Cutting strips with OLFA rotary cutters – it’s SHARP!

Framing photos, as we did yesterday, can take a bit of time as all photos are not the same size. But the task was made easier with the help of OLFA rulers.

Another important tool we all need is a quality rotary cutter such as the OLFA Splash Rotary Cutter 45mm. Remember, OLFA rotary cutters come in a selection of colors and sizes such as 18mm, 28mm and 60mm. There’s a rotary cutter for every quilting and sewing need.

Don’t forget to get extra OLFA Tungsten Tool Steel Rotary Blades. It’s always a good idea to have some on hand.

Today we’re adding lattice between each photo – a process that’s simple and quick.

From the fabric selected for the lattice, cut the following:

• 6 strips measuring 2½” x 58½” (I always cut my strips 2” longer than needed.)
• 25 strips 2½” x 12½”
• 4 strips 2½” x 70” for the quilt binding (If you use another fabric for the binding, cut seven strips measuring 2½” x width of fabric.)

TIP Always cut the longest strips first.

Cutting long strips of fabric is not difficult. To start, I prefer to unfold the fabric by its width and refold it by its length.

If you need strips that measure over 46” long, fold the fabric twice to give you 4 layers.

Once the fabric is folded, to get four layers ensure:

• the edges of your fabrics are all nicely aligned;
• the folds are tight; and
• the fabric section to be cut lies flat on the cutting table.

With the OLFA 6″ x 24″ ruler, square off the edge of the fabric by removing the selvage. A good, sharp rotary cutter blade easily cuts through 4 layers of fabric.

Cut the four 2½” x 70” binding strips first, followed by the six 2½” x 58½” lattice strips and finish the cutting with the 25 – 2½” x 12½” lattice strips. Take advantage of this step to remove the raw edges at the end of each strip.

After you cut the long strips, cut the 25 – 2½” x 12½” strips. For this step, I cut 12½” pieces of fabric and used my OLFA 12½” x 12½” ruler. Makes the work so much easier.

The quilt has four photos in each row that need five 2½” x 12½ strips. This gives you one strip between each photo and one at each end of the row.

Complete the five rows. Then take a break.

Make sure you use a great quality rotary cutter such as the OLFA Splash Rotary Cutter 45mm with replacement OLFA Tungsten Tool Steel Rotary Blades. You can get OLFA rotary cutters in different colors, size and style.

Tomorrow will be another easy day. I’ll show you how simple it is to place the long lattice strip between rows.

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 2: Measure, Cut, Trim! How to frame a fabric photo into a quilting block