding at the end of November, beginning of December- with hopefully everything all finished up no later than the 21st of December.
    If you are giving away your quilts, make sure to take photos of them first! We’ll have a link party in January so everyone can show off their creations.

    Other Quilt Along Posts:

    Quilt Along

    Fabric

    Step One

    Design

    Start Cutting

    Cutting Part 2

    Start Sewing

    Backing And Batting

    Progress Report

    Machine Quilting

    Last Update

    Finished Quilts

    Patchwork Quilt

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. toots2u says

      October 05, 2011 at 6:42 pm

      Are you cutting the fabric for all 3 of your quilts from the beginning or going thru the process for 1 quilt before starting the process for another? I am guessing you liked the way the quilting looked on the snuggles since you are using it again. Were all of your quilts straight line quilted? I haven’t seen the moda snuggle fabric in person but it looks like it has a lined texture to it. I have the fabric for my first quilt cut & have begun sewing. I have 6 kids & am going to see how many I can complete by Christmas but am going to keep the design simple!! Thanks for the motivation!

      Reply
    2. Sheila says

      October 05, 2011 at 7:01 pm

      Quilting for dummies question: do you not wash the fabric first? I’m assuming not, as I think you want it to pucker a bit when you wash it after finishing, but I’m not sure. Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Melissa {polkadot chair} says

      October 05, 2011 at 7:43 pm

      Hi
      I tried to email you but I don’t have your addresses, so I’ll answer the questions here:

      1- I don’t prewash fabric- I like it to look puckered after washing.

      2- Yes, I’m going to back with Snuggles again- I really did like it and since these are “throw” around quilts I think it will make them extra cuddly.

      3-Yes, they are all just straight line quilted.

      4- I’ll share more steps of cutting out the other 2 quilts in the next 2 weeks, just need to pace myself a bit, since I’m headed out of town soon!!

      So glad to have you along!! I can’t wait to see what you make!

      Reply
    4. Brooke says

      October 05, 2011 at 8:46 pm

      Loving that Sarah Jane fabric!

      I’ve always wanted to back with Snuggles but have never been brave enough. It slips and slides!

      Have a great trip.

      Reply
    5. Stephanie says

      October 05, 2011 at 10:16 pm

      I’m attempting my first quilt. I cut and figured out my placing for my son’s quilt. I’m making the snuggly bricks one.
      What is Snuggles? Is it like minkee fabric?

      Reply
    6. sonia says

      October 06, 2011 at 7:49 am

      Thanks for the tuts, I’ll check them with time. I’ve started my quilt but I’ve cheated since I’m using Moda precuts 😉
      Enjoy your trip!

      Reply
    7. reneseltzer says

      October 06, 2011 at 7:51 am

      I was wondering how many 6×6 squares we need in total?
      I may have missed it but didn’t see how many of each?
      Thanks- this is great!

      Reply
    8. reneseltzer says

      October 06, 2011 at 7:57 am

      I found it- sorry, I just read your other post!
      Thanks-

      Reply
    9. toots2u says

      October 06, 2011 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks Melissa! Hope you have safe travels.

      Reply
    10. Sheila says

      October 06, 2011 at 3:32 pm

      Thanks for your response about washing before cutting. That’s what I thought, but just wasn’t sure. I’m sorry about the email – I didn’t realize you couldn’t see it.

      Reply

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