lower edges overlap the circle. If petals are being sewn in place with a seam allowance only turn under the edges marked in green on the diagram, as the lower end will be covered by the centre circle. Sew the circle in place to finish.
Seam Allowance or No Seam Allowance?
Templates can be drawn with or without a seam allowance depending on their purpose. The basic guidelines are as follows.
Do use a seam allowance if the shape needs to be turned under all round, as in needle-turn appliqué and freezer paper appliqué. Simply draw another outline, normally 1⁄4in (6mm) further out from the original all round.
Do use a seam allowance if the shape is being used to cut fabric pieces for patchwork.
Don’t use a seam allowance if the shape is being used for fusible web appliqué; the edges are protected by the web and may also be stitched over in some way.
Don’t use a seam allowance if the shape is being used as a quilting pattern.
This delightful scene, part of a gorgeous quilt by Mandy Shaw, uses multi-part templates to create the appliqué characters.
Drawing and Cutting Shapes
Being able to draw shapes and cut them out accurately is a fundamental skill in patchwork, appliqué and quilting and this section gives advice on drawing common shapes and how they can be cut using rotary cutting equipment. See the Patchwork section for additional guidance and tips.
Combining shapes in attractive blocks and patterns is one of the most exciting aspects of patchwork and quilting. Accurate drawing and cutting will lead to the best results. This beautiful quilt by Christine Porter was inspired by a Victorian tiled floor and uses squares, rectangles and triangles in a striking arrangement.
Fabric can, of course, be cut with scissors but by far the easiest, quickest and most accurate method is with rotary cutting equipment. A self-healing cutting mat and acrylic quilter’s ruler, the larger the better, and a rotary cutter with a large blade are really all you need for basic cutting. If you love drafting and designing, there are many excellent books on the subject – see Further Reading.
Fabric doesn’t have to be cut in rigid lines and patterns. Free-form cutting without a ruler, with a rotary cutter or scissors, in softly waving lines can create attractive and unusual designs. Freedom from the ruler can be very liberating!
Rotary Cutting
The following points should lead to successful rotary cutting. (See also Cutting Safety.)
• Press fabrics before cutting them to remove creases.
• Cut on a firm surface on a self-healing mat. Avoid straining your back with a surface that is too low.
• A 45mm diameter blade is useful for most cutting tasks, while a smaller 28mm blade is more manoeuvrable for cutting around curves and templates.
• Hold the cutter firmly in the same hand you write with at a 45 degree angle, with the blade vertical. Hold the ruler in place with your other hand, keeping fingers away from the edge. Do not use a normal ruler for rotary cutting, only a thick acrylic type. Standing up to cut usually gives more control.
• Cut with the blade firmly against the side of the ruler – on the right if you are right-handed and on the left if you are left-handed. The patchwork piece you are cutting should be under the ruler.
• When making a long cut, ‘walk’ your hand down the ruler when it needs to be steadied in a different place, rather than taking your hand off, as this will help stop the ruler moving.
• Do not cut over pins as they will damage the blade and may cause it to jump.
• Clean your mat regularly to stop the build-up of lint. Using the marked lines on the ruler rather than the mat will also reduce cutting in the same place each time and prolong the mat’s life. Store the mat flat or hang it vertically, out of direct sunlight.
• Use the same ruler throughout a project as small measurement differences can occur between rulers.
• When rotary cutting around templates, position the cutter along the template and cut out the shape, taking care that you do not shave thin slivers off the template.
• Gentle curves can be cut with a normal rotary cutter although circle rotary cutters are available.
• When cutting strips of fabric from a folded piece of fabric, check that the first cut strip is not kinked in the middle. If it is, re-fold the fabric.
• When cutting multiple layers of fabric (sometimes called ‘stack and whack’), take care how many layers you stack as too many can cause shifting and inaccuracy. Press each fabric with a little spray starch, pressing one fabric on top of the other to form a firm sandwich. Place the layers carefully on the cutting mat and trim the edge off first.
Cutting Safety
A rotary cutter has an extremely sharp blade and it is easy to accidentally cut yourself or others so you must treat this equipment with great respect at all times and follow these safety tips.
Place the mat on a firm surface such as a kitchen counter or sturdy table and stand up to cut. Wear something on your feet when you cut, in case you drop the cutter.
Always cut away from yourself and keep your fingers well away from the edge of the ruler as you cut.
Always replace the safety guard on the cutter after every cut. Some cutters have an auto-retract mechanism.
Use a sharp blade that is free from nicks. Using a dull blade requires more pressure when you cut and risks the blade slipping. When a blade starts skipping threads it is time to replace it.
Keep cutting equipment well away from children and pets, and never let children use them.
Dispose of old blades carefully, either in the plastic container they came in or taped within thick card.
Cutting Strips
Cutting fabric strips is the first step towards cutting other shapes and is required for many forms of patchwork, including Seminole and string patchwork.
Fabric
