Welcome to Week Two of the Solar Phases Quilt Along!
This week is all about cutting your fabric. Before you cut, make sure you press your fabric. I like to use starch as well. I have been using Mary Ellen's Best Press for over a year and have had good results with it. It can also be found at your local Jo-Ann Stores in various scents.
Let's chat rotary cutters! Prior to sewing curves for the first time, I did a bit of research and found that an 18mm rotary cutter was recommended for cutting curves. After I made my first quilt with curves I fell in love with curved piecing and this little tool has become a favorite of mine!
Let's start cutting our curves!
After you've cut your WOF strips as well as your F3 blocks, go through your F3 stack and fold them in half (hamburger style).
Next, place Template B on top of your folded F3 blocks as shown below. Line up the folded edge with the side of the Template that says FOLD. Cut around the template. I don't use a ruler to do this, I just cut around the outside of the template with my rotary cutter.
Remove paper template and you've got your Template B fabric piece!
Now let's move on to Template A! Fold over your WOF to width of your Template A. Place Template A on top of folded WOF and cut around paper template. Paper template will be upside down as you rotate in alternating directions to get the most out of your WOF to eliminate waste.
Flip template over and continue cutting in alternating directions.
Cut remaining curves from WOF for 6 curves for wall hanging/pillow or 24 curves for quilt size.
This Week's Prizes and Sponsors
The prize for Week Two of the Solar Phases QAL is a 12 piece Fat Quarter bundle from Tree House Quilting Co as well as a $25 gift card to The Fabric Haus!
To be eligible for this week’s prize, post a photo to Instagram of your cut fabric by 8pm PST on March 13th and use the hashtag #SolarPhasesQAL and #SolarPhasesQuilt in your caption! A winner will be randomly chosen on Monday, March 14th! Remember that your account must be public to participate. Check back later this week for a video of me cutting all of my curves!
Next week we start sewing!
Steph