Cutting hills freehand with OLFA Rotary Cutters | Seasons Remembered Quilt

In yesterday’s post, I shared the material list for the Seasons Remembered Quilt we’re making this week and picked out some fabrics, too.

Today, we’re preparing those fabrics and putting the OLFA Rotary Cutters to work!

I want to talk about the fabric selection for this quilt. When I first got the idea to make it, I started looking through all the green fabrics I had, trying to find ones that matched, but with little success. As I was comparing fabrics, I happened to look outside and noticed all the greenery. I realized that none of the shades of green in nature actually match, yet when you see them together, they create a beautiful harmony. That’s when I decided to stop worrying about matching colors perfectly.

The first task for today starts with pressing the fabrics using my OLISO PRO TG1600 Pro Plus Smart Iron.

Now the fun starts, the cutting. I’ll be cutting the fabric, shall I say, freehand. What I mean is using the OLFA Printed Handle Rotary Cutter 45mm to cut shapes that will look like hills once the quilt is completed.

I realize not everyone is comfortable cutting freehand. If this is the case, I suggest using the SEW EASY Imperial French Curve along with either the OLFA Straight Handle Rotary Cutter 18mm or OLFA Quick Change 28mm Rotary Cutter. In the end, it becomes a personal choice.

I recommend a rotary cutter with a smaller-diameter blade because it’s easier to use along a curved ruler. Also, since the Sew Easy French Curve ruler isn’t as thick as a typical quilting ruler, there’s less chance of nicking the edge.

Cut hill-like shapes, then layer them to add depth to your design.

Keep cutting and, for every new layer, gradually reduce the hill angles to create a smooth, natural look.

I’ll keep playing around with the hills and meadows. Not sure how much more will be added to this art piece, and everyone is welcome to experiment by adding, removing, or moving elements around to create a landscape enjoyed by all.

The process of creating can feel scary, but it can also feel so very liberating! I don’t want anyone to stress making this landscape. Have fun. If there is an element of the quilt that you’re not enjoying, change it. As the creator of the quilt, you can change it as often as needed; there are no limits to the changes that you can make.

This brings an end to this post. Tomorrow’s post, I’ll complete the quilt top. Do come back.

This is part 2 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 1: Gütermann, OLFA, and SCHMETZ unite for a Quilting Delight