QuiltnNan

I've been working on 3 Dear Janes in the Block of the Month http://www.quiltingboard.com/blocks-...n-t175669.html
Today, I went to Ace Hardware to have my custom tri ruler made. My tri's are 8.75" instead of 8". I took the original ruler and one of my printed blocks with the 1/4" seam allowance drawn on it. I also asked him to cut off the tips. It took him about 5 minutes and cost $4. After taking the picture, I decided that lines on the ruler would be nice. I've had a tool in my desk drawer for about 20 years that I've never really used. It's for scratching your name into your expensive metal/plastic electronics in case of theft. It has a very sharp point. A couple lines went crooked and I rescratched, but it turned out great. I did the seam allowances and the center line, which are the ones I've seemed to be using so far.

So if you need a custom ruler, they really are not that expensive!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]315150[/ATTACH]

sewmary

What did your handy Ace man cut the ruler out of?

QuiltnNan

he called it plexiglass

SuzyQ

Interesting ... I never knew they would cut something like that. Thanks!

Suzy

QuiltE

For those that are wondering ... plexiglass is the same material as the acrylic/plastic quilting rulers that we purchase.
Just the difference of brand names .... like kleenex and tissues!

I've had many templates done at my local glass shop ... same results as QuiltNNan ... low cost!
Even odd shapes, like the Apple Core.
I just take them the pattern of what I want and they do it for me ... and have always been accurate!
They need to be if they're cutting glass!!

QuiltnNan

wow, QuiltE, i would never think to take them something like an apple core. thanks

SueSew

How thick is the plexiglass?

QuiltE

That was the first one that I had done ... and they said no problem!
I just couldn't fathom trying to cut them out using the thin template plastic ... I knew they would not be cut even and I'd probably cut my fingers as well!!!! ...... I then layered my fabrics several thicknesses, and zipped around that template in no time with a small rotary cutter. Smooth as can be!

Another hint ... you can have them drill holes into the pieces for you, for hanging on nails, or in my case, a set of ten pieces for a house pattern, then I was able to tie them all together as I knew it was risky to lose one piece, and not so likely the whole bunch would disappear if all together!


SueSew ... Plexiglass comes in different thicknesses. I just use the same as the rulers that we purchase.

Pam1111

Just thinks ladies... now we can bring some quilting business to the local Ace Hardware store in our community!!!!

gollytwo

I've been having shapes cut by my local glass guy for years. I get somewhere between an 1/8"-1/4" thickness of plexiglass. He's done a great job on all straight line shapes; tried but couldn't do curves accurately.