I Love Precut Quilts!

A. JELLY ROLLS Known by many names, these scrumptious 2½˝ × width of fabric strip bundles will vary in the actual number of strips per bundle, depending on the manufacturer. They will give you sew many options—from strippy quilts to binding and everything in between.

B. CHARM SQUARES Charm square packs were my very first introduction to the precut world. These 5˝ × 5˝ morsels are known by many names and will vary in the actual number of squares per pack, depending on the manufacturer.

C. LAYER CAKES These tasty stacks of 10˝ × 10˝ squares are known by a variety of names, depending on the manufacturer. The actual number of squares per stack can vary. Larger squares equal larger quilts.

D. FAT QUARTERS Whether you grab a yummy package of 4 coordinating quarters or an entire smorgasbord of 40, you can never have enough fat quarters in your stash.

E. HALF-YARD CUTS Most of the time, you will find these delicious cuts bundled together as a coordinated group at quilt shops and shows. Think of them as oversized fat quarters.

I do not prewash precut fabrics, because they will shrink and then the pieces won’t be the right size. So my theory is that if you don’t prewash the precuts, why would you prewash your coordinating fabrics? Wash the quilt after it’s completely finished, using Shout Color Catcher sheets or your favorite product to reduce the chance of bleeding.

Sewing with precuts is just like sewing with regular yardage, except that some of the cutting has already been done for you! If you have just started quilting and want to learn more about rotary cutting and basic quilting techniques, you can learn these techniques by taking a class at your local quilt shop or online. For an online list of helpful techniques from C&T Publishing, visit ctpub.com > Support: Quiltmaking Basics and Sewing Tips.

My FAVORITE TOOLS

A. SHOUT COLOR CATCHER SHEETS Throw one in the washing machine when washing fabric or quilts to keep fabrics from bleeding onto others.

B. PINCUSHION AND PINS A fun pincushion will make you smile as well as hold your pins.

C. MARY ELLEN’S BEST PRESS This starch alternative is a secret weapon for making crisp blocks.

D. 24˝ × 36˝ ROTARY CUTTING MAT I like using this particular size so that I have a large working area.

E. 6˝ × 24˝ ACRYLIC RULER Although I own many rulers, this is the most versatile and the one that I use the most.

F. 45 MM ROTARY CUTTER Rotary cutters come in many different styles. Test them out to find the one that works the best for you.

G. SEWING SCISSORS It’s important to dedicate a pair of sharp scissors for cutting fabric only.

H. SMALL SCISSORS OR SNIPS These small tools are great for cutting threads or snipping corners.

I. SEAM RIPPER There are many different types of seam rippers. Try out several to find the one that fits most comfortably in your hand. Alex Anderson’s 4-in-1 Essential Sewing Tool (C&T Publishing) features a seam ripper, stiletto, presser, and turner.