Quick Tablerunner Tutorial - Cutting Fabrics

Now that you have your 2 fabrics selected from part 1, it's time to cut!

Here's my main fabric choice for the cutting directions. Are you scratching your head? I know, it's not any of the fabrics I already showed you because I couldn't find a complementary fabric that I liked. That seems to be the reason why I can never deplete my Christmas stash, as soon as I find matching prints I use them up!

This print is deceivingly non-directional. The repeat pattern is large, but if you look closely the cats do "fly" in different directions.

Here is my main fabric with a small allover non-directional print for the complement. It may even be from the same line as the colours match up excellently! 

 CUTTING THE FABRICS

 

This photo shows the most efficient way to successfully cut all of your pieces from a fat quarter. This fabric was almost square 18 x 18 inches after cutting off my 1 inch of selvage. You really need the full 18 inches so don't cut your selvage much bigger!

The top strip is cut at 6 1/2 inches wide. Then you need to subcut a piece 18 1/2 inches long.

Cut a middle strip 7 3/8 inches wide. Cut one square from it at 7 3/8 inches.

From the remaining part of the strip, cut a 4 inch wide piece. Subcut into 3 - 4 inch squares.

You will have a piece of extra fabric as you can see in the photo - set it aside in your scrap bin to cut later. {There's also a piece from the top row, but I don't have it cut off in this photo!}

Your remaining strip should be almost exactly 4 inches wide. Fingers crossed that it's not less! LOL

Subcut it into 4 inch squares.

Total pieces of main fabric

1 - 6 1/2 inches by 18 1/2 inches rectangle

1 - 7 3/8 inch square

8 - 4 inch squares

 

I didn't make a cutting chart for the complementary fabric because, with a fat quarter, you have more than enough fabric to get your required number of pieces.

I'm even considering using my leftover complementary fabric as the start of my backing for one of my tablerunners. I'll show you that another day!

 PREP YOUR SQUARES

I'll leave you with a bit of homework while I edit the next batch of photos!

You will need to draw ONE diagonal  line on the back of each of the 4 inch squares - both the main fabric ones and the complementary ones. 

Next up - some chain sewing!

Feel free to ask any questions as we go.

With Joy,

Sarah Vee