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Fussy Cutting and Using Acrylic Templates for EPP - Part 1.

14/10/2019

2 Comments

 
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There are so many interesting and imaginative ways to cut your fabric for epp and this is called fussy cutting. Fussy cutting is essentially choosing a particular part of the fabric to use, for each shape. This could be a motif, a section of a pattern or maybe just lining up dots or stripes. The results of fussy cutting can be spectacular, creating kaleidoscopic designs or even turning the motif into something different entirely. Today I am going to show you my technique for simple fussy cutting which creates very pleasing results. I am yet to try anything more complex but I really want to, so I will be sure to share that journey with you when I do!
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The first thing I do is to decide which motif I want to centre in my shape. In this case I've chosen to centre Peter Rabbit in a hexagon. I am using an acrylic hexagon template here, which makes this process nice and simple. It enables you to see the design easily and this means you can position it perfectly. The template has holes at each corner so I use them as reference points. I've lined the bottom point of the lettuce up with one of the corners, and I've centred the corner at the top in between his ears. Then you can either draw around it and then cut it out with scissors, or use a rotary cutter. The acrylic template includes a quarter inch seam allowance.
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If you don't have an acrylic template then it is still possible to fussy cut your design, you just have to use your eye a bit more. I find it easier to position the paper template on top of the motif and hold it up to the light to judge where it is positioned. When I am happy with its position, I will cut around it using an add a quarter inch ruler.
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You could, of course, draw around it first before cutting, to ensure you have positioned it correctly, and you could do this on the reverse of the fabric if you prefer. I like doing it on the right side of the fabric as I feel I can see what I am doing properly. 
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Once you have cut your fabric, you need to transfer your paper template to the back of your fabric, centre it correctly then baste your shape as usual. The accurately cut seam allowance will help you to do this. 
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And that's all there is too it! As well as acrylic templates there are fussy cutting templates on the market which are like little windows but I don't own any of them. I find acrylic templates to be really useful and I like having them. I have a couple of sets of the shapes and sizes that I use most often. However, it can be costly to invest in lots of templates if you find you use many different shapes and sizes. So in my next post on this topic, I will show you how you can make your own for a fraction of the cost!
Happy sewing!
P.S Thank you to everyone who entered my little giveaway on my last post. I put all of the names into a cup and pulled out a winner which was ... Liz! Congratulations Liz. Please contact me either through the contact form on this website or send me a DM on instagram and I will send your prize out to you.
2 Comments
Joy
14/10/2019 08:33:30 pm

Thank you for this post it will be very helpful in my hexie journey as I’ve found I don’t think ahead enough to where my motifs will be on my hexies before I cut them - Joy x

Reply
Laura Small
7/5/2021 10:44:29 am

The Peter Rabbit fabric is great, but where on earth does the too gorgeous fabric in the zipped purse come from? It is so quirky and original!
Thank you for your Friday blog - had just put out some washing, so I sat and read it looking at some bluebells in the garden!

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    A post shared by Emma Jones - EPP & Embroidery (@vintagesewingbox) on Oct 20, 2019 at 8:34am PDT

    About the Author
    My name is Emma and I love all things sewing, especially EPP. My little blog is the place where I document what I'm making. I hope you enjoy reading what I'm up to! All opinions are my own and I only share things that I think you will love. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. 

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  • Home
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    • Terms and Conditions
  • About
  • Shop
    • 2025 Block of the Month
    • In Person Workshops
    • Printed Patterns
    • Sewing Gifts
    • Kits
    • Sale
    • Patterns
    • Pre-Cut Fabrics
    • Block of the Month Extras
    • Thread >
      • Hand Quilting Thread
      • EPP Thread
      • Embroidery Thread
    • Hexiform
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    • Scissors
    • Needles, Threaders, Thimbles
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  • In Person Workshops
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    • Pincushions
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    • Dresden Flower
    • Christmas
    • Hexagon Templates
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    • Flex Frame Purse
  • Video Tutorials
    • English Paper Piecing Tutorials
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    • Sewing with Scraps
  • Blog