I've been sewing for about 5 years and I just learned so much more in this short video. Thank you so much for being so descriptive (and giving the why's).
When I learned to sew with cottons 50+ years ago, we made a snip through the selvage and ripped across to the other selvage. This always followed the straight of grain. After pressing the edge, line it up and cut your strips.
Like you i prewash all my fabric before sewing, for more than 60 years ive done this. I am new to quilting and was told not to prewash my yardage, but quietly went ahead and washed it. You instruction re cutting and folding and self edges has been invaluable to me and thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
You have a calm and easy voice, and you provide a lot of information in a short clip. I like your presentation and appreciate your demos. I like your style. Thank you.
Great video! Love your teaching style. Your demonstrations and explanations are easy to understand and focused on the topic (no background music, joking around, or chatting with someone else). Excellent learning experience. Thanks so much for making this awesome video. I'm definitely saving it so I can refer others to it. ☺
Thank you for this. I'm so new to sewing that I have barely stitched a stich yet but am watching lots of vids so this new world has some meaning to begin with. I'm saving this....most helpful :D
I'm a new quilter and this is a great help! I've had trouble squaring up and I can see that this will solve my issues. I've been looking at it almost the opposite. Great! Thank you :)
As a beginner I have been looking for videos on how to square up my fabric and I came across yours. You explain it very well and make a task that I was dreading seem pretty easy. Thank you for sharing. 😊🌹
Stretch the selvedge...now why didn't I think of that?? Using the square ruler makes so much sense, too. And not using the flat of your hand to hold the ruler. So glad I decided to watch this; many thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Finally someone that explains it properly. I waste so much time to trying to square fabric and it’s hard when I dine have the selves get attached to my fabric.
I appreciate the detailed instructions. This is a new method to me, even tho i have done some sewing since 1976. I appreciate you clarifying such logical reasons for washing the fabric first.
Thank you for the lesson! I have made a couple small quilts and I knew I was not squaring up my fabric correctly. You really made it easy to understand AND using cup fingers, not palm to hold the square down. Thx.
Your demonstration looks & sounds very good it's so much better than some others I've watched. Just need to add that a quilt may not require a TRUE on-grain but if someone is sewing something to wear such as dress, I would want to "pull a thread" to find the TRUE grain so the garment is sure to hang correctly, especially after laundering.
As a professional seamstress I learned many years ago from my grandmother and mother who're also professionals that you put the selvedges together holding the fabric out in front of you with the fabric hanging free, not on a table. Shift the piece of fabric facing you to the right or left until it hangs straight with no diagonal folds or wrinkles. Hold firmly then lay on a cutting mat and then cut your square edge. The fabric will be on grain. If you have more than 2-3 yds of fabric it's very helpful to have a helper hold the fabric at one cut edge and you hold the other. Then shift the left or righthand fabric piece until you haven diagonal wrinkles as described above.
I don't know what you mean by "shift," and I also would like to see how and where on the fabric you "cut your square edge." Are you saying that you use the selvedge edge as your true?
@@juliegathman2923 If you hold the fabric in front of you, selvages at the top and hanging down to form a U-shape, with the two layers of fabric between your thumb and index finger and your index finger and middle finger, you move one layer of the fabric back and forth slightly until the fabric hangs in a U shape correctly. The example in the video was very good, but her initial fabric cut edges were very even and square, that doesn't usually happen. You don't want to go by how the fabric was initially cut, but by the grain of the fabric which you can tell when it is hanging.
You could’ve used a longer ruler but I’m so glad you didn’t because using the smaller size and showing how you cut longer cuts was PERFECT for what I’m looking for !
I've been struggling with this issue for more than 3 years. Thank you Heather for this easy to understand, informational video. Not sure how I missed it for all these years but sure am glad I found it!!
That is nice to know and I am a beginner at quilting and using a sewing machine and have squares left by my grandmother when she was alive and quilting and want to use them to make a quilt for myself, and if I have enough material make a second one also. My local Wal-Mart was the only place where I could find the tools I could use and ordered some tools from another user online, but the ones I got isn't long enough and I have to find other rulers from other sources so I can cut the material the way I want them. I have learned something new here about cutting material and I will use it to cut what I have when I get all the tools needed.
Thank you ive watch numerous videos and was holding my ruler down with the palm of my hand. Until now i couldn't figure out what I was doing different than the videos. Then again im on my very first sewing project so thank you!!
I like the way you try up off the fold. The only thing I would do different is to use the mat to true up the width edge. It is easier to perfectly line up on the marks on the mat than on the folded edge. Also how you use the ruler for the strips is how I was taught many years ago. We were taught to always lay the ruler on top of what you want to save. This will protect the the “good” piece from any wayward cuts. Many do not do as you demonstrated. Thank you for this nice video
Thank you for this video. I've been wondering how to do this. You explained it so well. Now I won't have wonky projects. Also, I've never heard of Synthrapol. I had to google it. (As they say, "google is your friend. LOL) I'm going to watch your other videos. You are a really good teacher. I love all the hint you gave also; especially the one about cupping your hand so the ruler won't slide. Thank you again for your video.
