New Horizons Quilt Sew Along Week 2: Cut Fabric
We're back with Week 2 of our New Horizons sew along! I'm skipping the small talk and cutting straight to the chase because this week is FUN! Over the next 7 days we are cutting out all of our fabric. I know some of you dread cutting, but believe me when I say that cutting the New Horizons quilt pattern is shockingly fast and surprisingly delightful!
That's right folks. Deeeeeelightful.
Last week we gathered our fabric and supplies. If you're late to the game, it's not too late to join in and you can even grab a New Horizons quilt kit. Click here!
If you are new to SQ sew alongs, check out the original post outlining all of the New Horizons sew along details and schedule. You can also view our past sew alongs in the Sew Along tab.
New Horizons Sew Along Schedule
- Week 1, June 30 - Sponsor Fabric Stork: Pick fabric and gather supplies
- Week 2, July 7 - Sponsor Global Fiber Textiles and Notions: Cut fabric
- Week 3, July 14 - Sponsor Saltwater Fabrics: Make HST and stitch-and-flip blocks
- Week 4, July 21 - Sponsor Trace Creek Quilting: Assemble blocks
- Week 5, July 28 - Sponsor Lamb & Loom Fabrics: Assemble rows
- Week 6, August 4 - Sponsor Sewing Arts Center + custom longarm quilting for a throw New Horizons quilt from Evanston Quilt Company: Sew rows together and trim the finished quilt top
Don't forget that the only way to enter to win a prize from our weekly sponsor is to use #NewHorizonsQuiltSA on Instagram AND have a public profile. If you only have a private profile, you can create a public one just for this sew along and then delete it afterwards.
Trending patterns!
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Quilt Patterns
Week 2: Cut Fabric
My sew along peeps, I have 8 great tips for you this week. Follow these tips in order and by the end you will be completely finished cutting and won't believe how easy and fast it all went! Ready?
Tip #1: Snap a pic of your fabric in color order.
We will be shuffling our fabric around in the next few tips so it's not a bad idea to stack your fabrics in order from Colors 1-20 then take a quick phone pic for future reference. You can also cut snips of the fabric and tap them in order to a piece of paper or in a quilting journal.
Here's my fabric in order from bottom to top.
Tip #2: Iron your fabrics and keep them in order.
This isn't complicated. Just use some steam and iron out all of the creases and wrinkles. You can use starch if you want, but it's not necessary unless you are working with stretchy or wiggly fabrics such as linen or double gauze.
Once your fabrics are ironed, keep them in order from 1-20.
Tip #3: Make three fabric piles.
Now it's time to start shuffling our fabrics around. These three piles represent the three different shapes we will cut. Even though I'm creating different piles, it's helpful to still keep them in order.
- Pile 1: a/b pieces (which are the same) include Colors 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18
- Pile 2: c pieces include Colors 3, 7, 11, 15, 19
- Pile 3: d pieces include Colors 4, 8, 12, 16, 20
I wrote numbers 1-20 on some little slips of paper to help me stay organized. This isn't necessary, but if you're absent minded like me, it's nice.
Tip #4: Divide Pile 1 into 2 cutting piles on your cutting table and cut.
At this point you're probably thinking, "OK Suz, it's cutting week and so far all we've done is play musical chairs with our fabric."
Trust me. If you keep your fabrics in order, the cutting will be finished in the blink of an eye.
Separate your Pile 1 fabrics according to which colors are cut 3 times and which are cut 2 times. As you can see in the photo below, my left pile is colors 1, 2, 9, 10, 17, and 18, which are cut three times. And my right pile is colors 5, 6, 13, and 14 which are cut two times. The 21" side of my fat quarters are running vertically. Keeping the fabrics stacked, cut 3 - 21" strips from the left pile and 2 - 21" strips from the right pile.
That's it! You're finished with those fabrics.
NOTE: Make sure the blade on your rotary cutter is sharp enough to cut through 5 layers of fabric. You may need to get a new blade.
Before I make a cut I first lay my ruler down then thumb through the over hanging fabric to make sure they are lined up and all of the selvages will get trimmed off.
Once I know that, it's slicing time!
Tip #5: From Pile 2 cut 3 strips then sub-cut those into squares.
Once again I'm leaving my fabrics stacked. I chose to lay out this second pile so that the 18" sides of the fat quarters were running vertically. Cutting that way will make my scraps larger, but cutting either way works.
Cut three strips according the the width of piece c, then sub-cut those strips into 12 squares.
Now you're finished with those fabrics!
Tip #6: From Pile 3 cut 2 strips then sub-cut those into squares.
Leave your fabrics stacked and lay out the last pile so that the 21" sides of the fat quarters are running vertically, just like with Pile 1. Cut two strips according to the width of piece d, then sub-cut those strips into squares.
And you're finished cutting your colors. Let's cut that background fabric and we're done!
At this point I like to lay out all of my cut fabric in order. If you don't have space for this, you can stack them on top of each other in order.
Tip #7: Cut 3 background strips then sub-cut them into e pieces.
To make the throw New Horizons quilt you need 18 e pieces. Since each WOF strip yields 6 pieces, cut 3 WOF strips.
Tip #8: Use multiple rulers if needed to cut the large background squares.
To cut the large squares, that are then sub-cut into large triangles, you can use the folding technique outlined in the pattern or multiple ruler butted up against each other. I kept my background fabric folded in half so that I was cutting both squares and triangles at the same time.
That's all there is to it! You now have your fabric pieces cut. Yeehaw!
Week 2 Sponsor & Prize
This week's sponsor is a new discovery for me and what a fun treat that has been! Laura Parry, the owner of Global Fiber Textiles and Notions, has created an inspiring online shop that sells beautiful yardage, fabric bundles, thread, fabric swatch cards and notions.
The winner of this week's prize is getting an Aurifil thread pack AND a $75 gift card!
How to Win
- Post a pic to Instagram. The photo prompt for Instagram this week is to post a picture of your cut fabric. Use #NewHorizonsQuiltSA in the caption.
- You must have a public Instagram profile to participate.
- Each photo posted is an entry and you can enter as many times as you want in a single week. Once the week is over, those posts do not count in the next week's giveaway. Every week we start fresh.
- Your photo must be posted between NOW and 1:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, July 13. The winner will be picked randomly from all qualifying posts and announced at approximately 4:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, July 13.
- This prize is open to internationally.
My quilt will be a mix of cotton and linen fat quarters. First time working with linen and read your great blog post but still a bit unsure…If I prewash the linen will I then also need to prewash the cottons? Or should I be okay only washing the linen? Plan on double seaming any blocks that contain the linen. This will be my 6th Suzy QAL and love how my skills are growing with each one!
Your 6th! How amazing! Even though in general it’s a good idea to pre-wash linen, since you’re working with fat quarters, I’d skip it. Once your quilt is complete, wash it with cold water and dry it with low heat or no heat.
Darn! I cut the Pile #3 d fabric into 6-inch squares instead of 6 1/2 inches. Suzy, may I order FQs of colors 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20, so I can redo them? (I bought my fabric kit from Suzy Quilts.) Thank you.
You sure can! If you send an email to info@suzyquilts.com with your request we can generate a shop listing just for you.
What cutting mat is that? I love the white with the soft gray lines.
Thank you! It’s a Rhino cutting mat and I found a company online that cuts them to the exact size you want.
I love this pattern! I’m a new quilter doing limited color version. I’m working ahead a bit due to travel/family visiting this summer. My question is regarding the 45 degree angle on ruler (page 7 of pattern). Figure 5 & 6 aren’t turning out as pictured in your pattern. Is there a video available for this step? I’m missing something! Thank you. PS JoJo is adorable!
Hey Karen! I just published the Week 3 blog post early so you could see the pictures of how to cut Fig. 5 and 6. I hope that helps! https://suzyquilts.com/new-horizons-quilt-sew-along-week-3-make-blocks/
Yes it helps a ton. Thanks much!
I’m already confused! I wish I could pay someone to do my cutting for me 😂 for the first set of cuts, you say separate pile 1 into an (a) pile and (b) pile. How do I know which fabric goes in (a) and which goes in (b)?
This is based on the cutting instructions in the pattern. The only difference between the A pile and the B pile is that the A pile has 3 – 2 3/4″ strips and the B pile has 2 – 2 3/4″ strips.
I know wh n this clicks I’m going to feel really stupid. My pattern (the printed one) tells me that some of my b fabrics will need 3 strips cut. I can’t figure out why I’m only cutting 2.
Hi Diana! The blog post has been edited for more clarity. Check out Tip #4 now for how to organize your piles! You are separating them into piles based on which colors need 3 cuts and which need 2 cuts. It’s more clear now, and we hope that helps!
