Fussy Cutters Club

December 2017 Angie Wilson defines fussy cutting as 'When you find a particular design, picture or print in your fabric and then cut around it so it fits into a patch or block on your quilt or sewing project.' Sounds simple doesn't it? Why is it then that whenever I consider fussy cutting I think of a multitude of ways in which it can go wrong? Designs off-centre, despite all my best attempts, and secondary designs turning into a swirling mass of psychedelia! Angie promises you can get started with nothing more than a rotary cutter and a ruler but I'm not convinced. However Angie and her book shout 'you can do it' and give a hundred tips to help me on my way. She talks of looking at your fabrics in terms of size of print, repeats and considering your seam allowances before you get cracking, she speaks of fab tools such as hinged mirrors that are particularly good for working out those pesky secondary designs, then she talks about templates, even ones that you can make yourself out of cereal packets! Projects are zippy and stylish. There are pincushions, mini quilts, tablemats, and runner, and a stylish tote bag and loads of tips and techniques along the way. Angie sees fussy cutting as a way of expressing herself through the perfect choice of imagtes and words and delights in 'cutting fabric with intent.' That sounds fierce and now, even for me, a little more doable. * Popular Patchwork * I must say first of all, that I am not a fussy cutter, yet I do admire those perfect cuts, arranged to feature the fabric. It is extreme fabric play. The book includes the basics, tools, suitable fabric guide, tutorials, colour, cutting, piecing and finishing. Tutorials include EPP, cutting to make a new repeat and other how-to's. There are 14 projects to ensure you get to grips with fussy cutting. It's all about the placement of the print within the design of the quilt. So you would cut out the motifs from the background print. Great projects include a nine-patch pot holder, coasters, pincushion, pouch, cushion (pillow), mini quilts and other quilts, table runner, place mats and totes using different techniques. The clear instructions are accompanied by excellent photos and line drawings. -- Karen Platt * www.karenplatt.co.uk *