Thank you! This is a great video for beginners like me. I’ve been learning how to make receiving blankets with binding for my grandchildren and I’ve been using flannel nursery fabric and I also wash and dry my fabric before using it. But once it’s out of the dryer it is not straight and I’ve noticed a lot of the patterns are off they are not consistent. I’ve been having the hardest time.
Thank you so much for that tip on how to handle the ruler! I am brand new to this and have not been able to keep the ruler still during a cut. I was shocked and thought that I was just weirdly incapable and that I’d always struggle with quilting. I was totally smushing the ruler with my hand 😂, usually a balled up fist! THANK YOU 🙏 👏👏❤️
Hahaha, good description of my own difficulties! I am wondering why people are raving about this rotary thing, when it just moves and makes a messy cut.
I really appreciate this lesson. I make self-binding baby blankets and they must be squared. I have never been able to get them in perfect squared position but now I can. Thankyou.
So what if the fabric doesn't line up nicely when selvages are together? THAT is what everyone needs to show on youtube! THAT is the information needed.
You have to adjust the cut edge intil selvage is even. Washing can affect straight of grain. Same as when your fabric is ripped instead of cut. The grain may not be straight. .
Thank you for your informative demo I will in future use the folded edge rather than the seal edge. Also my ruler used to move I have arthritis in my hands sometimes find it difficult to arch hand as get cramp. Will def give it a try tho. Thank you.
Julie--I use a couple of small strips of double stick tape on the underside near the corners of the ruler. Since that sometimes gives you fits trying to remove them, I leave a couple of "tabs" just stuck slightly to the top of the ruler. I have what's called "trigger fingers" which flare up when I "cup" my hand too much, so this method helps a lot.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Soooo happy to hear that you pre-wash your fabrics.
i like how she teach. Straight. No chaser. to the point.
I've been sewing for about 5 years and I just learned so much more in this short video. Thank you so much for being so descriptive (and giving the why's).
When I learned to sew with cottons 50+ years ago, we made a snip through the selvage and ripped across to the other selvage. This always followed the straight of grain. After pressing the edge, line it up and cut your strips.
That’s what I do.
Yes, I agree as I was taught that in Home-Ec class 50 years ago as well!
The fold is my true and not my salvage! This is so helpful.
Like you i prewash all my fabric before sewing, for more than 60 years ive done this. I am new to quilting and was told not to prewash my yardage, but quietly went ahead and washed it. You instruction re cutting and folding and self edges has been invaluable to me and thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
I've been making quilts for quite a few years and did not know some of these techniques. Thank you for a great video.
Glad it was helpful!
You have a calm and easy voice, and you provide a lot of information in a short clip. I like your presentation and appreciate your demos. I like your style. Thank you.
Very easy to understand. Thank you for not making this more complicated than it is in my head!
Glad it was helpful!
I rarely comment but you’re a great instructor! Very focused on the main objective while adding relevant tips along the way.
Great video! Love your teaching style. Your demonstrations and explanations are easy to understand and focused on the topic (no background music, joking around, or chatting with someone else). Excellent learning experience. Thanks so much for making this awesome video. I'm definitely saving it so I can refer others to it. ☺
I so agree!!
Just came across your video. have been struggling for forever...but now, am sure my struggles are over. thank you
Glad I could help!
Liked the video. Clear voice, precise instructions. Good camera work.
Thank you for this. I'm so new to sewing that I have barely stitched a stich yet but am watching lots of vids so this new world has some meaning to begin with. I'm saving this....most helpful :D
Thankyou so much...FAB video, I am straightening up fabric to make a cuddle quilt for my 1st Grandbaby Leo who was born yesterday🦁👶🍼😍 xXx
Thank you for being so clear; I need that.
Most helpful cutting video I have watched. Thank u!
I'm a new quilter and this is a great help! I've had trouble squaring up and I can see that this will solve my issues. I've been looking at it almost the opposite. Great! Thank you :)
As a beginner I have been looking for videos on how to square up my fabric and I came across yours. You explain it very well and make a task that I was dreading seem pretty easy. Thank you for sharing. 😊🌹
Stretch the selvedge...now why didn't I think of that?? Using the square ruler makes so much sense, too. And not using the flat of your hand to hold the ruler. So glad I decided to watch this; many thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Finally someone that explains it properly. I waste so much time to trying to square fabric and it’s hard when I dine have the selves get attached to my fabric.
We're so glad we could save you time and fabric!