Me too! Somehow my iPad wasn’t showing me any comments, so I just sent in a similar one, then saw yours. Still confused.
Hi Julie! The blog post has been edited for more clarity now, so take a look at Tip 4 again. You will be separating into piles that are based on which colors need 3 cuts and which need 2 cuts, as described in the cutting instructions in the pattern. If you read it again, it will all make sense! 🙂
Tip 4, a and b piles…I’m confused. I see a and b (and c, d) on the Multicolor Cutting page of the pattern. The tip in the blog says cut 3 strips of the a, and 2 of the b. But the pattern page shows 3 strips of a and b sometimes (say fabrics 1 and 2), and 2 of each at other times (fabrics 5 and 6). Am I using a and b wrong, and I just need to make piles of “a” (any lines that say cut 3), and “b” (any lines that say cut 2)?
Hi Julie! Tip 4 has been edited for more clarity. You’ll be separating the piles in that step into colors that are cut 3 times and colors that are cut 2 times. Take a look at Tip 4 again and it should read more clearly now!
Thank you Laura! That clears up the a/b confusion. 👍🏼
I am uncertain about the 7” squares. How many squares do I cut into triangles? Is it 4 for each square which would then yield 62 triangles of background?
It has been many years since I made a quilt and so I am second guessing myself.
Thanks,
Claudia
What fabrics are f/g and h?
Great question! If you look at Step 1 at the top of page 6 it says, “Cut pieces e and i in half once on the diagonal to create two triangles.” The 7″ squares are piece e so cut those squares in half on the diagonal just like Fig. 1. To save time, stack a few squares and cut them at the same time.
Hi Suzy! Im so excited to be joining you in this sew along! I’m diving into the cutting portion, and I too am confused! And before I cut up some fabric, I just want to double check with you.
The blog post says to separate to A and B piles. That I can handle! But when looking at the pattern (throw size), B for color 2, 10 and 18 it says I need 3. Also in the pattern for the A pieces for colors 5 and 13 it says only 2 are needed.
Please feel free to delete this post if I am completely wrong in my thinking- I don’t want to confuse anyone!
Thanks!!
Hi Ashleigh! Tip 4 has been edited for more clarity. You’ll be separating the piles in that step into colors that are cut 3 times and colors that are cut 2 times. Take a look at Tip 4 again and it should read more clearly now!
Thanks Laura, it is making sense to me now!
Just sent 2 messages at info@suzyquilts.com regarding additional material.
Thanks, Claudia
Hi Claudia! The last email we have from you in our info@suzyquilts.com account is from April 27. Could you check that your messages were sent to the correct email address with no typos? Thanks!
Hi Suzy! Love the pattern and I am excited to sew along with you. But I was confused by the directions also. Just wanted to double check to see if I should follow the blog or the patterns directions for cutting.
In the pattern (throw) it says for colors 2,10,18 that 3 (b) is needed. And for colors 5 and 13 only 2 is needed for a. Please let me know if I’m way off base here in my thinking. Thanks!!
Hi Ashleigh! Tip 4 has been edited for more clarity. You’ll be separating the piles in that step into colors that are cut 3 times and colors that are cut 2 times. Take a look at Tip 4 again and it should read more clearly now!
Hi! Quick question about the background fabric cutting – it says for pieces f/g you need 8 pieces. Is that 8 total? Or 8 for f and 8 for g (meaning 16 total)?
Hi Jessica! For F/G you’ll cut 8 total pieces following the cutting instructions chart on page 3, and then subcut those pieces depending on the size you’re making by following the Pieces F & G instructions on page 6. Good question!
So. . . the strips in the a and b piles. What are gonna do with the extra strip in the a pile? I know I must be missing something.
Hey Pamela! Take a look at Tip 4 again, we’ve edited it for more clarity. You’re making one pile of fat quarters that are cut three times, and another pile of fat quarters that are cut two times. That should clear things up!
Hi SUZY,
Im a new quilter, so pardon my comment, if there is any mistake. I’m trying to follow your instructions to the T. After Tip #7, shouldn’t the next Tip #8, be about cutting 12, 3 1/2 “* WOF strips ? before the big squares? And then further cutting them into the required ‘f & g ‘ pieces?
Hi Poonam! We’re so glad you’re doing this sew along as a new quilter! The blog posts for the sew along aren’t written to follow the order of the directions in the pattern, it’s just extra tips that might apply to some steps. But the sew along doesn’t go over each step each week. Great question from a first time sew along participant!