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Why can’t I cut material to size?!

17 replies

hmmwhatatodo · 24/10/2018 21:44

Ok, so every single time I try to make something I am incapable of getting the material to the exact measurements. I’m not talking about anything fancy. I’m talking about something as simple as cutting a 16 inch square. I end up with wonky sides, one side 15 inches, things like that. I iron the material before I start and have a rotary cutter and a green cutting mat which I can’t seem to fathom. So, for example, if I have a go at a basic envelope cushion it will almost always be slightly too tight for the pad or just not look quite right... this is without the addition of messed up stitching on the sewing machine! Am I doomed and should I just give up now?

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TroysMammy · 24/10/2018 21:48

Thank goodness I'm not alone. I make cards and they always look wonky despite having a measured cutting mat. I have a die cutter which cuts things perfectly but once that double sided tape goes on and I try to position it then it starts to to wrong.

I have a rotary cutter, for when I start to make clothes (when I get my arse into gear).

hmmwhatatodo · 24/10/2018 21:51

Oh yes, cards. I buy them pre cut and decorate them because I know I will do it wonky. Even with a ruler and a guillotine I still get it wrong !

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hmmwhatatodo · 24/10/2018 21:52

I really can’t figure out how younuse the measurements on the cutting mat.

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bonzo77 · 24/10/2018 21:54

I am a big fan of a large quilting ruler and the biggest cutting mat you have space to store. Mine lives under a rug. Quilting ruler keeps your lines parallel and the right angles true. And a rotary cutter. The throat plate on my sewing machine has mm markings which help keep things straight, but I do sometimes mark fabric too to keep stitching straight.

DaftCat · 24/10/2018 22:06

@TroysMammy. I make cards too & sometimes have the same problem with wonky matting etc. If you put some Pritt or similar glue on top of your double sided tape you get a bit of ‘wiggle time’. The glue dries after a while & the tape then hold everything in place but it just allows you to slide things about a bit and get them straight.

hmmwhatatodo · 24/10/2018 22:28

I’m ok at placing things on cards it’s jus the cutting of things so that, for example, a square is actually a square with 4 equal sides. Maybe with my fabric I’ll blame it on the fact that I don’t have a big enough cutting mat. Good idea about keeping it under a rug. I also have a smallish quilting ruler but that doesn’t seem to be working for me either. So these quick and simple crafts perfect for beginners take me forever and cause me to break out in a rage every now and then.

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TroysMammy · 25/10/2018 06:33

Thanks DaftCat I'll try that tip. I also manage to cut things wonky. There's many a ffs being said when I'm crafting.

calabalamuc · 25/10/2018 08:04

Also recommend the large quilting ruler - makes a huge difference. And thanks bonzo77 for that ingenious tip on where to keep my cutting mat. I have been trying to think where to store it flat without putting it in the dirty cellar!!

Dotte · 25/10/2018 11:06

Are you making sure that the shapes that you are cutting are cut in line with the grain of the fabric?
As well as ironing the fabric a certain amount of whafting and smoothing needs to be done to make sure it’s all laid out correctly to cut.

hmmwhatatodo · 25/10/2018 11:18

Whafting and smoothing? Well I do smooth it out with my hands a number of times if that’s what you mean. I’m not sure if I’m cutting in line with the grain.... all I am allowing myself to do is very basic squares and rectangles to make cushions and I still mess it up. I tried some sort of patchwork cushion once. Big mistake!

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Dotte · 25/10/2018 11:42

Mistakes are good imo, it shows you’ve tried something new!

Paper patterns that you buy have a grain-line arrow on them and it really matters. I would next time make sure with a square that the warp and weft of the fabric are parallel to your cutting lines and see if that helps. Some printed fabrics can be a pain if the pattern doesn’t run to the grain.

hmmwhatatodo · 25/10/2018 13:46

Thanks Dotte. I’ll have to look up warp and weft now! I was really hoping to have a go at making a stocking but I think that’s probably beyond my capabilities.

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Chocodrops · 10/11/2018 17:14

I started with dressmaking and then moved on to curtains. The lady in the shop where I bought the curtain fabric said I'd find it a doddle as it's just straight lines but they are SO much HARDER!!

Honestly try the stocking, curves are much more forgiving!

GourmetGold · 13/11/2018 12:18

Do you have any weights to put on fabric before cutting?
I do sewing & have lots of big heavy metal washers bought from a DIY store, I place them all around the edges so things don't move.
Also second the patchwork rulers/squares..they have a rough side so they don't move.. just put one hand on & cut with other.

Wingedharpy · 14/11/2018 01:24

I feel your pain too OP.
NEVER attempt to make a Roman blind until you've mastered the art of cutting a straight line, as I know only too well what the outcome looks like! - and, it ain't pretty.

A trick I've recently learned, thanks to the internet, to get a straight edge to start with, is:
pull a single weft thread from the right or left side of the fabric all the way across the width of the fabric.

This will make the fabric pucker up (a bit like pulling the cords on curtain heading tape).

It is important that you ease the pulled thread across the full width before it eventually snaps.

If you look closely, you will see a fine, flaw line across the fabric width and this is perfectly straight.
You can then use a ruler or straight edge to mark the line ,using a disappearing ink fabric marker pen.

Cut along this line, using big, sharp scissors, and this gives you a straight edge from which you can take all other measurements.

If you're using fairly heavy, close woven fabric, it can sometimes be difficult to see the flaw line you've made but if you hold the fabric up to the light you will see it and then you can mark the flaw line exactly with straight pins.
Draw a line along and between the pins and cut - after removing pins, of course.

Don't give up.
The more you do the more you lern about what NOT to do next time and it's a very useful skill to have, plus, if you can sew, you can save a fortune.

Wingedharpy · 14/11/2018 11:40

learn

FeedingFrenzy5 · 17/11/2018 06:32

I usually rip my fabric across the width (from selvedge to selvedge). I start by cutting a small notch with scissors and then use this to tear the fabric in two. Sometimes you see them doing it this way in fabric shops. I was taught that if you rip like this, you'll get it straight across the weave. Then you can use this as your straight edge and take a set square to get right angles. Full disclosure: this may not be the most effective way of getting a straight line. I just keep it up as I enjoy the satisfaction of tearing up fabric!

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