Cutting Techniques using Marti Michell Templates

1. Apply Fabric Grips to the back side of each template, one on each corner so that the template won’t wobble.

2. Place the template on the lengthwise grainline (least stretchy direction), and cut around each of the four sides-don’t cut the notched corner points yet. Once the four long sides have been cut, go back and nip off each corner point. 

3. When cutting the “bars”, cut the rectangle and use Template A5 to nip off the
corner points. Be sure you line up the template with all three edges carefully.

4. Slide the template down and nip off the other two corner points.

5. This is the flying geese center triangle using Template A4. The fabric is folded in half. The arrow is along the lengthwise grain of the fabric. You need four of these but you cannot fold this fabric into fourths-it will not be wide enough! 



6. Cut along the long inside edge of A4, turn the mat, keeping your hand holding the template in place.

7. Cut the remaining two long sides.


8. Trim off the corner points. 

9. Lay the template as shown and cut the other two A4 triangles, the arrow still keeps the grainline orientation. 

10. These are the Inside Flying Geese points using template A6. The fabric is folded into fourths, four layers to cut at a time. The arrow is on the grainline. You need eight of these. 

11. Cut along the long edge, turn the mat to cut the other two sides and trim off the points. Cut the next four by moving the template into the position shown, turning the mat instead of moving the fabric. 

12. When cutting the background, cut strips a bit wider than the template and cut the pieces needed. 

13. The background A6 triangles can also be cut from strips just a little wider than the template. Watch the grainline arrows. 

14. Cut the three long sides, turning the mat and holding the fabric/template steady with your hand. Go back and nip off the corners. Turn the template as shown, to maintain the grainline issue, and continue cutting.

15. When making stems, cut the rectangles and trim the corners using A5.

16. Carefully draw a diagonal line across the white background squares. Do all of the short stems and then all of the long stems so you don’t get confused about the direction of the diagonal. Place a white square right sides together with a stem piece. 

17. Stitch right next to, not on, the drawn line toward the side that will be trimmed off. This allows for the thickness of the fabric when it is folded back.

18. Trim, leaving a 1/4 inch seam. Press toward the background.

19. The long and short stems are slanted differently.