Sewing help...cutting out fabric

[Mama Dragon]

I'm blaming my mother for never teaching me this stuff cause I know it's basic sewing skills.

Using the DD pattern, for each diaper I cut out 3 layers...well, each layer comes out slightly different sized, enough to make it a pain in the neck to sew together. I've tried laying the pattern on the fabric and cutting it out from that w/ my cutting wheel, I've tried using my fabric marker and then the cutting wheel, I've also tried both using scissors...it's enough that I have to bump the seam in by quite a bit which changes the sizing. :

Is there some magical thing I'm not knowing about for cutting out my fabric? Thanks for any advice you can give!

[brogansmomma]

Sounds like maybe one layer is a woven (eg: flannel or something) and another layer maybe be stretchy?? In any case, when mine come out a little off, if it's not significant I just match up the edges as best I can, not worrying about slight out-of-bounds spots and keep the excess in the middle of the diaper. It's never been a problem for me to do that. I also trace each layer separate and then cut out, matching them up when I'm done. I'm a scissors girl.

[Kari_mom]

I trace my pattern on the layer that will be on top when I sew, stack the other layers under it, and rough cut through all the layers at the same time. Then I sew on the traced line. My pattern does not have a seam allowance. I have been serging, so the excess is cut off as I serge. When I T&T, I trim the layers after sewing.

[allnaturalmama]

:

I do mostly T&T, and just like Karimom I cut all layers together arranged as they'll be on my sewing machine (top to bottom) and trim after it's sewn. I've probably sewn close to a hundred dipes, but I'd guess no two have ever been exact the same if you were to examine them with a microscope. They all fit just fine, though!

[peekyboo]

This is a stupid question, but I've had many a sewing issue solved by someone asking a stupid question...

Do you pin the layers together before you cut them out? That would keep layers from shifting. Lay the three layers together, trace the pattern on the top one, then pin the materials together, then cut. Also, weighing down the fabric will keep stuff from shifting. Rolls of duct tape work great in a pinch, lol!

[Mama Dragon]

Here's what I do, and what I'm gathering I need to do (thank you all so much for your advice!):

What I do: Lay the pattern (which is a half pattern, laid on a fold) on the faric, get it all centered and either cut it out with the pattern on the fabric, or trace out the pattern and cut it on the marker line.

What I'm gathering I should do: lay all the fabric down, trace out the pattern, pin all the layers together, then cut it out (which would have to be done with my cutting wheel/rotary cutter cause my scissors couldn't do 6 layers...nor do I think my hands could!) Am I close? It's late and I'm headed to bed, so I might just be tired and missing something.

Thanks again!

[allnaturalmama]

yep, you got it. Except, I would do away with that awful half pattern thingy. Figure out a way to retrace your pattern as a full pattern and get off the fold. That's probably got a lot to do with your problem.

I made full patterns out of my VB pieces by buying that heavy clear plastic sheeting from the quilt store. I traced the half onto the sheeting, leaving room to flip the sheeting over and trace the half again onto the backside of the sheeting, giving me one full diaper pattern with no fold.

You'll have much better results if you can lay your fabric perfectly flat with no fold.

[wannabe]

You'll always get size differences if you cut six layers at once.

best for accuracy is to do one layer at once - the ideal is somewhere in between!

[Jayneysews]

See,i love cutting on the fold!
I find it much better....
Just I think we all have our own preferences it seems!
LOL!
I hope that you find a way which works for you

Love jayne