Quiltspiration

How to cut fabric for quilting

Quilters cut fabric into strips across the width of the fabric, selvage to selvage, then cut the strips into squares and rectangles. With the fabric folded once, each cut goes through two layers, so a strip 21" long on the mat opens to 42".

You need a rotary cutter (45 mm is the usual size), a self-healing mat at least 18" × 24", and a clear ruler 6" × 24" with ⅛" lines. Always push the cutter away from you, and close the blade every time you put it down.

By Editorial Staff

Cutting strips and squares

  1. Press the fabric and fold it in half selvage to selvage, with the fold toward you. Slide the top layer left or right until the fold lies flat without ripples. The cut ends may no longer line up; that is fine, because you will trim them.

    Fabric folded selvage to selvage with the fold at the bottom

  2. Square up the edge. Lay the ruler on the fabric near the uneven end with one of its crosswise lines exactly on the fold, and cut along the ruler's edge. If you are right-handed, trim the right end with the ruler on the fabric; left-handed, trim the left end.

    A ruler on the folded fabric with one line on the fold, and the cut along its edge

  3. Cut strips from the straight edge. Turn the mat around so the clean edge is on your left. Lay the ruler on the fabric with its 2½" line on the clean edge and a crosswise line on the fold, and cut along the ruler's right edge. Check every few strips that the ruler still sits square on the fold; if a strip bends at the fold, square up again.

    A ruler laid 2½ inches in from the clean edge, cutting a strip

  4. Subcut the strip. Keep it folded, trim off the selvage ends, and cut across it every 2½" for 2½" squares. Each cut makes two squares, one from each layer.

    A folded 2½ inch strip cut into squares

Plan your next quilt in your own fabric

Quiltspiration draws any pattern in the fabric you own and works out the cut list for any size.