A little measuring tip for long pieces
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How do you measure and cut a really long piece of fabric? The hard way is to measure from one edge in increments all the way across the width. If it’s a very long piece, you may have to make marks the length of your longest ruler or tape measure, then start again from those marks. Doing this every few inches across the width can be a pain. Another way to do it is to get a really long ruler — one that’s at least 60″ so it’s at least the width of almost all fabrics (they make them even longer, too!). I’ll show you how to do it. You can find these rulers through home improvement retailers (this one was less than $10!). Just make sure it’s not warped. Lay two side-by-side and make sure the sides touch all the way down to test. |
Supplies
(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)
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The process
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Say you want to cut a piece of fabric 100″ long. First, fold your fabric lengthwise and line up the selvages. This is so that in case the edge you’re measuring from isn’t perfectly straight, you’ll still match the points from selvage to selvage.Here, my ruler is 60″, so I’ll lay it along one edge and mark a starting point at the bottom. Your bottom edge may not be cut perfectly straight, so mark both selvages right above the bottom edge (not shown).From there, mark the 60″ point. Then move the ruler up add 40 more inches and mark both selvages.Do not repeat across the body of the fabric. You only need to mark the selvages. |
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Now, open up your fabric to its full width and simply lay your extra-wide ruler across the fabric so it lines up with the markings on either selvage. If you have a big cutting table and a cutting mat, you could just run your rotary across the edge of the ruler right now. |
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If you don’t, simply make a quick dotted line along the edge of the ruler and cut.See? You only had to make two vertical marks and a quick dotted line instead of measuring a bunch of vertical marks across the width of the fabric! Do this for both the top and bottom markings.
A simple tip that many may already know, but a really useful one for those who don’t. And how many times have you found that your yardstick is just not long enough? |
