How to Square Fabric

Have you wondered how to square up fabric for sewing projects? This is an important step you don't want to skip before cutting. Squaring fabric is simple to do if you know what to look for as you fold and manipulate the fabric.
See the full blog post at theruffledpurse.com/how-to-sq...

[@dianeweyenberg5266]

Thank you so much! I am a beginning sewer and have listened and watched several videos about squaring fabric and yours was just what I needed. You were clear, thorough, and I love how your video camera zoomed in so that I could what you were doing perfectly!! Thank you so much!

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You are so welcome, Diane!

[@debbiecroft7807]

I can’t thank you enough! I have been watching videos on this and could not figure out how they did it. You explained and demonstrated exactly what I needed to know. ❤❤❤

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You’re very welcome, Debbie!

[@Wannaloom]

Never thought to measure the grainline on pattern to edge of fabric! Smart! Thanks so much.

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@momzilla9491]

Thank you Ruffled Purse! I really needed this lesson!

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You are so welcome!

[@WhiTor1]

This is an EXCELLENT video, superb instruction and the accompanying illustrations are great reinforcement and further clarification! One of the best instructional videos I’ve ever seen. Thank you!! Looking forward to exploring others that you have and your website.

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Thank you! Happy you found it helpful!

[@sewlovemydogs]

Excellent video, very clear explanation and the diagrams were fabulous. Thank you 🌹❤️

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@steffaniedinsio6077]

Very helpful! Thank you very much.

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You're very welcome!

[@BerniceWest-hs6yi]

A huge thank you. Your video was very clear and straight forward

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Thanks, Bernice! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@charlottecampbell417]

THANK YOU! Squaring the fabric is the topic of intense discussion among my quilting friends. I always square my fabric just like you showed in your video. I’m always asked “what are you doing?” when cutting in front of others. They think I’m nuts …. I also always wash my yardage Another controversial topic. Thanks again for a great video.

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You're very welcome...thanks so much for your kind words on the video. ❤

[@barbaracobb6090]

Thank you! Very good demonstration!

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Phollenbeck1950]

Very helpful. Thank yiu

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@warrenenglish942]

Whoo-hoo! Thanks for the help.

[@TheRuffledPurse]

You're very welcome!

[@susanmorgan8286]

Great video!!!!!

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it! 🥰

[@user-vm4fv6oy9u]

Came to KZbin to find videos on this subject. I am completely new to sewing, and freeze when it comes to cutting anything. Bought my machine online and have had no lessons, only KZbin taught. I have wasted a lot of fabric not understanding how to cut squarely and then evenly. I completely followed your video until a clothing pattern came out and then my confusion came back. I will try again!

[@TheRuffledPurse]

I'm happy the first part of the video helped you. 🥰 If you have specific cutting and sewing questions you would like answers to, email me at [e-mail] and I'll do my best to answer them and clear up any confusion.

[@midgethorn4083]

Thanks. This confirms what I was doing is correct.

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Excellent!

[@KM-xr5gg]

Excellent tutorial 🌸

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Thanks so much 😊

[@lindawinn2568]

Thank you for your very informative and well illustrated video. A great help. 💕

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Goody2shzToo]

Thank you. Great video. But what if I want to cut a perfect square for a tablecloth and I don't have one of those fancy cutting tables? All I have is a carpenters square. ☹️

[@TheRuffledPurse]

A kitchen table, utility table, kitchen counter, and even the floor are good options for a large, flat surface. A cardboard pattern cutting board is a great tool to lay on a table and give you a grid. However, you can't use a rotary cutter with it, only scissors. A yardstick works very well to extend the line from the carpenter's square if you don't have a grid. If you have a steel framing square you could use that too. For years, I used the kitchen table, cardboard pattern cutting board, and a yardstick with success.

[@gehanghobrial2449]

Thank you so much your video helped me to understand how squares a fabric and linen up a pattern correctly 😊. Does this rule apply in knit and stretch fabric too? If not could you please make a video about it. Thank you 🙏

[@TheRuffledPurse]

Gehan, that is a great question. If the fabric is woven but has a stretch to it, I use the methods described in the video to square it up. While I sew mostly with woven fabric, I have done a few garments with knit fabric. Knits do have a grainline but I don't square up knits like I do woven fabric. In this post theruffledpurse.com/easy-cardigan-sewing-pattern, locate the Table of Contents near the top of the post, and click on Find the Straight of the Grain to see how I located the grainline on the knit fabric to make the cardigan. For more detailed info, check out this post from the Sew Everything Blog. She does a good job of explaining how to locate the grainline for pattern placement on knit fabric. seweverythingblog.com/2018/11/15/basic-sewing-concept-grain-in-knit-fabric/ While these posts aren't videos, I hope they help you better understand working with grainlines on knit fabric. ~Nicki