'no-join' method of cutting fabric strips

This method is by far the BEST way to cut doona (duvet/quilt) covers into strips. Love it, love it, love it! Plus it works brilliantly for pillowcases. I have also successfully used this method to cut sleeves/legs of clothing into strips. It works for any 'tube' of fabric. And it's also the method I use for cutting plastic bags into 'plarn'

As I said... love it, love it, love it!

This is a speedy system of cutting which results in a long continuous strip being formed.

EDITED TO ADD - I have had a fabulous and simple suggestion from one of my regular readers (thank you Karen!)

if you are working with a flat piece of material, such as a sheet... take a few minutes to stitch a seam up one side and make it into a tube... then proceed with the method described below

I have used a pillowcase to demonstrate the technique, and taken lots of photos. Hopefully they will help you in your recycled crafting endeavours.

(click on the photos to enlarge)

1. lay the pillowcase flat, with the opening to the left


2. begin folding from the bottom up as illustrated


3. fold to about an inch from the top edge


4. trim the left hand side so that you have a straight flat edge... for a pillowcase you are removing that whole thick section of fabric at the opening... for a doona cover you are removing the strip which contains the fasteners/buttons... etc


5. start cutting strips approximately 1/2 inch wide... cut through folded layers all at once... stop before you reach the very top edge


6. continue cutting until you reach the end... cut the last strip all the way through


7. shake out the folds


8. slide your hand into the tube from the top left hand side


9. use fabric scissors to make cuts between the strips... start at the end of the 'spine' and cut diagonally up and left to the end of the first strip as illustrated


10. continue cutting from the top of one strip to the bottom of the next, moving diagonally up and left... until you reach the end


11. make the final cut as illustrated


12. you now have one continuous strip of fabric which can be rolled into a ball