Simple tips for cutting up quilting fabric

Every great quilt starts with well-cut fabric. Follow these tips to get the shapes and sizes you need.

• When you've decided on the block design for your quilt, you'll need to prepare accurate templates for each of the different shapes required in the design.
• You can make templates from sturdy cardboard or template plastic.
• Use your plan to determine how many pieces of each shape must be cut from each fabric.
• Squares, rectangles and triangles are shapes that are easily cut using a rotary cutter and a long plastic ruler.
• Multiple cuts can be made quickly using a rotary cutter. Lay the folded fabric on a board first.
• Graduated wide plastic rulers make measuring easy.

• Add 1.5 centimetres (1/4 inch) to the required finished size of the shape. For example, for a finished square of four centimetres (1 1/2 inches).
• Cut squares of 5.5 centimetres (2 1/4 inches).

1. Cut out a square that's 2.5 centimetres (one inch) larger than the longest side of the finished triangle.
2. Then, cut along one diagonal of the square. This gives you two triangles of the required size with a 7.5 millimetre (three inch) seam allowance.

1. Cut a square that's 3.5 centimetres (1 1/2 inches) larger than the longest side of the finished triangle.
2. Then, cut along both of the diagonals of the square. This gives you four triangles of the required finished size with a 7.5 millimetre (three inch) seam allowance.

1. With the right sides together, pin at each end of the marked pencil line. The pin points should face out and be perpendicular to the sewing line.
2. Begin the seam with a few back stitches. Stitch along the line using a fine running stitch. An occasional backstitch may be added to increase the strength of the seam.
3. Finish the seam with a backstitch or two.

1. For machine stitching the pieces, no seam line is drawn.
2. Measure the foot on your machine to see if it'll match the required seam allowance. If not, make adjustments in the position of your pieces so that the machine sews the required allowance.
3. Stitch your seam from one edge of the pieces to the other.
4. After the seam is stitched, press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric before attaching another piece.

Properly cut fabric is essential for getting a strong and good-looking quilt. Cut the pieces carefully and, once you're done, arrange them on the ground to take a look at the whole picture. If needed, you can add or take away pieces to make it perfect.