tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611275165997891822.post8815139650855528726..comments2024-03-04T13:16:29.815-05:00Comments on From Marti Michell Quilting Blog: Chart 7: Cutting Efficiently and Old Maid Block, Farmer's Wife 1930s Sew AlongMarti Michellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689194011999334968noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611275165997891822.post-65242453636147220062015-10-28T10:22:12.574-04:002015-10-28T10:22:12.574-04:00I often safety pin a sticky note to a block, lol. ...I often safety pin a sticky note to a block, lol. <br /><br />Yes, by default 2 sides of a square will be on lengthwise grain and 2 on crosswise grain, and it doesn't matter which is where, except when it affects how the block looks because of the printed motifs on the fabric. <br /><br />If you place the square template on the fabric so it's a little bit tilted, none of the sides would be on straight grain; in that instance, all 4 sides of the cut square will be a lot or a little on the bias, which can mean a lot or a little stretch if you're not careful when you sew and press. <br /><br />Sometimes a block demands that we deal with a few bias edges ("Design overrides grainline"). Jjust be careful sewing and pressing and don't over-handle the block (which can also cause bias to stretch a bit).Marti Michellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08689194011999334968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611275165997891822.post-72507949567194871062015-10-27T09:46:15.259-04:002015-10-27T09:46:15.259-04:00Yes this does help, and as I read over how I posed...Yes this does help, and as I read over how I posed my question, it is a marvel you figured out what I meant! So for squares, it doesn't matter unless it's a directional/fussy cut, because all sides are straight of grain, either H or V, which is good enough. And I think I will try pins as I sticky notes seem to fly around on me! Thank you again!Tammy Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347076471352903932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611275165997891822.post-90476234100432386122015-10-20T10:53:51.303-04:002015-10-20T10:53:51.303-04:00Hi Tammy -- Squares will generally have all 4 side...Hi Tammy -- Squares will generally have all 4 sides on straight grain (2 on lengthwise grain and 2 on crosswise grain), unless you're fussy cutting and you want a printed motif to look or point "this way" -- which could happen with the Farmer's Wife blocks, since the quilt layout has them all set on point. If you are fussy cutting, lay out the pieces so you have the little girl or balloon on a string or whatever it is pointing "up" so you won't get them mixed up at the sewing machine. You can sew a seam, open the pieces and put them back in place, and then pick up 2 more pieces to sew. Etc. <br /><br />For triangles, if you want some of them with the hypotenuse on straight grain (say if they are on the outside edges of the unit or outside edges of the block) but you also want some of them with the legs on straight grain (because they are used somewhere else in the block and you still want the outside edges of a unit to be on straight grain)... Cut the triangles with straight grain on legs (like you would want corner triangles to be) and put a pin in them or a sticky note. Then you don't have to think about which triangles are going where, you know the ones with the pins are for the corners of the block.<br /><br />I hope that helps. :)Marti Michellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08689194011999334968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611275165997891822.post-81751052316460210722015-10-19T19:54:29.766-04:002015-10-19T19:54:29.766-04:00Now I'm wondering...when I cut squares does it...Now I'm wondering...when I cut squares does it matter that they are put together with straight of grain all alike? If so, how do you keep track of which way to turn a square?Tammy Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347076471352903932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611275165997891822.post-36207673176946478442015-10-19T19:50:57.726-04:002015-10-19T19:50:57.726-04:00Thanks Marti for this good review of strip cutting...Thanks Marti for this good review of strip cutting with straight of grain. I'm going ot start paying more attention to that!Tammy Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347076471352903932noreply@blogger.com