Fussy Cut Piecing: The Fabric Makes the Quilt

We've talked a lot about working smart rather than hard. Here's a secret.If you choose amazing fabric, the fabric makes your quilt amazing.Even if the pattern is really simple. The fabric ALWAYS makes the quilt.

A lot of modern piecing construction is about sewing together strips and cutting them into segments. If you need a quilt finished fast, that's a great method. But you never know where the print will land in the block. That takes a little more precision and care but it's in no way hard. You just need to choose fabulous fabric and fussy cut.

Fussy cutting is placing your fabric exactly where you want it in your quilts. It's not hard, although it takes a bit of planning. 

For the next couple of blogs we'll look at fussy cutting techniques and the kinds of fabrics that make it so exciting, personal and fun.

But it always starts with the fabric. Have you seen a print that was perfect for your daughter? Weird and fabulous and something they really love? That is a reason to buy the fabric now. No I'm not kidding. NOW! Fabric comes and goes out of production very quickly and you never know. You may be hunting it years from now.

Those odd, personal fabrics are known as novelty prints. They can be the backbone of amazing quilts. They are so fun. And they make fussy cut quilts awesome.
What makes great novelty fabrics?

• Larger prints 
• Fabrics that are personal for a particular person
• Great colors
• Clean clear printing/design

When you see a novelty print that is perfect for someone you love, make sure to add it to your stash because you'll want it when you're ready. And besides, you need to age your fabric to perfection.