Most rulers have an 'eighth' 'tick' after each of the 1/4 inch markings on them. Unlike the 1//4 inch marking, It is not usually drawn across the ruler. Good thing for me because all those lines would make me crazy!
I have double vision and sometimes the lines on the rulers kind of merge together when I'm trying to cut. I worked out a way that helps me overcome that might be useful for you with your beginning sewer.
By the way, the written out process looks long and difficult, but it's actually easy after the first couple of times. It definitely helps me with cutting straight.
Here we go!
1) Make sure the end of the fabric where you will begin cutting is straight.
2) Find the 4 and 7/8 'tick' for the length of the ruler. (While I say 'for the length of the ruler', this mark is actually made on the 4 and 7/8 mark on the width of the ruler.)
3) Put a piece of painters tape across the length of the ruler at the 4 and 7/8 point to mark the exact cut line you need to make for the strip.
When I do this, I line the tape up so that the bulk of the piece of tape is inside the 4 & 7/8th marking. If you have 1" wide painters tape, that means the inside edge (the edge you don't use to cut) of the painters tape is at the 3 & 7/8th mark on the ruler.
Note: you can also mark the 4 & 7/8 line on the cutting mat, but it is much easier to remove from the ruler. If you put it on the cutting mat, you may cut the painters tape in little slices and then you have a heck of a time taking them off. Yes, I learned that the hard way.
4) Line the end of the fabric up with the 4 & 7/8 marking and cut the strip.
Note: This assumes that you put the unmarked edge of the ruler over the fabric and slide it up so that the edge of the fabric lines up with the 4 & 7/8 painters tape mark, then cut at the unmarked end of the ruler.
5) After you have cut the strip:
Mark the ruler with another piece of painters tape at the 4 and 7/8 mark of the length of the ruler to cut the individual blocks. (You will cut the individual blocks using the edge of the width of the ruler.) Again, I put the bulk of the tape inside (to the left) of the cut mark.
You can do this before you cut the strip, as well. It might even be better to do it before cutting the strip because it acts as a visual clue to help you position the ruler correctly on the fabric before you cut the strip.
You'll always know, just by looking, which way to position the ruler to cut the strip.
Now you should have a 4 and 7/8" square block marked on the ruler.
Use this mark to cut the individual blocks.
Note: Again, this assumes that you put the unmarked edge of the ruler over the fabric and slide it up so that the end of the fabric lines up with the 4 & 7/8 painters tape mark, then cut at the unmarked end of the ruler.
I hope this helps!