I really need this tutorial. I'm not a quilter, but I still like my fabric squared up. Thank you much.
Thank you for making this video!
I appreciate the detailed instructions. This is a new method to me, even tho i have done some sewing since 1976.
I appreciate you clarifying such logical reasons for washing the fabric first.
Wonderful!
Thank you for the lesson! I have made a couple small quilts and I knew I was not squaring up my fabric correctly. You really made it easy to understand AND using cup fingers, not palm to hold the square down. Thx.
Thank you so much. I have read that 3 times in a book and could not understand it. You made it so easy! Thank you
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I will be showing it to my sewing students. Your explanation is easy to understand and so helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Thrilled we could be of help!
Really helpful, Heather. I appreciate how you explain clearly & with a good patter in speech.
You are easy to follow & understand,
Excellent video! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
You are a great teacher. This lesson was well planned and gave attention to the many details involved in the cutting process. Thank you!
Your demonstration looks & sounds very good it's so much better than some others I've watched. Just need to add that a quilt may not require a TRUE on-grain but if someone is sewing something to wear such as dress, I would want to "pull a thread" to find the TRUE grain so the garment is sure to hang correctly, especially after laundering.
Thank you for this! That makes me so nervous just to think of squaring up my fabric. You make it look so easy!
We're so glad this helped!
As a professional seamstress I learned many years ago from my grandmother and mother who're also professionals that you put the selvedges together holding the fabric out in front of you with the fabric hanging free, not on a table. Shift the piece of fabric facing you to the right or left until it hangs straight with no diagonal folds or wrinkles. Hold firmly then lay on a cutting mat and then cut your square edge. The fabric will be on grain.
If you have more than 2-3 yds of fabric it's very helpful to have a helper hold the fabric at one cut edge and you hold the other. Then shift the left or righthand fabric piece until you haven diagonal wrinkles as described above.
MrsMTMomma I like to see a you tube of this I almost see it. ☺️
Yes, that what I learned as well.
I don't know what you mean by "shift," and I also would like to see how and where on the fabric you "cut your square edge." Are you saying that you use the selvedge edge as your true?
@@juliegathman2923 If you hold the fabric in front of you, selvages at the top and hanging down to form a U-shape, with the two layers of fabric between your thumb and index finger and your index finger and middle finger, you move one layer of the fabric back and forth slightly until the fabric hangs in a U shape correctly. The example in the video was very good, but her initial fabric cut edges were very even and square, that doesn't usually happen. You don't want to go by how the fabric was initially cut, but by the grain of the fabric which you can tell when it is hanging.
Thank you, I got the picture now!
This made sense!!! THANK YOU
Thanks, first lesson on this that makes sense to me
Lucky find, Awesome explanation! Thanks Alicia
new to the profession of stitching by default, My thoughts throughout this were about how really great you are as an educator.... great job
Such wonderfully clear instructions and great view to see the details. Thank you!
Thank you very much for the great advice!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you. I really needed this. I subscribed. I don't want to miss any helpful tips.
Thank you for the great information.
Very well explained, even I can do it now.
Great video.
Wonderful explanation thanks
Thank you! I have watched many videos on this and yours was the most helpful
I'm so glad!
You’re amazing and thank you so much!
You could’ve used a longer ruler but I’m so glad you didn’t because using the smaller size and showing how you cut longer cuts was PERFECT for what I’m looking for !
Thankyou, well done, and very helpful😊
I've been struggling with this issue for more than 3 years. Thank you Heather for this easy to understand, informational video. Not sure how I missed it for all these years but sure am glad I found it!!
Thanks. That helped.
Very informative thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you very much for sharing and appreciate you and you explained it well, thank you again have a great day
Thanks
Good info 👌
That is nice to know and I am a beginner at quilting and using a sewing machine and have squares left by my grandmother when she was alive and quilting and want to use them to make a quilt for myself, and if I have enough material make a second one also. My local Wal-Mart was the only place where I could find the tools I could use and ordered some tools from another user online, but the ones I got isn't long enough and I have to find other rulers from other sources so I can cut the material the way I want them. I have learned something new here about cutting material and I will use it to cut what I have when I get all the tools needed.
I 77 been sewing since I was 8. I ALWAYS pre wash my fabric the minute it comes in the door. Learned a better way to do things today. Thank you
Would love to hear what you do now Brenda!
very useful tips for beginners . thanks for sharing
Thank you great lesson!
Awesome,never thought of cupped hand. Thank you. I always use the mat,now I get it. I am a pre-washer too.
You are a great teacher, thank you!
Thank you so much.....very well described....much appreciated
Very good. Thanks.
Thank you ive watch numerous videos and was holding my ruler down with the palm of my hand. Until now i couldn't figure out what I was doing different than the videos. Then again im on my very first sewing project so thank you!!
