Seamless Fussy Cut Pattern Matching How To
Seamless fussy cut pattern matching is one of the biggest trends in fussy cutting in the past few years and when it’s done right it can deliver awe inspiring results in your work. It’s also the one technique that most people struggle to wrap their heads around when fussy cutting, but not any more! Let me show you how I make it work!
Materials
- 2 fabrics with the same design in different colours
- ruler
- rotary cutter
- fabric glue
- patience
Instructions
Tip: Using a glue stick will allow you to pick up and reposition the material as needed. Be careful not to be too heavy handed with it as it will add bulk to your seam and the glue will distort the seam.
Tips & Tricks
There’s a couple of tips and tricks that I like to share with people when we’re working with this technique:
- Pick a pattern/motif that is not too complex. No matter how good you are there will always been little points within the match that don’t align. This is because of fabric stretch, printing discrepancies and seam thickness.
- The major points in the pattern take priority over the little details. Your eye will forgive movement in the matching if the big ticket items in the design match up. Think outer lines, thicker lines, facial features, etc.
- Try to avoid matching on a point (like the gnomes hat) because getting a crisp point is hard.
- If you’re using this to mimic piecing (eg. 2 squares joined together) then measure and cut by adding the two lengths together and lining up the seam line in the middle. Remember to remove the 1/2″ from the sum to account for the already stitched seam.
Examples
Tip: Fold the fabric on a 45 degree angle to get the look of half square triangles.
Learn More
If you’d like to learn more about fussy cutting and make some projects that specifically use fussy cutting in them then check out my book, Fussy Cutters Club.
Back to School Blog Hop
Thanks so much to Sam, of Hunter’s Design Studio, for asking me to be a part of the Back to School Blog Hop. I hope you’ve enjoyed my stop on the tour. Be sure to check out the others on this amazing list of sewing superstars!
Day 1 – September 1 – Sam Hunter: Sewing Long Seams Without Stretching – huntersdesignstudio.com
Day 2 – September 2 – Susan Arnold – Joining Binding the Easy Way – quiltfabrication.com
Day 3 – September 3 – Angie Wilson – Fussy cutting tips and techniques – www.gnomeangel.com <- YOU ARE HERE
Day 4 – September 4 – Andi Stanfield – No-Mark HST: Let your machine be your guide – truebluequilts.com/blog/
Day 5 – September 5 – Bobbie Gentili – Say YES to Y-seams – geekybobbin.com
Day 6 – September 6 – Mel Beach – 5 Reasons to Say Woo Hoo! to School Glue – pieceloveandhappiness.blogspot.com
Day 7 – September 7 – Laura Piland – 7 Ways to Use a Laser on Your Sewing Machine – www.sliceofpiquilts.com
Day 8 – September 8 – Suzy Webster – How to solve loops in free motion quilting – www.websterquilt.com
Day 9 – September 9 – Tara Miller – Accurate Stitch-and-Flip Corners – quiltdistrict.com
Day 10 – September 10 – Latifah Saafir – Accurate Seams Using Masking Tape! – latifahsaafirstudios.com
Day 11 – September 11 – Sarah Ruiz – The Magic of Glue Basting – saroy.net
Day 12 – September 12 – Jen Shaffer – Ways to stop your ruler from slipping while cutting – patternsbyjen.blogspot.com
Day 13 – September 13 – Cheryl Sleboda – Basics of ruching (a vintage fabric manipulation technique) – muppin.com
Day 14 – September 14 – Raylee Bielenberg – Choosing quilting designs for your quilt – www.sunflowerstitcheries.com
Day 15 – September 15 – Jen Strauser – Accurate and Attractive Machine binding – dizzyquilter.com
Day 16 – September 16 – Jane Davidson – Matching points for all types of intersections – quiltjane.com
Day 17 – September 17 – Teresa Coates – Starch and starch alternatives – teresacoates.com
Day 18 – September 18 – Jen Frost – Benefits of spray basting – faithandfabricdesign.com
Day 19 – September 19 – Sandra Starley – Getting started with Hand Quilting – utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
Day 20 – September 20 – Karen Platt – Drunkard’s Path Made Easy – karenplatt.co.uk/blog/
Day 21 – September 21 – Kris Driessen – All Kinds of Square (in a Square) – scrapdash.com
Day 22 – September 22 – Sarah Goer – Planned Improv Piecing – sarahgoerquilts.com
Day 23 – September 23 – Kathy Bruckman – Organizing kits for on-the-go sewing – kathyskwiltsandmore.blogspot.com
Day 24 – September 24 – Cheryl Daines Brown – The Secret to Flat Quilt Tops: Borders – quilterchic.com
Day 25 – September 25 – Cherry Guidry – Pre-assembling fusible applique – cherryblossomsquilting.com
Day 26 – September 26 – Laura Chaney – Getting started with English Paper Piecing – prairiesewnstudios.com
Day 27 – September 27 – Ebony Love – Cutting Bias Strips from a Rectangle – lovebugstudios.com
Day 28 – September 28 – Tammy Silvers – Working with heavier weight threads in your machine – tamarinis.typepad.com
Day 29 – September 29 – Kathy Nutley – Create a perfect facing or frame with 90 degree angles – quiltingsbykathy.com
Day 30 – September 3 – Joanne Harris – Using Leaders and Enders – quiltsbyjoanne.blogspot.com