The Straight and Narrow

Title sounds like a PG-13 movie pertaining to blue jeans worn in the 1980's. Forgive my warped sense of humor, it's been a very long work day.

Today's quilt class is really about working with the "straight of grain." I've been promising a couple of folks that I would cover this aspect of quilting and now FINALLY it's here. Please forgive the delay ladies, you both know the hours we work.

1. Begin with 100% cotton fabric of course. Clip a notch about 2" down from the top and tear straight across from selvedge to selvedge. (save torn strip for string quilting) You now have a TRUE grain line.

2. On the right hand side of your well-padded ironing board (I use an old mattress pad, flannel sheet, or army blanket), pin the selvedge edges together in a straight vertical line. Make sure it is even and straight - VERY IMPORTANT.

3. Notice how the fabric bubbles. This is because the top edges are not in alignment.

4. Insert the big long ruler in between along the fold. Spray with water or spray starch. Using your hands and your hip, (yes, this is quilter's aerobics), apply gentle pressure to the fold line allowing your torn top edges to line up evenly. Your fabric fold line and your straight of grain each must be straight. Press with a warm iron, tugging and pressing at the same time to align the top edge and keep the fold vertical.

5. Next, align your straightened fabric on the vertical and horizontal measurement lines on your cutting mat. Again, your fold line must be straight. No waves.

6. Align the vertical dark line on your ruler with the fold of the fabric. This is a true indicator of how straight your fold is. If it is not straight, take it back to ironing board and try again. (This piece took me 3 trips to the ironing board.)

7. With fabric evenly placed on the cutting mat and vertical ruler line along the fold, trim off just enough of the top horizontally to create a clean edge. Not too much, you don't want to waste it.

8. Move over to the other side of your cutting mat, align the long line of the ruler along the clean cut edge and cut your first strip, whatever width you need.

9. After cutting 2 or 3 strips, move back once again to the previous side and align the vertical ruler line along the fold and trim a tiny bit off the top edge to even it up again.

10. Move back around to the side of your mat and cut your next strip.

11. If you cannot move from side to side at your cutting station, move your mat board to make the proper cut. DO NOT MOVE your fabric. When you move your fabric it shifts everything that you just worked so hard to line up.

12. I've seen some students use their cutting mat yellow line as a guide for cutting. I do not recommend this as those lines get worn. Stick with a good ruler. Quilter's Rule brand is my favorite as the lines are raised and there is less slippage.

NOTE: Not all fabric becomes off grain when wound on to the bolt.

Fabric that must have the grain straightened is best worked in small sections depending on the size and number of strips to be cut. For instance, if I need five 2" strips, I tear off a piece of fabric that is 11". That 1" allowance is usually enough for trimming. However, sometimes if the fabric is very untrue, 2" extra may be needed.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, you know where to find me. Night Ya'll