Did You Know.....Not All Rulers are Created Equal?
08-03-2011, 08:33 AM
#1
Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: S. Dakota
Posts: 512
A recent thread on rulers reminded me that if you are shopping for a new rotary cutting ruler, look carefully at the lines on it. Some rulers have lines that are rather thick. That can make a huge difference in how accurately your blocks turn out.
I had a beginning quilting student and no matter how hard she tried, she could not get her blocks to turn out the size they were supposed to. We finally realized that the ruler she was using had lines that were about 1/16" of an inch wide. When she lined up the fabric on the edge of that line, each of her pieces was coming out 1/16" short. That might not seem like a lot, but that adds up to 1/8" for each seam, and if there were 4 seams across the block, that would add up to 1/2" short!!!!
Moral of the story - if accuracy is important to you, when shopping for a new ruler, look for one with the thinnest lines possible. And always use the same ruler to cut all the pieces for a project.
I had a beginning quilting student and no matter how hard she tried, she could not get her blocks to turn out the size they were supposed to. We finally realized that the ruler she was using had lines that were about 1/16" of an inch wide. When she lined up the fabric on the edge of that line, each of her pieces was coming out 1/16" short. That might not seem like a lot, but that adds up to 1/8" for each seam, and if there were 4 seams across the block, that would add up to 1/2" short!!!!
Moral of the story - if accuracy is important to you, when shopping for a new ruler, look for one with the thinnest lines possible. And always use the same ruler to cut all the pieces for a project.
08-03-2011, 08:37 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
Great advice!! I learned this when I started quilting...use the same tools throughout your project. Even if your measurements come out a little over or under, at least all your piecing will be the same over/under, and your quilt will look right and easier to put together.
08-03-2011, 09:14 AM
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: greater NorthEast
Posts: 3,004
it's not only the ruler...when you line up your fabric with the line on the ruler, you must make sure you are consistent
{on WHERE you line the fabric up with the line on the ruler}
this makes a HUGE difference!
{on WHERE you line the fabric up with the line on the ruler}
this makes a HUGE difference!
08-03-2011, 09:25 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 460
Originally Posted by amma
Interchanging brands of rulers can cause a problem too...
I try and stick to the same brand throughout a project :D:D:D
I try and stick to the same brand throughout a project :D:D:D
Only complaint with Olfa is that some rulers have 1/2 inch allowance added on the end and some don't so you have to pay attention.
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