I have been reading posts for the past several hours on specialty rulers and on the Alto's Quilt Cut system. And I now feel like this
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I would like to start making more intricate blocks (intricate for me would be advancing into using quarter and half square triangles, flying geese). The whole 7/8" inch math thing worries me. Along with trying to cut strips or shapes with an odd measurement. Love how easy it looks to cut with the Alto's Quilt Cut. Don't love the price. If I use the product and it makes things easier - then I can get okay with it. But to spend that and find that I don't use it - don't want that.
But then I started thinking that for the price of the quilt cut - I could buy a heck of a lot of rulers. I like the look of the Square in a Square rulers by Jodi Barrows. Is it really that easy??
Also looking at some of the Eleanor Burns rulers. Found several June Tailor rulers (I have a Shape Cut - my go to ruler for cutting strips). Found one with 1/4" slots - really like that!! But almost $50. She has one for making quarter and half square triangles. Looks interesting.
Also, I don't have a square up ruler (still looking at Eleanor Burns site). Thinking one of those would be very helpful. Not really sure how they are used. Sort of an idea, but read somewhere that you can square up HST's with one cut. Like just having one cut, though I am not picturing how it is done. Also really liked these template I found for a quilt pattern I have that I like (from Marti Mitchell, Set T templates -
http://www.frommarti.com/set_t.shtml)
Just buying a few of these specialty rulers can take me easily up to the cost of the Alto's Quilt Cut 2. So am now stuck. What is more useable? Before I jump in to a purchase, I want to make sure I can use the product more than once.
And now I am just confused. What say you? What do you find more versatile? I know that one does not have to have different specialty rulers for quilting - for me it is a matter of making things easier/more accurate. I can't spend endlessly on them - but adding a new tool here and there that makes it all more enjoyable - that I can do. And if I find I can do endless things with a more expensive tool (such as the Quilt Cut) - I am ready to consider. Without experience with either - not sure which would be most beneficial. Thoughts from those of you who have used specialty rulers and/or a cutting system like Alto's?