mq-step2

You will be cutting into your pattern fat quarters. It is very important that you understand fat quarters. They are basically, or rougly, 18" by 20". This is based on a more or less standard fabric bolt width of 40" to 42". It varies, so all fat quarters won't be identical! A yard of fabric is, of course, 36". If that is cut into four squares, you get four quarter yard in area pieces. They are called fat quarters because you could cut the fabric into quarters that were full width by 9". This isn't commonly done becuase such pieces are not as useful for piecing quilts. However, regardless of minor variations, you will find that fat quarters are not squares, they are rectangles. Be very aware of this, because it is important that you cut these first pieces in such a way that you do not reduce the wider width of the fat quarter. You will need that full width for other pieces later!

How do I know the above? Simple, I screwed up. I cut my first squares off of the narrower side of the fat quarters and then didn't have enough material left to cut out later pieces and had to cut into additonal fq's.

You will be cutting pieces for 36 blocks. However, I always advise cutting extras, so I will instruct you to cut at least 40 pieces.

Your first piece will be a 4 1/2" square. The pictures below show me cutting one fabric. I actually stacked four and cut them at once... more on that below...

Here is a fat quarter. Note that it is slightly wider than it is tall.	I have already trimmed the bottom edge square and now have my ruler positioned to cut a 4 1/2" strip...
Here's the 4 1/2" strip.	The next step is to trim the selvage off of one end of the stip. Be sure to trim square.
Then cut the 4 1/2" strip into 4 1/2" squares.
As I mentioned, I actually stacked my fabric into as many as 4 layers and cut them all at once.	Here's a caution... if you stack the fabrics, turn the end back and check it! Some fabrics may have wider selvages and, as mentioned, some may be shorter or longer than others. When you cut and trim, you want to be sure to get all of the ends square and usable.

If you are working with 12 fq's, stack in 3's and you'll get your 36 squares. Then cut one slice additional strip out of one fq for your extra squares.

Captain Dick: Hey, ET, some of your crew are threatening mutiny! They're having problems finding the clues.

Evil Twin: Arr, they're a bunch of wimps! I've picked up better crews in the alleys in Liverpool...

ET: They are, the scurvy blighters just don't realize it yet. Look at what's happenin' to 'em. They're startin' ta help each other and work as a team. Pretty soon they'll be a tribe. Ain't that what's supposed ta happen on these reality shows?

ET: 'Course, if you think they're restless now, wait'll they find out that later you're gonna split the tribe! That'll put barnacles on their bottoms! Mwahahahahahah!!!

CD: ET, I just don't understand how you could exist within me.... (shaking head)ET: Well, that's not important. I'm really here to give 'em a new clue. Ya know, I really like this this clue making business. It's kind of enchanting really. I wonder if I could turn it into a cottage industry....

ET: Argh... I just did.... Mwaahahahahahaah!!!!!!!
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