Adobe Quilt Along Week 2: Cutting your fabric.
The cutting portion of the Adobe Quilt is certainly the most time-consuming section of this pattern. Almost every cut is unique, and it also utilizes templates provided to create the distinct shapes seen in this design. The Cutting Instructions may appear intimidating, but the challenge is not primarily in the technique or method— it is in the organization. 7 fabrics cut into nearly 60 individual pieces takes time and attention to do correctly.
Let’s start with what you need:
- Fabric
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter or scissors
- Multiple ruler sizes (I recommend a 6” x 24” and 6” x 12.” A smaller 6” x 6” is also helpful for guiding templates, but not required.
- Adhesive spray (optional, but very helpful for stabilizing templates)
- Printed templates - check page 14 of the pattern to print only the templates required for your selected size.
- Labeling method (physical or mental) to delineate the fabrics and pieces.
To avoid losing you place or skipping a piece while cutting, I recommend printing the pattern to check off cuts as you go. A few testers opted to label their fabrics using sticky notes or scraps of paper. Personally, I don’t label my pieces, but instead stack them in alphabetical order of the pieces—lay AA down first, stack AB then AC followed by AD, etc. Some method of organization is important because the cutting instructions are not written in alphabetical order, but are broken down by sections accessible from the same WOF strip. They are written to minimize waste—for example, in the baby size when cutting a 5 1/2” x WOF strip of fabric B, you will get pieces BB, BC, (2) BI, and BK. The fabric requirements do provide wiggle room for cutting errors, so don’t panic if you make a mistake.
The good thing about the piecing process is this quilt kind of comes together like a puzzle. Although there are a lot of unique pieces, most fit in only one place. While it may feel overwhelming to keep track of the alphabetical arrangement of the cuts, once the sewing process begins, it becomes easier to visualize how the quilt comes together. Also, the shape of the pieces are consistent throughout every size - the Throw size does not require any more cutting than the Baby size. So while the sizes are different, the time required in the cutting and piecing process is similar in every size.
You may notice that both template sections are curved shapes instead of one curve and one outer arch shape. This is simply designer preference. I find it is easier to cut with a steady hand around the outside of a template than along the inside of an arch. Also, it requires less printing overall. I would love feedback on how you feel about this method in the comments. There are 2 ways to secure the template to the folded fabric while cutting: pins or adhesive spray. Pins are more traditional, but they are challenging to maneuver smoothly through printer paper and 2 layers of fabric. Also, it can be difficult to cut around the template while guiding a rotary cutter as there are pins involved, so it may be easier to use scissors to cut your fabric. Spray adhesive secures the template to the top layer of the fabric, but it does not anchor the bottom layer, so be aware of this when cutting. I like to steady the rotary cutter with a small ruler while cutting around the template, and spray adhesive is easier for this method. While they appear to be challenging, curves are often more flexible than strips or HST’s when piecing. There is room provided for trimming, and you are also stitching along the bias of the fabric. As long as your cuts are fairly accurate, the fabric can be slightly stretched or contracted to create the correct shape. Templates 1-4 will be utilized this week, but Templates 5-6 will come next week after the initial piecing of Block 6.
As always, I am accessible through email (wellspringdesignsco@gmail.com) or Instagram, so feel free to reach out with any questions or comments. I am excited to start seeing your Adobe quilts come together!
