Missouri Star Quilt Company’s Tips & Tricks for Cuddle Fabric We love the look and feel of Cuddle. Cutting • Keep a vacuum cleaner nearby It's such a versatile fabric. The quilts • You will get “cuddle dust” when and vacuum along cutting lines we have made with Cuddle have very you cut Cuddle; the longer the before moving cut fabric. Be extra fibers, the more “dust.” To control careful with cut fabric so you don’t quickly become the best loved quilts this, cut shorter Cuddle fabrics suck it up. We like to use a small with a rotary cutter, remove from in our homes. Here's a great list of shop vac here in the studio. cutting surface, and place in dryer tips and tricks to help you start using with damp wash cloth on low • When cutting, check nap BEFORE heat for about 10 minutes. you cut each piece to be sure it is this fabulous fabric! Give it a try! going in the right direction. You’ll be glad you did! • For longer fiber Cuddle such as rose Cuddle, shag, frizzy and • Cuddle does not fray. For a great furs: draw cutting line on back edge finish on double sided side of fabric, and with scissors, Cuddle and bindings, you may cut through the backing only. use a rotary cutter with a pinking Then pull apart and place in dryer. or wave blade. • When using pattern pieces, do not It basically gives your machine super Binding pin through layers. Pre-cut your powers! It’s a good tool for a sewist pattern pieces and hold in place with to have in her toolkit. The downside to • Cut binding strips 2 inches X width of pattern weights or rulers (Empty a walking foot is that it can’t handle fabric (you could cut the strips using a coffee cups and tuna or soup cans turns, so you either have to sew a few pinking blade if desired). work great). Tissue paper patterns stitches and manually turn the fabric can be ironed to the waxy side of yourself at gradual increments, or for • Lay out strips so nap is going the freezer paper and cut out; use pattern go the walking foot altogether for a same direction. weights to hold in place. If cutting curvy piece. multiple size patterns, trace desired • Join strips, right sides together using size onto freezer paper, paper side • Try not to pull fabrics through, let plus sign method. up, cut out pattern pieces, add your walking foot and feed dogs do pattern weights, and cut out with the work. • Your binding will be a single layer. rotary cutter. The freezer paper is a Stitch binding to the front of quilt good guideline because it sits on top • Use a size 90/14 ballpoint (stretch) using traditional methods for joining of the fabric and provides a more needle for piecing. ends and turning corners. precise cut. • Lengthen the stitch length to • Flip quilt over, fold the binding to fit 3-3.5 mm. This will give the fibers tight against the stitching line edge. Sewing room to nest together and not distort your seams. • Topstitch raw edge using a zig zag, • Be aware of straight of grain and serpentine, or other decorative stitch. stretch. When using strips, cut to size • Use a ⅜ to ½ inch seam allowance and pin in place to keep fabric from consistently throughout your project. stretching or shrinking. Your walking foot can act as a guide. Care Change needle position if needed. • Take your time when sewing with • Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold Cuddle fabrics. A little patience goes water. • Use a pressing sheet between a long way! fabric and iron. Press lightly and be • Machine dry, low heat. Some very careful with embossed and • Use pins. With this material you need embossed and longer fibers may dimpled fabrics. to use pins. It slides under the change appearance slightly after needle, so for straight seams and drying. It will surprise you how fast • For “sandwiching” and appliqué, limited heartache, pin it a lot! When the finished projects dry, so check spray adhesives work for holding pinning fabrics together use sturdy after 20 minutes. Projects without batting, backing, and fabrics flower head pins. They show up easily batting will dry very quickly. together. Be sure to ventilate area in the cuddle nap and if you should when spraying. 505 Spray and Fix accidentally leave a pin in the seam, from Odif is a good product. Use the metal shaft can be removed with freezer paper, paper side up, to pliers and the top can stay inside the protect projects from overspray. project and not cause any injuries. You can also use a glue stick to hold smaller pieces in place. • If you plan on doing a lot of sewing with Cuddle fabric, a walking foot is • The blind hem stitch lengthened to worth the investment. A walking foot 3mm and 5mm wide is a good one is a special foot apparatus that makes to use for appliqué. The stitch will be it so the cloth has feed dogs feeding it hidden in the fibers. Straight stitch, on the top as well as beneath. It makes blanket, and zig-zag are also good www.missouriquiltco.com it so the fabric can’t slide under the options. Be sure to test stitches and needle, and helps keep stitches even. 114 N Davis lengthen as needed. Hamilton, Mo. 64644 It also allows you to sew through thick 888-571-1122 sections of fabric with little difficulty. [email protected].