Quilt in a Day Forums

Im working on a quilt that ask to cut 4 strips 1 1/2 x 43 1/2, pieced from 5 width of fabric strips. What does this mean.? Im cutting more from this same fabric too.

So am I cutting salvage to salvage or the other way?

From your description, its sounds to me that it is cut selvage to selvage. The only question I have is the 5 widths of fabric - is that five different pieces that have been sewn together? I guess I am not much help either - Maybe someone else here on the forum has the same pattern - so maybe you could post the name and we could then see better how to help

Jana

I think the phrase "width of fabric" means selvege to selvege. Think of the way fabric is woven: the "width" is determined by the selvege edges (42 inches wide or so), the length is indefinite, could go on forever.

Those directions are kinda funky! But the "43 1/2" inches is probably the width of the fabric, minus the selveges.

I need to go to the dictionary to look up the spelling of 'selvege'--!!

Make sure you have plenty of fabric. I found out the hard way a couple of years ago when I made my son's split rail fence quilt. I couldn't believe the difference in the widths of fabric. The directions called for sewing 4 strips together, then cutting 8 1/2" blocks from the strips for a total of 5 blocks per strip set. I could only get 4 and ran out of fabric. Went back to store for more and they did not have all the fabric! Wound up making large borders with the fabric they did have.

Yes, as Evie says, fabric isn't the 44/45 inches it used to be. Lucky to get useable 40 inches by the time the salvages (sp?) are cut off. So, always figure on one more row needed.

I, too, am confused about the 5 widths, so can't help there. Maybe someone else would have the pattern if you posted its name.

carol/kittyquilt

You need 4 strips that are 43 1/2" wide. Nowdays you can't get that from the width of the fabric, so the designer is having you cut 5 strips. The 5th strip needs to be used to lengthen the first 4 to the specified length.

knitnoid, that sounds about right. Thank you all for your help.
The correct sp is SELVAGE, ops.