Modern Constellations strips

Here is how I decided on the length of my strips.  I wanted to have a six inch "step" on each strip with 12 strips.  I wanted to use the neutral on top and colored fabric on bottom.  I had 6 fabrics and decided to use them as a unit but you could do patchwork and make it a scrappy quilt.  As you can look back and see I originally had a "rainbow" of colors but decided to use all blues.  

                       Color        Neutral          Total (inches)

Strip 1	74.5	6.5	81
Strip 2	68.5	12.5	81
Strip 3	62.5	18.5	81
Strip 4	56.5	24.5	81
Strip 5	50.5	30.5	81
Strip 6	44.5	36.5	81
Strip 7	38.5	42.5	81
Strip 8	32.5	48.5	81
Strip 9	26.5	54.5	81
Strip 10	20.5	60.5	81
Strip 11	14.5	66.5	81
Strip 12	8.5	72.5	81

I chose an 80 inch long quilt but you will need the extra .5 inches on each length of fabric for seam allowances in the middle and with the binding.  The quilt will be approximately 66 inches wide.  I wanted to make it wider but didn't have enough fabric to make more than 3 strips of 6 inches.  It will be plenty big enough for my husband to stay warm under!

Because my cutting mat is only 24 inches long i would lay my fabric out along the 24 inches and at the end draw a line with my ruler and fabric pencil.  I would then move the fabric to the left side of the mat to line up with the marked line and measure how long I needed to have the piece and then cut.  This has given me very even accurate lengths of fabric.  

First step line up the fabric along the length of your cutting mat. (PS my fabric isn't ironed below sorry! I would always iron before cutting)

Then using your fabric marker and a ruler make a line at the end of the mat (for me it is 24 inches) 

Count (TWICE) to get the desired length and then cut to length needed.  

If any of this is confusing please comment below I will be happy to help clarify!  Does anyone want me to do a giveaway of the purse pattern I made for sewsweetness.com?  Comment below to let me know if you are interested!