Quilt Along: Post 2 - Cutting Instructions

Do you have your fabric ready? Are you eager to get going? We hope so but if not head back to our first post to find out how much fabric you will need.

To recap, we need 80 blocks for the 44" x 55" quilt.

If you are making your quilt with 20 fat quarters, each fat quarter will yield 4 blocks. It is important to note that you will use roughly 10"-11" of each fat, this will leave you with some fabric left over.

And if you are using a jelly roll, one will do the job.

Each block is comprised of 1 x 2.5" center square (pictured in grey), 2 x 2.5" outside squares (pictured in green) and 2 x 2.5 by 6.5" rectangles (pictured in green) which make up the top and bottom of the block.

These measurements INCLUDE seam allowances.

Let's get started!

• Ensure all your fabric has been pressed, get your mat and ruler out and have your rotary blade at the ready.

Cutting instructions if you are using fat quarters are:

•  From the 55cm or 3/4 yard piece of fabric (which will be the center square of every block) cut as many 2.5" strips as the fabric will allow and then cut these strips into 2.5" squares. You will need a total of 80 center squares. 

• Each fat quarter will give you the borders for 4 blocks.

• Lay one (feel free to cut more than one at a time, by placing them evenly on top of each other) fat quarter on your cutting mat, with the longest side of the fat quarter running vertically. Smooth fabric so that it is nice and flat.

• With your ruler, cut 4 x 2.5" strips. Remove the excess fabric being careful not to disturb your strips.

• Turn your cutting mat so the vertical strips are now horizontal.

• With your ruler, cut 2 x 6.5" strips and then cut 2 x 2.5" strips.

• You should now have 8 x 2.5" squares and 8 x 2.5" by 6.5" rectangles.

Cutting instructions if you are using a jelly roll are:

each strip will yield 2 blocks. (You will need to use 40 strips for the basic size and 78 for the larger size)

Sub-cut each strip into the following strips -

• 6 x 2.5 inch squares
• 4 x 6.5 inch strips

And that's it.

Simple, right?

Please email us at fatquarterly@googlemail.com if you have any questions. See you in a week for piecing.