I just learned so much! Thank you
You are so welcome!
Thank you for this
No problem 😊
I like the way you try up off the fold. The only thing I would do different is to use the mat to true up the width edge. It is easier to perfectly line up on the marks on the mat than on the folded edge. Also how you use the ruler for the strips is how I was taught many years ago. We were taught to always lay the ruler on top of what you want to save. This will protect the the “good” piece from any wayward cuts. Many do not do as you demonstrated. Thank you for this nice video
Thank u for vidio information
Thank you for this video. I've been wondering how to do this. You explained it so well. Now I won't have wonky projects. Also, I've never heard of Synthrapol. I had to google it. (As they say, "google is your friend. LOL) I'm going to watch your other videos. You are a really good teacher. I love all the hint you gave also; especially the one about cupping your hand so the ruler won't slide. Thank you again for your video.
Thank you so much for making this video!!
Very helpful tips,
I love your intro and color composition of the video😍
Thank you, newbie here ☺️. Those are all great tips.
perfect 90 degree angle
Great video! 👏🏽👏🏽
I wish I had seen this sooner. So many people told me to : just line up the selvage ugh Thank you for a great tutorial
Thank you! This is a great video for beginners like me. I’ve been learning how to make receiving blankets with binding for my grandchildren and I’ve been using flannel nursery fabric and I also wash and dry my fabric before using it. But once it’s out of the dryer it is not straight and I’ve noticed a lot of the patterns are off they are not consistent. I’ve been having the hardest time.
Hi!
I would recommend washing and drying the fabric and then squaring it
up before use. This should help ensure that your patterns are not off.
Excellent technique and explained very clearly. Thank you.
Thank you so much for that tip on how to handle the ruler! I am brand new to this and have not been able to keep the ruler still during a cut. I was shocked and thought that I was just weirdly incapable and that I’d always struggle with quilting. I was totally smushing the ruler with my hand 😂, usually a balled up fist! THANK YOU 🙏 👏👏❤️
Hahaha, good description of my own difficulties! I am wondering why people are raving about this rotary thing, when it just moves and makes a messy cut.
Great tips for a good piece of fabric. Might be more useful to show how to square up a wonky piece of fabric.
She did.
@esterhudson5104 this was hardly a wonky piece of fabric
Thank-you Heather for the great tips! Just got back into sewing and quilting. Wow!!!
I really appreciate this lesson. I make self-binding baby blankets and they must be squared. I have never been able to get them in perfect squared position but now I can. Thankyou.
Thank u for tips
Thank you! Super helpful!
Thank you!
Thanks for that cupped finger hold!! who knew!
You also hold it that way so you can "walk" up the ruler if you need to change hand position.
Very nice and helpful ✂️✂️✂️✂️😘
Thanks so much, I always assumed the selvage edge was the true 💕
Diane Thomnpson Me too. Clearly, my Home EC teacher was wrong about selvage edges...Causing me to wonder - what else?!!
I did too but I wanted to check before I try. I'm doing a quilt as you go because I'm new.
Thank you for this very helpful video.
Love the great ideas on making a quilt.
Thanks!
Great tips enjoyed ty✂️✂️✂️
Wow - I took several paid quilting lessons at "quilt shops" and NO ONE ever taught us to do that with the selvage.... Makes sense - Thanks so much
Yes! I was just about to say 90 degrees!
So what if the fabric doesn't line up nicely when selvages are together? THAT is what everyone needs to show on youtube! THAT is the information needed.
You have to adjust the cut edge intil selvage is even. Washing can affect straight of grain. Same as when your fabric is ripped instead of cut. The grain may not be straight. .
Thank you for your informative demo I will in future use the folded edge rather than the seal edge. Also my ruler used to move I have arthritis in my hands sometimes find it difficult to arch hand as get cramp. Will def give it a try tho. Thank you.
Julie--I use a couple of small strips of double stick tape on the underside near the corners of the ruler. Since that sometimes gives you fits trying to remove them, I leave a couple of "tabs" just stuck slightly to the top of the ruler. I have what's called "trigger fingers" which flare up when I "cup" my hand too much, so this method helps a lot.
With woven fabrics I just pull a weft thread out. That shows the grain across selvedge to selvedge, then the warp grain will be perpendicular to it.
Good tips xoxo!!!!!
This is sooo helpful!! I’m making napkins and after pre washing them, they are distorted. You solved my prob! Great clear and prof video.
it's quite an investment to get such a big ruler and mat. need to save up. :)
I use a 6 lb weight at the top of my ruler when my hand is at the bottom when cutting. It keeps the ruler from slipping.
thankyou, that was very helpful.
Great video! I've been struggling with this! :)
Thanks I learned a lot.
Carla Southerland I'll