:: How to Make a Quilt for Beginner Quilters – Lesson 1: What is Fussy Cutting? ::
This free quilt-making tutorial is the first of a series of free online quilting classes. Collectively they will teach you how to make a quilt, with all the in’s and out’s. This series & techniques of tips for beginner quilters will be given by none less than international quilt designer Janeen van Niekerk. Janeen is the published author of several Kindle quilt pattern books and a huge and growing number of quilting patterns (see below). But today we’re having a free quilting class just for you!
We will be featuring her free quilting tips class every Thursday. So, if you are interested in becoming a fine quilter, come back and learn something new about quilting every Thursday.
I am overjoyed about being able to offer this to you, my dear readers. I am wishing Janeen a warm welcome to FineCrafGuild, and look forward to learning more about quilting myself. Now, over to Janeen:
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Free Quilting Class 1: how to make a quilt
Tips for Beginner Quilters: What is Fussy Cutting?
When I first started quilting, I heard the term ‘fussy cutting’ and had absolutely no clue as to what it meant. Let me simplify this for you really quickly.
A 9 Patch Quilting Block
Say we were making a 9 patch block – (nine squares – each 2,5″ making up a block) and you wanted something special for the middle.
Fussing over Fabric
Here we have 2 pieces of fabric that I like.
- The one is of a plain pink flower on a white background.
- The other is a red and pink flower with yellow background.
Fussy Cutting
Fussy cutting simply means that you are going to be ‘fussy’ about which piece you want to add to a block. In fabrics that are already cut (pre-cuts) you sometimes just have to accept where the pattern lies in that block, but with fussy cutting, you are determining where the cut and pattern will be.
Experimenting
I know that the other blocks in the 9 patch are 2,5″. So I need something that big too. I simply place my ruler over the area I want and see if I can cut out that selected piece.
I find the middle of the flower (roughly) and place my ruler over it and see if I can fit it all into the 2,5″ that I need.
This one will be a bit of a tight fit, but I still like the look of the flower. After cutting out both of the pieces, I “audition” them in the middle to see which I like better.
I liked the yellow background fabric more so I went with that.
Finished Quilt Block
Here’s our block finished with its ‘ fussy’ center.
A Close-up
Other Fussy Cutting Quilting Ideas & Tips
TIP 1: You could even be thinking of something special for a strip or binding and you could “fussy cut” out a section that you like. Please always remember to include a 0,5″ for the seam allowances.
TIP 2: Fussy cutting works especially well on fabrics that have single motifs. I.e. this pattern for a baby quilt.
TIP 3: The piece you like will be measured by your ruler and then cut out to be used in some place special. Having a ruler that you can see through is best – so that you don’t cut too small.
TIP 4: Doing a block here and there where you used ‘fussy cutting’ can make all the difference to the success of a block, and an entire quilt. But, it can also mean a lot of fabric waste. Therefore, it’ is best to have scraps of fabrics you can use for this purpose.
That’s it! Hope you give it a try.
‘Til next time,
Janeen
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Want to begin sewing quilts with me?
Join our free online quilting workshops, which you can take at your leisure, any time you want.
Free Quilting Patterns & Tutorials & Classes in this quilting course by Janeen van Niekerk:
- Class #1: Fussy cutting ~ How to Make a Quilt: Free Quilting Beginners Class.
- Class #2: Quilting Tools – What you’ll need as a beginner.
- Class #3 : How to Choose & Work with Quilting Fabric.
- Class #4: How to Read & Work with a Quilt Pattern.
- Class #5: Creating a Finished Quilt Block .
- Class #6: How to Make Quilt Rows – from finished blocks.
- Class #7: How to add Borders to your quilt.
- Class #8 : How to finish a quilt: add backing, batting and how to bind a quilt.
- Class #9 : How to Make Quilt Blocks more Exciting.
- Class #10 : How to Make a Modern Lap Quilt.
- Class #11 : How to Make a Modern Lap Quilt, the next steps.
- Class #12: How to finish a Quilt :: Modern Lap Quilt.
- Class #13/14: Quilting Glossary with Quilt Sewing Terms for Beginners
- Class #15: Half Square Triangles Quilting Techniques – part 1
- Class #16: Half Square Triangles Quilting Techniques – part 2
- Class #17: Half Square Triangles Quilt Wall Art Project – part 3
- Class #18: Free Sampler Quilt Workshop – intro
- Class #19: First Bock in the Sampler: Striped Frame Quilt Block – block #1
- Class #20: How to Make a Log Cabin Quilt Block – block #2
- Class #21: Greek Square Quilt Block Pattern & Workshop – Free – #3
- Class #22: Free Quilt Workshop + Hour Glass Block – Free Pattern #4
- Class #23: Whirlpool Block Pattern – block #5 in sampler
- Class #24: Domino Block Pattern – block #6 in sampler
- Class #25: Flying Geese Block Pattern – block #7 in sampler
About Quilting Instructor Janeen van Niekerk
Our latest news of quilt making instructor Janeen van Niekerk is that she has just launched a brand new paper piecing magazine.
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Quilt artist Janeen van Niekerk is an avid quilter. In particular, she’s an accomplished paper piecing designer. She does it all with a passion.
Janeen’s prolific range of hand-made quilts (she takes commissions for personalized, stylish portrait quilts), as well as her unique quilt patterns (think quilts featuring safari animals and trees, or kids toys) are inspired by her environs; she lives in sunny Pretoria in South Africa, with her husband and kids.
Janeen van Niekerk (spelled by some as Janine van Niekerk)
Or,… continue your journey with Quilting patterns, tutorials and ideas featured here at FineCraftGuild.com (beyond Janeen’s quilting course).
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