tall2

I have an off and on again quilt that I have been working on for some time. I know I'm not a perfect cutter, even thought all the seams line up the block wont lay flat!!! I am working with 4 inch square, into a 9 patch, then re-cutting them to something like a mosic, everyone knows it. I first cut the squares when I was making other quilts and had scraps left over. I put them all in the same area so I would know when to start working on it. That was this past weekend, I sewed several "squares" that were cut with one ruler together, and to my supprize it was wonky? I went back and checked all the squares, acording to one ruler OG, it was out by maybe 1/8- with QS it was perfect?So does that mean QS is wrong--since its my 6 x 24- (my main ruler) the other is a 6 x 6 square. I taped off the 4 x 4 area just to make sure, on both of the rulers? How is this possible? No wonder ppl are having problems with there laying flat of the blocks, and assembley? Now I'm in a pickle for sure because I use both ruler's when I quilt? When there is a 1/2 price sale and it on a paritular brand, I tend to choose the sale item, if thats the one I need. Why isnt there any stander-ziation in quilting? Why do some ppl call the blocks diffrent name, and its the very same block? This is drving me nuts, being that I havent learned all the termology for the quilts or the blocks yet? I did go back and re-cut ALL the squares with one ruler, hopefully you wont have this same problem? Any one else have this same problem, please dont say its me!

momymom

Always use the same brand of ruler for all your cutting. Because of just what you described. Each brand is just a little different from another. It will save you alot of headaches.
It will help you to keep a small note book of what ruler you cut with, needle size, thread, etc, for each project you start. Put the project name at the top of the page, one page for each project.

cattailsquilts

The reason you'd have slightly different measurements is how the manufacturer prints the markings. Different weight inks will give you different measures. I have the same problem with my cutting mats- 3 different manufacturers, so I have to be very careful on how I cut, because the lines are all different weights.

You also need to be careful to always use the same 'side' of the line. For example, I use the Omnigrid rulers that have yellow & black markings. The yellow highlights the black, and is wider, so I have to make sure that I'm always lining up the next cut using the same edge of the yellow marking. If not, by the time I'm done I could be off by 1/8". Make sense?

tall2

Yes, I noticed that, but it still makes me mad that I now have to un-pick and redo the blocks that I've already made with the QS instead of the omidgrid.......(or start over and throw away what I have done until this happend,seems to be the best idea so far). Bet, I watch the next time I cut with one and with whom.....Does that even make since? Thanks Im not so crazy.....

bearisgray

You are not crazy. It seems reasonable to expect that the rulers would "measure" identically. They don't.

I just threw away THREE Quilter's Rule rulers (two 6-1/2 x 24 and one 4-1/2 x 14 inch one) because they were "skimpy" by more than 1/16 inch in the center of all of them. I don't know if they were worn down from use or "off" to begin with.

Do you have any idea how hard that was to trash those rulers? But they were "off"

wvdek

Lordy, I thought she was asking for my measurements! Oh my.

JenniePenny

Goodness, me too!

But thanks for the advice everyone on the rulers and sticking to one brand for each project.

tall2

I think I may as well do that also, I purchase the ones on sale most of the time, but now I guess I will have to more picky and keep with one brand. I descided to trash the 12-15 blocks, it was easier than taking them apart and re-square them.... Sorry didnt mean to be a putz, learning the hard way hurts.....pride and pocket book.

bearisgray

think of it as doing homework in school - remember doing math assignments?

I don't think many of us feel bad/sad about dumping all that practice work.

Wonder why we get so upset when we dump a practice piece that was a "learning experience"?

(Maybe because it's OUR dime, instead of our parents' dime?

lab fairy

This is one of the reasons I have to calibrate every instrument in my lab. Even if something has a marking that says a certain measurement. Depending on the size of the instrument the precision and accuracy can go out the window.

I know, I'm a little goofy but I actually have "calibrated" my rulers and noted whether or not they agree and how much they differ. I don't necessarily get rid of a ruler because I might have an 18 1/2 in square ruler that will square 18 1/2 inches well but the markings inside are inacurate. I have found that switching brands in a project does make a difference. The lines on Omnigrid rulers are pretty fat but Creative Grid ones are very fine.