Rotary Cutting – Diamonds, Parallelograms, and Trapezoids

Rotary Cutting Unusual Shapes

Diamonds and trapezoids appear in many quilt designs. Here we present easy instructions for rotary-cutting these intriguing shapes from fabric strips. Have fun cutting diamonds and trapezoids quickly and accurately!

CUTTING DIAMONDS OR PARALLELOGRAMS

Step 1. Make a paper template and tape to back side of an acrylic rotary-cutting ruler. Carefully align one edge of template along edge of ruler (Diagram I-A).

Step 2. Cut fabric strip same width as template. Referring to Diagram I-B, lay ruler on fabric strip with template and fabric edges aligned. Cut off end of strip.

Diagram IB

Step 3. Referring to Diagrams I-C and I-D, turn ruler so that template and fabric angles align. Moving along fabric strip, cut diamonds or parallelograms.

Diagram IC-ID

CUTTING TRAPEZOIDS

Step 1. Make a paper template and tape to back side of an acrylic rotary-cutting ruler. Carefully align the 2 angled edges along ruler edges (Diagram II-A)

Diagram IIA

Step 2. Cut fabric strip same width as template. Referring to Diagram II-B, lay ruler on fabric strip with template and fabric edges aligned. Cut off end of strip and cut first trapezoid.

Diagram IIB

Step 3. Referring to Diagram II-C, turn ruler to cut the next trapezoid. Continue turning ruler back and forth to cut trapezoids along fabric strip.

Diagram IIC