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Hi
I'm new to quilting and found some great fabric. I want to cut it into 5 inch squares,like a charm pack. The charm packs come with pinked edges. Should I also use pinking shears to cut the fabric or is using a rotary cutter with straight edges suitable. I don't want the edges to fray? Also should the five inches be at the peak or the valley if using the pinking shears?
Thanks for any advice you can give to this newbie !!
Save yourself all the aggravation and cut them with your rotary cutter. Those are done I think by machine at the manufacturers. Happy quilting!! Welcome to the addiction of quilting!!
Someone told me they were cut like that so the machine could grab the fabric, if they used straight blades it would poof up in the middle and the whole stack would be crooked once they took it off the machine. Don't know if thats right, but it makes sense to me.
I agree save the aggravation and use the rotary cutter.
Once you sew them together and the quilt is quilted, you won't see any of the fraying if there is any. I'd just use a straight blade.
If you did use a pinking blade, whether the peak or valley is the 5" measurement will be your choice because you'll be handling the fabric yourself. I'd probably go with the peak being my measurement if I did it.
my thought is that pinking is to prevent fraying... and Jenny said in one of her tuts.... doesn't matter.. when measuring.. "just pick a spot.... top of point or bottom.. and STICK WITH IT..... just another side of it!!!:)
It is ALWAYS up to YOU... your the creator ...
Enjoy the addiction!!
I just used some pinked jelly roll in a dark color as sashing on a light-color and was amazed at all the little bits that came off and had to be cleaned up. Those pinked edges may prevent fraying, but they also leave a lot of residue behind that is a PITA.
I don't care for pinked edges. If I wanted to cut 5" squares I would use the rotary cutter. When I use pinked squares I go by the peak rather than the valley. The important thing is to be consistent...use either the peak or the valley all the time in the same project. I agree with Sandy about the 'fallout' from pinked edges. At my quilt shop they have lint removers all around the store to swipe up all those fuzzy bits on themselves and customers! :)
I bought the pinking blade for my rotary cutter. It's pricey but so worth it. When I bring home new fabric, I just zip across the cut edges with my pinking blade on my rotary and toss it in the wash. I rarely have anything fray andif it does it is such a small amount I dont worry about it. It's even easier if you have a 2nd rotary cutter for your pinking blade(my 2nd cutter is in a bright zebra pattern so I dont have to check to see which cutter/blade combo I'm grabbing), then you don't have to stop and change it out everytime.
I have a pinking rotary cutter and a regular. I prefer the regular blade and I don't have any problem with fray. The blades will give you a more precise cut than the shears. And will be a lot faster. : )
I would just use a rotary cutter and not fret about pinking the edges.
Thanks for all your opinions - I'm going with the rotary cutter 👍
I never cut with scissors. Rotary cutter is the best way. Joann's also has pinking blades for the rotary cutter, but not necessary for cutting quilt pieces.