beginnerquilter

Hi from Freezing Rain Northern Indiana

Okay I need help...I cut out squares which are 3" inch size squares...my problem is...is that some of them are not even with the other squares...they are just a hair off a bit...how can I get my squares even with the rest of the squares or what should I do or not do...

Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated it...thanks...

I know I need more practice in cutting and my stupid 3" inch square ruler moves every time and I hate that.

:cry:

beginnerquilter

I have three of them sewed together..using the running stitch and sewed by hand...

I forgot to mention that....

katier825

Sounds like you could use something on the underside of the ruler to keep it from slipping. There are a few different things you can do/get. I have clear non-slip dots on mine. They sell a roll of stuff, i forget the name, that you can put underneath. I think it's like a cling or contact paper. I'm sure someone here can come up with the name. I've also heard you can put a few dots of clear nail polish, but haven't tried that one myself. Small pieces of adhesive backed sandpaper can help. I didn't like that though, mine peeled off.

dakotamaid

Could be a couple of things. First of all, make sure you are always using the same line, ie: are you a hair over the line or a hair under the line....... 2nd, you might be cutting too many layers at once or not pushing down firmly enough on the ruler when you slice thru. (Be careful, 5 stitches tell my story!) 3rd, use a ruler than extends over the top and bottom of the fabric you're cutting.

Anyone else have any suggestions, these are the things I would look at.

Scissor Queen

Your problem is using a 3 inch square ruler. Cut a strip 3 inches wide with a long ruler and then turn the strip 90 degrees and cut 3 inch squares from that.

watterstide

besides using the regular ruler, not the the 3" one,
don't move the fabric,
carefully pick up the ruler,
after the first cut,
then turn the cutting mat around,
and cut the rest of the block.

the square rulers,in my use, are used for "squaring" up the block..not for actually cutting the block/fabric.. of course, this is only my opinion..and how i do it.

littlehud

I agree that square rulers are for squaring up. It is tempting to use them to cut but if never worked for me.

Sharon321

The clingy stuff is called Amazing Tape. Love it. Use it to wrap around gift wrap, thread spools and under rulers and templates.

MadQuilter

I agree with the others for cutting 3" strips and then cutting the squares from that. When you cut, are you positioned above the ruler? I noticed that when I sit too low, I don't get enough pressure on the ruler and it tends to slip. It may also help to cut single layers of fabric rather than multiples.

When you say the squares are off by "a hair" is it enough to distort the row, or can the next row pick up the slack? You have a little wiggle room.

beginnerquilter

I have only been cutting in single layers...

the problem with me is that my wrists are weak so I don't have very much strength in my wrist to hold down the ruler and it doesn't matter what size of ruler I use - it is still hard on my wrist to hold a ruler firm enough so it doesn't move. I forgot to mention this in my first post...sorry about that.

I have fractured, smashed my hand, dislocated my right wrist just two years ago due to a fall and it's been broken prior to that lots of times. I am left handed so I always hold the ruler with my right hand and cut with my left. My left wrist is just a tad bit stronger than my right but not very much. I've broken my left wrist several times...I just got my cast off this past year in February off of my left wrist. Thank goodness it was a clean break. My bones break easy too so that is why I can't put too much pressure on my wrists or my fingers. I put as much pressure on my wrist/fingers when I am holding the ruler as much as I can without over doing that.

It is easier for me to hold a 3 inch ruler than a real long one and having to move it twice and keep pressure on it at all times.

I know that if I had stronger wrists than my cutting would be a breeze.

I will try that tape that somebody mentioned on here and see if that will help.

Most of my squares pretty well match up but there are a few that does not match up exactly and they are just a very tiny bit off and I mean tiny.

The cutting is hard for me due to weak wrists and plus I don't have a good long table to work on either...so that is another problem too....I am living in a apartment and right now I don't have a good long table to work on but hopefully soon I will be getting one.

My friend told me that I can go over to her house and use her table to cut on so when I do make my good Table Topper than I will do that and I'll have her help me cut my material for me or somebody from the Quilt Group that I go to.

Thanks for all of your help...I love this board because I can come here and ask a question and you all take time out to reply back...that means so much to me.



:)