Inklingo Layer to Cut

Springtime Quilt

My Springtime Quilt Part 1

I’m pleased that so many quilters are interested in using the new Springtime block to make a design like mine!

All you need is fabric from your stash, the Inklingo Springtime shape collection, and your normal sewing tools. Sew by hand or by machine or a combination of both. We can all click to print together and set it to music (below).

I think most quilters will decide to sew these 9-inch blocks by machine but I am going to show how I sew some seams by hand and some seams by machine in the next installments.

fabric for layer to cut

I will provide more details about fabric requirements for My Springtime Quilt later. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, you can snag the shape collection for the low intro price, so you will be ready to start.

5 BLOCKS IN SPRINGTIME QUILT

This quilt has 5 different block configurations (small variations in these), each with 3 or 4 fabrics.

Lots of Options

Fussy cutting is optional. Not only that, even some of the printing is optional when we machine piece, thanks to Layer to Cut.

Layer to Cut

For this cool Inklingo technique, I print one sheet of fabric and use it as a guide to rotary cut one, two, or three pieces of unprinted fabric all in one stack.

Think of the printed fabric as a fabric template that doesn’t slip the way an acrylic one can.

When you click to print you’ll understand the magic that it does. . . set to music (below).

My Springtime Quilt

Let’s use this block as an example.

I need 4 of these blocks, so I need a total of 16 of E from the green fabric. It is a 1.59-inch square, which is not easy to measure.

Inklingo Catalogue of Shapes

1. Check the Catalogue of Shapes for the suggested custom page size for 8 squares.

2. Cut the freezer paper to the suggested custom size.

3. Iron the freezer paper to the right side of the fabric (previously washed & folded) and trim around it with sewing shears, as shown in the video.

custom size

4. Enter the custom size under Properties in the Print Dialog Box (instructions for first-timers) and click to print.

layer to cut

5. Remove the freezer paper and trim the edges with a rotary cutter.

6. Layer the printed fabric with unprinted fabric and rotary cut both layers, using the printed fabric as a guide. Just cut on the lines. No measuring.

That’s it! You have all 16 squares but you only printed 8 of them.

layer to cut

Half of the squares will have sewing lines and half of the squares won’t, which is fine for machine piecing.

Isn’t that cool? Minimal printing, no measuring, precision. All good.

Layer to Cut is just one of many magical ways to use shapes printed with Inklingo to make quilting more precise, simpler, and faster.

TIP

If you are cutting through three or four layers in a stack, you might want to press first to keep the layers from shifting. Of course, as usual, you need a sharp blade in your cutter.

Springtime 9 inch

Inklingo Layouts for Layer to Cut

With all Inklingo layouts, you can be confident that the shapes have been arranged to use fabric efficiently (above) and that all of the shapes are on the appropriate straight grain. The Layer to Cut method works for all layouts including those in the free shape collection and the Springtime shape collection.

Layer to Cut for Fussy Cutting too!

You can use Layer to Cut for No Waste Fussy Cutting too. You might need to think about this for a minute!

Print one fabric and layer it on one, two, or three layers of unprinted fabric with exactly the same design in the fabric, and rotary cut. Less printing, excellent control over accuracy. It is similar to Stack n Whack™ but simpler and with no acrylic!

The Inklingo Handbook by Linda Franz  Winding Ways by Linda Franz

More Examples of Layer to Cut

Layer to Cut is also described in The Inklingo Handbook (page 76) and the Winding Ways book (page 40 in hardcover or download). It is a great method to have in your Inklingo tool kit. On the other hand, printing is so fast and easy that I usually print all of the shapes to preserve the option of sewing the seams by hand, depending on the circumstances.

I also showed Layer to Cut to Alex and Ricky when I was on The Quilt Show. (Episode 2911). If you are not a member, you can sign up for a free 7-day trial to watch this one-hour show and any others.

When I happened to hear this the other day, I realized that “Ink-lin-go” is a perfect fit for “O-nly-You” and . . .  The Platters are really singing about quilting.  (You do realize that I am thinking about it all the time, eh.)

Only you can make this world seem right
Ink-lin-go prints all the shapes so right
Only you can make the darkness bright
Ink-lin-go prints layouts that excite
Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do
Ink-lin-go and it alone can thrill with Layer to Cut
And fill my heart with love for only you
And fill my heart with love for Ink-lin-go

Oh, only you make all this change in me
Oh, Ink-lin-go can print the shapes for me
For it’s true, you are my destiny
For it’s true, print is my destiny
When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do
When I click to print I understand the magic that you do
You’re my dream come true, my one and only you
You’re my dream come true, my lovely Ink-lin-go

[repeat second verse]

Please stay tuned for Part 2 with more info about My Springtime Quilt design.

Do you use Layer to Cut? Or do you just print all of the shapes, even when you machine piece? Please leave a comment to let me know!

4 thoughts on “Inklingo Layer to Cut”

  1. I wish I had known about the “Layer to Cut Stack ‘n Whack” system before I printed several pieces of fabric that had been cut “exactly” the same. In the process of printing the printer grabbed the paper not quite accurately, so the layers were “off” by just enough to be noticeable. I still haven’t finished that quilt, but now I am encouraged to print only one of the pre-cut stacks and cut through the rest of the stack.

    Thanks so much, Love you and Inklingo,
    Judy Morin
    “Judy the threadlady”

    Reply
    • Hi Judy, My rule of thumb is to consider any time someone might traditionally use acrylic templates because one way or another, Inklingo will do it better. I’m glad this helped!

      Reply

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