When my kids were little, I used to buy end rolls from the newspaper printer for a few cents a roll. That leftover paper was perfect for kids’ crafts, and I always found ways to use it for quilting projects, too.
Those newspaper end rolls came in handy for all sorts of projects.
When the newspapers left, I switched to tracing paper from Amazon. I paid $10 for a 90-foot roll of 18-inch paper.
My go-to roll once the newspaper end rolls were gone.
Then I saw a video about using masking paper for quilting. You know, the stuff painters use to cover floors and walls. So I headed to my local Lowe’s to see what I could find.
Off to Lowe’s!
Sure enough, there it was in the paint aisle!
There it is in the paint aisle.
I came home with a roll that was still 18 inches wide, but this one was 180 feet long and cost me $5. Twice the paper for half the price!
Eighteen inches wide, 180 feet long, and only $5.
The masking paper isn’t quite as clear as my tracing paper, but I can see the lines through it with my light box. That’ll work!
A light box makes it easier to see the design through the masking paper.
And I can see myself tearing off a big section when I want to sketch out a quilt or just dump all my thoughts about a new project onto one sheet of paper.
I love saving money!!
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They are moving to the back burner for a little while.
But I WILL NOT let them become UFOs!!
I have a December deadline for another quilt…
…and it’s time to get that project underway. With cataract surgeries coming up, I don’t know exactly how my eyes will feel afterward or how quickly I’ll be comfortable sewing.
Then there’s the knee replacement. I expect there will be a week or so when I won’t be able to climb the stairs to my studio.
So, for now, I need to redirect my quilting time toward the quilt with the deadline.
But there’s already a plan for those scraps!!
When my machine moves downstairs during my knee recovery, these two quilts will be perfect projects to return to. I’m looking forward to picking up where I left off!
Sometimes we need to shift our attention for a season. These quilts still have a place in my plans—even if their turn has to wait a little while.
The scraps can wait. December can’t!!
What deadlines do you have approaching?
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If you have an interest in ruler quilting, check out this online course…..
Sometimes a little quilted project needs a quick finish, and I don’t want to make binding!
That was the case with a fall mug rug I was making for a quick gift. I had put together a small top using fabrics from my Celtic Knot quilt and a few 1.5-inch strips…
Now, how could I finish those edges without making binding?
Let’s BURP it!!
If that term is new to you, the idea is simple. You sew the layers together, then turn the piece right side out through an opening. The raw edges end up tucked inside!
For this mug rug, I put the turning opening in the BACKING.
I found a fabric among the “scraps” I had inherited and cut a piece larger than the mug rug top. Then I cut it in half and sewed the two halves back together, leaving a 2-inch opening in the center…
That little hole is the key to the whole process!
Next, I trimmed the backing and top to exactly the same size and stacked my layers in this order, from bottom to top:
• Batting • Mug rug top, facing UP • Backing, facing DOWN
The top and backing were right sides together, with the batting underneath.
This is important because if you get your batting in the wrong order, it covers up the whole…. ask me how I know??
Then I sewed around the ENTIRE piece…
No opening needed along the outside edge. I already had one waiting in the back!
I trimmed off the excess batting…
…and clipped all four corners, taking care not to snip my stitching…
Now it was time to BURP!
I turned the mug rug right side out through that little opening in the backing…
And just like that, the raw edges were on the inside, and I had a piece with finished edges. The final step was to close the hole with a few hand stitches…
No binding to cut, fold, or attach!!
My little mug rug was now ready for some appliqué. Come back Thursday to see what I added!
Have you ever used the burping method to finish a small quilted project?
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On Tuesdays, I provide a tip, technique, or product review. Please subscribe to the blog to ensure that you don’t miss ANY of them!!
I love my AccuQuilt machine for cutting scraps into usable shapes. It helps me turn an unruly pile of leftovers into neat squares, stripss, and other pieces that are ready for future quilts.
But is it the best tool for cutting ordinary strips?
After my latest cutting session, I’m not convinced.
My AccuQuilt Experiment
I needed 2½-inch strips for one of my current scrap quilts, so I pulled out the AccuQuilt strip-cutting die. Since it can cut nine strips at once, it sounded like the quickest and easiest solution.
At least, that was the theory.
First, I had to prepare the fabric and carefully line it up on the die…..
That took longer than I expected. Then I discovered that I hadn’t cut my fabric quite wide enough to cover the entire die. Instead of nine strips, I ended up with eight strips—and one wider leftover piece.
The fabric was also a little thicker than normal. The die cut through most of the layers, but it didn’t completely cut through the top one. I had to go back with scissors and separate several sections….
That wasn’t a complete disaster, but it did mean more waste than I wanted.
By the time I finished, my supposedly quick stack of nine strips—make that eight strips—had taken quite a while.
Time for a Side-by-Side Test
After that experience, I decided to cut the next eight strips with my rotary cutter and 24-inchruler.
I placed a two-pound weight on one end of the ruler to help hold it firmly in place. That made cutting the long strips much easier and kept the ruler from shifting…..
I cut two strips at a time, starting by trimming one edge, then cutting a 5-inch strip…
…and then sliding the ruler down and cutting the 2.5-inch strip.
The rotary-cut strips were faster to cut, easier to manage, and produced virtually no waste…
Were they as perfectly accurate as the AccuQuilt strips? Possibly not. But any differences were so small that they won’t matter in this quilt.
So, Is AccuQuilt Worth It for Cutting Strips?
For me, the answer is no—not for plain strips cut from yardage.
The time needed to prepare and position the fabric, along with the possibility of waste or incomplete cuts through thicker layers, outweighed the convenience of cutting several strips at once.
In this case, my rotary cutter and ruler were simply faster and easier.
That doesn’t mean I’m giving up my AccuQuilt machine. Far from it! I still love it for processing scraps and cutting shapes that would be slower or more difficult to cut individually.
But for a stack of ordinary 2½-inch strips?
I’ll be reaching for my rotary cutter, long ruler, and trusty two-pound weight.
Sometimes the simplest tool really is the best tool for the job.
What about you? Do you use an AccuQuilt machine to cut strips, or do you prefer your rotary cutter and ruler?
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On Tuesdays, I provide a tip, technique, or product review. Please subscribe to the blog to ensure that you don’t miss ANY of them!!
