Cutting a Diamond - LEFT-HANDED -

I recently saw a video demonstrating how to cut a Diamond unit -

First - RIGHT-HANDED -

Starting at the LEFT end of the strip - placing the 45-degree line at the BOTTOM of the strip and making the first cut just to the RIGHT of the selvage - to cut off the end - for your scrap basket -

Then move the ruler to the RIGHT to the line that measures the same as the strip width -

Make your second cut - one diamond - nice and neat - ;))

Then she REVERSED IT -

And demonstrated how to do the same thing - LEFT-HANDED -

Starting at the LEFT RIGHT end of the strip - placing the 45-degree line at the BOTTOM TOP of the strip and making the first cut just to the RIGHT LEFT of the selvage - to cut off the end - for your scrap basket -

Then move the ruler to the RIGHT LEFT to the line that measures the same as the strip width -

Make your second cut - one diamond - nice and neat - ;))

UMMMMMMMMMM - NOOOOOOOOOO -

I really appreciate that she tried to REVERSE IT for LEFT-HANDED Quilters -

BUT -

I do not like "back-handed" cuts -

They are awkward - by definition - and potentially dangerous -

It would be like me telling a RIGHT-HANDED quilter to cut a diamond THIS way -

Also "back-handed" - awkward - and potentially dangerous -

THIS IS HOW I would cut a Diamond - LEFT-HANDED -

Starting at the LEFT RIGHT end of the strip - placing the 45-degree line at the BOTTOM TOP of the strip and making the first cut just to the RIGHT LEFT of the selvage - to cut off the end - for your scrap basket -

Then move the ruler to the RIGHT LEFT to the line that measures the same as the strip width -

Make your second cut - one diamond - nice and neat - ;))

To me - the trick is knowing WHAT to REVERSE - ;))

Of the four things that were reversed -

ONE of them didn't need to be - it was OK just the way it was -

Placing the 45-degree line at the BOTTOM of the strip makes a BIG difference -

And makes it MUCH easier to cut STRAIGHT UP the LEFT side of the ruler -

From the BOTTOM LEFT to the TOP RIGHT -

A MUCH more NATURAL direction - UP and AWAY from you - ;))

And as one of my RIGHT-HANDED friends said -

No matter how hard they try -

Some instructors still think RIGHT-HANDED - ;))

Maybe I should just throw this out there -

If any of you/them are looking for a LEFT-HANDED consultant -

I'm available - LOL - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -