Get Creative with Fussy Cuts

Quilting Digest | September 28, 2015 | Quilting How-To
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Everything You Need to Know About Fussy Cuts!

Fussy Cuts. What an interesting term, but what does it mean exactly?

It means being fussy about how you cut your fabric (sorry, couldn’t resist!). Specifically, it means cutting so you’re showcasing a part of the fabric print in the center of the piece.

You’ll often see quilts with a fussy cut piece in the center of a block, like the rose in the center of this one.

Get Creative with Fussy Cuts

Photo courtesy of Sisters and Quilters.

Often, several pieces in a block are fussy cut, like the flowers in this Radiant Star block.

Get Creative with Fussy Cuts

Photo courtesy of Artisania.

And sometimes the entire block is made out of fussy cuts. The patterns in the fabric can create stunning tessellated designs.

Fussy Cut Quilt Block

Photo courtesy of The House on the Side of the Hill.

Fussy Cut Quilt Block

Photo courtesy of Loose Threads.

Fussy cuts can enhance an entire quilt!

Fussy Cut Diamonds Quilt

Fussy cut diamonds from the 2013 Tokyo Quilt Show. Photo by SewBlossomHeart, via Flickr.

In the following video, Kimberly from Fat Quarter Shop and Jen Kingwell will show you how to make fussy cuts.

Get Creative with Fussy Cuts

They have some great tips about templates to use for cutting.

 
Mirrors can be helpful for laying out more intricate, tessellated designs, as discussed in this article from Karen Cunningham.
 
Get Creative with Fussy Cuts
Fussy cuts aren’t difficult. They do require careful cutting and sewing. Just be sure to leave a 1/4″ seam allowance around the design, otherwise you may cut off part of it while sewing the block together.
 
 
If you’re just starting out, we recommend beginning with a fussy cut in the center of a block, then advancing to more intricate block designs.
 
There’s no limit to the interesting designs that can be created with fussy cuts. With care, you’ll soon be producing memorable quilt blocks that showcase your artistic side!
 
 You’ll find templates for fussy cutting here.
 
There’s a small selection of mirrors for use with fussy cutting here.
 
 
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