mawmawbeve_60

Yes, I use the lines on the mat for the fabric, but use my rulers to make accurate cuts....and I use 2 rulers for that..one length ways and and horizotal...measure both ways top ,.bottom and middle...and seen your From Charleston WV..I Live In Wayne county WV...good meeting a fellow WVirginian.....lol

bearisgray

I've learned to check rulers with other rulers. And the grids on cutting mats and the grids on ironing board surfaces.

Graph paper is also sometimes "off" and I check/measure it both ways before I will use it for a pattern/template.

chamby

DITTO

Judie

Don't use the lines on the mat.. use the lines on your ruler.. they are much more accurate.. I have used the mat lines a few time for pieces that were too wide for my ruler.. but hardly ever.. jut too hard to get what you want!! Turn the mat over and forget the lines!

grayladym

If you use the "wrong" side of your cutting mat, the side without the lines, you'll find instant improvement. Rely on your ruler(s) alone, you'll have fewer problems. I have always known this, but if using the ruled side, I invariably start to follow the mat lines. It will cause me problems every time.

grayladym, Missouri

pegquilter8

I agree, use your rulers. Also use the same brand of rulers for each project. The makers of each brand mark electronically and same brand made to work with same brand----for most accurate cuts. I do not use the lines on mats.
I use my rulers to square cutting from R to L if L hand, or L to R if R handed. Hope this helps. Been teaching for 22 years now and this is how I always teach my new quilters.
Hope all this helps

Annya

Early this year an instructor came to show us how to use our quilting tools and she said that every company has their own way to mark the rulers and that we should all have rulers from the same company. BUT you must check and make sure the lines are all the right distance apart and that the lines are straight. She told us of one lady in a class she was teaching who was having problems,so the teacher checked the new ruler(Bought for this class) and found the lines on the ruler were all over the place hence the problems. With this I like to let EVERYONE know the story and ask you 2 things. Make sure all the rulers are from the same place and check to see if they are measuring the same and and are straight.

Annya

Early this year an instructor came to show us how to use our quilting tools and she said that every company has their own way to mark the rulers and that we should all have rulers from the same company. BUT you must check and make sure the lines are all the right distance apart and that the lines are straight. She told us of one lady in a class she was teaching who was having problems,so the teacher checked the new ruler(Bought for this class) and found the lines on the ruler were all over the place hence the problems. With this I like to let EVERYONE know the story and ask you 2 things. Make sure all the rulers are from the same place and check to see if they are measuring the same and and are straight. Also the rulers with the THINNER lines are the best.