How to "fussy cut" fabrics

The term "fussy cut" refers to the practice of using a certain part of a fabric print in order to achieve a particular effect instead of cutting from the edge. That can be done in order to achieve a special combination of colours or light and dark as well as to cut a specific picture.

Here are some examples of fussy cut fabrics for different effects:

The sky of this landscape was fussy cut in order to have the effect of the sun shining through the clouds in the center of the picture. And then there is the special effect of the rays of the sun passing through the clouds being continued in the farthest mountain range using the effect of the mottled lavender fabric (the landscape was made based on Susan Brittingham's design during her class "Miniature landscapes"):

In this crazy block the center piece was fussy cut in order to have the fly right in the center of the block:

In this log cabin the cat in the center was fussy cut as a picture:

When fussy cutting you will most probably end up with your fabric full of holes, but the effect may well be worth the while.

Take a look at these fabrics and all the possibilies they offer for fussy cutting:

SKY - this is the sky from the landscape, do you see how you can use it for a brewing storm as well as for sunny morning sky:

 here are the two pieces "fussy cut"

COLOURS: this is a hand-dyed mottled fabric. You can find so many different shades of blueish to reddish violet so that you can use it for lots of different purposes.

 When you look at the pieces "fussy cut", they don't even seem to be come from the same piece of fabric.

PICTURES: This fabric offers several pictures that blend into the pattern when looking at a bigger piece of fabric, but they can be "fussy cut" and used to achieve special effects.

As you see there is a lot you can get out of a fabric if you're willing to sacrifice the remaing scraps.

Have you made a project following this tutorial? Let me know what you think. Did you like it? Was it easy to understand and to follow? Do you have any suggestions?
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