Quilt Along Rail Fence
Week 2
We are in Week 2 of the Rail Fence Quilt Along. How did it go choosing your fabric the first week? I hope great! Because, now we are ready to cut up all that pretty fabric. This cutting process should be easy and painless. Even for people like me who don’t enjoy the cutting process! How about you? Do you like cutting or do you dread it? Feel free to write in the comments below.
Reasons this cutting is easy:
- The pieces are all the same size.
- We are cutting in long strips.
- We only have three fabrics to cut.
Tip #1
Before you start slicing up your fabric, I have a suggestion for you. Take a quick look at your rotary blade. I often start to work with my rotary cutter and forget that it is time to change the blade. I only notice after my first slice when I see that my blade didn’t make a clean cut through the fabric. Urrghhh! What a waste! Quilty Friends, I want your quilt experience happy and free of bumps in the road.
Tip #2
The second tip is to remember the pattern is based on 40” of usable fabric. The usable fabric means that I am not including the selvage.
And, be sure to cut the strips of fabric in the direction of the Width of Fabric (WOF). If you’re not sure what is the WOF or the Selvage, click on here. This blog post will explain everything.
Tip #3
Third, make sure you have a ruler that is long enough to cut your strips of fabric. I recommend a ruler of 18″ or longer. The width is up to you. If you want to know what I use, I always reach for my 18” by 3” ruler. It is a love story;) But, recently, I purchased a 24” by 5” ruler…I am starting to use it more. But, a first love is a first love. Here is a blog post on quilt tools.
Tip #4
Lastly, here is a little video about how to slice the fabric.
I am woman who likes a blog post and a video. Anyone else like that? haha
Are you looking for the quilt pattern? No problem! There is still time to join the quilt along. Just sign up. In six weeks you will have a baby size or throw size quilt. If you choose the twin or queen size, you might need more time.
We begin cutting the fabric on Tuesday February 28th and the last class is March 28th. This means, you’ll have your completed quilt by Easter! For those who participate in Easter, the goal is to have your quilt finished before Holy Week which leads to Easter. I know for me that this week before Easter can be crazzzzy hectic. And, if you like a picnic…In Italy, we have Little Easter, Pasquetta, on the Monday after Easter Sunday. The Pasquetta tradition is to go on a picnic. Your quilt will be ready for a Pasquetta picnic or for you to take a nap after your Easter guests go home. Ha-ha!
Let’s Stay Together:
INSTAGRAM
Be sure to follow me @GioiaMiaStudio
#GMSRailFence #GMSQAL
Instagram is enormous and to keep us together during this quilt along, let’s use a hashtag. Then we can follow the hashtag and follow each other’s accounts. #GMSRailFence #GMSQAL
Not sure how to make a hashtag (the pound sign, #)? After you choose your photo, Instagram will prompt you to write a post. After you write your message, you type this: #gmsrailfence or #gmsqal. (Some people don’t write a message. They just type the hashtag. It is up to you!)
Also, here is a blog post with in-depth information on this Quilt Along.
Happy Fabric Cutting!
Sending you lots of joy from Rome!
Rachel