This post is part of an ongoing series of posts for A Zig and A Zag Quilt Along I’m hosting here on my blog. Β You can join in at any time! Β You will find the links to all previous steps in my sidebar.
I know. I know. Β You probably have all thought that I’ve forgotten about my quilt along. Β But I promise I haven’t! Β I’m all caught up now with it. Β If you recall, I admitted that I incorrectly cut half of the pieces for the quilt in my rush to get it done before I moved from NOLA. Β Well…it took me a bit to get my ducks in a row and get all those fabrics out and recut. Β But I’ve done it! Β And now I’m ready to share that with you all and make sure that you don’t make the mistakes that I did. π
So, we’re on to the second set of cutting instructions. Β Yep. Β No sewing this week. Β Just cutting.
You should have ended the last set of directions with a big pile of white background squares and a whole bunch of sewn strips.
Divide your strips into two piles. Β Put the light-colored strips in one set and the dark-colored strips in another. Let’s start with the light-colored strips. Β Disclaimer: clever eyes will notice that the following photos of “light” fabric turn out to actually be a dark fabric in my quilt. Β The cutting directions ARE correct, so just pretend these are my light orange fabric. π Β Live and learn.
The following instructions are completely dependent on your ability to cut a 45-degree angle. Β I do this using the 45-degree mark on my cutting mat, however, some of you may find this easier to do with a special ruler. So use whatever method works for you.
Place your first light-colored strip on the cutting mat and line it up with the long edge along a straight horizontal line. Β Find the 45-degree mark on your cutting mat and move the strip so that one edge is near it. Β The 45-degree mark should be angled as shown, going from the bottom left in towards the top right.
Place your ruler along the 45-degree mark on your cutting mat.
Cut along the 45-degree mark.
You have one angled edge! Β Now move the strip on the mat so that a new spot is along the 45-degree mark. Β The next cut will be 9 1/4″Β away from either the top or bottom edge (it doesn’t matter which you use).
That 1/4″ may be the trickiest part to see, so here’s a little close up. Β I have used my cutting board so much that it’s pretty easy for me to find a 1/4″ on the board, but just do your best.
Place your ruler along the new 45-degree mark.
And make a second cut. Β Tada! Β One diagonal piece!
Continue moving the strip along the cutting mat making the same cut at 9 1/4″ away from the angled edge. Β I can get 3 and sometimes 4 pieces out of one sewn strip. Β You will need 6 pieces all together of each color, so feel free to just cut 3 from each of the two strips you should have in each lighter color. Β There will be some excess fabric leftover.
Now, here’s where you don’t want to make the Angela mistake. Β The mistake that made me have to redo half of my quilt pieces. Β DO NOT cut your darker strips along the 45-degree angle that you cut the lighter strips on. Β You will need to cut them in the opposite direction. Β This means that you want the 45-degree mark to go from the bottom RIGHT out towards the upper left this time.
Find the 45-degree mark on your cutting board, but align your board so that it is facing the opposite way as before. Β (some mats may have a line going in both directions, so you will just want to use the other one.)
Place your ruler along that edge and cut, just as before. Β Then again, move the strip 9 1/4″ along the cutting board and cut along that new edge.
You use the exact same steps for the darker strips, you are just getting the opposite 45-degree angle on the pieces. Β In the end, you should be able to line up your light and dark strips as shown below.
Again, you will need 6 pieces of each color with the light colors angled in one direction and the dark colors angled in the other. Β All the pieces should measure 9 1/4″ along the long straight edges.
All you need to do to the white background squares is cut them diagonally in half from one corner to the other. Β So you will get two triangles from ONE square. Β If anyone is going all fancy on me and using a directional background print, let me know. Β But otherwise, you should all be safe just picking a corner and cutting to the opposite diagonal corner. Β To avoid possible errors, cut all of these the same way. (It shouldn’t matter if you are using a two-sided solid fabric, but I know not everyone is.)
Okay?! Β Clear? Β I hope so. Β PLEASE let me know if you have any questions. Β This is the second and only cutting step…from here on out it is just sewing the pieces together. Β Yay! Β After this, you will have all the pieces cut for your whole quilt. Β Now that is awesome.
I'm up at the lake for a week, with my sewing machine. Sure wish I had remembered to bring my fabric for this quilt…
This is such a great tutorial! I never knew what those lines on the cutting mat were for! Thanks
I just want to say thank you for taking it slow with this. I'm so behind with this and think about it and a couple other projects while I'm at work.