Two Inklingo Fussy Cutting Methods

Revised  – Originally published December 12, 2014

The 3 shape collections for Judy Martin’s Waltzing Matilda are fantastic for TWO methods of fussy cutting!

EIGHT star points. . .

. . . or just ONE octagon.

Two Ways of Fussy Cutting

1. Traditional Fussy Cutting with Inklingo

Print freezer paper templates from the Inklingo PDF

Cut individual designs and make Swiss cheese of the fabric.

This is a good option if:

• You only need one shape, like the octagon for Waltzing Matilda or Castle Wall.
• You want complete control over the motif to be cut.
• You are working with fat quarters or scraps and do not have enough fabric for No Waste Fussy Cutting (method 2).
• You don’t need to know the exact fabric requirements because you have lots or if you are only fussy cutting a few shapes.

Freezer paper templates have many advantages over acrylic templates.

See “Why I don’t sell acrylic templates.”

I demonstrated this method on The Quilt Show (Episode 2911).

Lucy Boston used designs in the fabric that were NOT obvious choices for fussy cutting—but they look as if they were meant to be. Don’t settle for the obvious! Many fabrics are suitable, as shown in the video.

2. No Waste Fussy Cutting with Inklingo

This is similar to Stack n Whack™ and One Block Wonder—without the templates.

With Inklingo, we print identical sheets of fabric for perfect results. This is my favorite method. It all depends on finding the right fabric.

The identical shapes are random and the results are often more artistic, interesting, and exciting than with traditional templates.

It is possible to calculate exact fabric requirements. (How to calculate yardage for No Waste Fussy Cutting)

Just like Stack n Whack™, find the “repeat” in the fabric to print identical sheets of fabric.

I included very detailed fussy cutting instructions for both methods in Winding Ways – Quilting the Inklingo Way (hardcover or download) too. (I love this book!)

Fussy Cut Waltzing Matilda

Monkey and I especially like fussy cutting Waltzing Matilda. There are many photos on the Inklingo Facebook page and on Pinterest, so please have a look.

Of course, you know that Waltzing Matilda is not just a great quilt block by Judy Martin—it is also Australia’s unofficial national anthem.

Russ and I been thinking about Australia lately while we watch Australian Open Tennis. (Did you see Murray and Kokkinakis? Fabulous!)

I collaborated with Monkey to take it from an Aussie bush ballad from 1895 (with a ghost) to a Canadian story song (with a happy ending).

Click to play and listen to Slim Dusty, an Australian legend, while you read along to my Canadian version, okay?

Monkey says, “Sorry, eh?” in advance. On the other hand, I hope our quilting story will make you smile.

Waltzing Matilda changes to “Print with Inklingo”

Once a jolly quilter printed fabric by Inkjet  Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong 
Under the shade of an old maple tree  Under the shade of a Coolibah tree 
She sang as she sewed and waited till her bobbins wound  He sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
“Who’ll come a printing on fabric with me?”  “You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me”