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Originally Posted by Up North
Ok so I had a duh moment!! You are right! Will I be forgiven?
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I line my ruler up with the markings on the mat (look at top & bottom) before cutting. I think that puts the rotary cutter in the center of the cutting line. I put the squared up edge under the ruler & measure with the ruler
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I really like to use a Gingher ruler and a Gingher or Fiskars mat. The lines are thinner and I think it is easier to get accuracy. If you can't do that, try lining up your fabric at the line, place your ruler where you want to cut. Then before cutting, get a small ruler (I use the one with the slidey thing in it) and check the measurement from the edge of the fabric to the edge of the placed ruler. If that jives with what you are after, then make sure when you cut that you hold the rotary cutter in a straight up and down position relative to the edge of the ruler.
Another trick -- after you have your ruler placed is to see if the quarter inch and eighth inch marks on your ruler match up at the top of the mat and at the bottom of the mat. These lines are usually thinner on the ruler and on the mat and can help in accurate placement. Again, as others have said, whatever method you use, be consistant. |
Oh, another thing -- check your ruler with another ruler. I actually have one that has a little more than 1/16th extra width in the first quarter inch. It drives me crazy!
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
Originally Posted by kapatt
I just wanted to add that when you sew on your quilt, you should first do a test-strip to make sure that your settings on your sewing machine, your cutting and your pressing are accurate. To do that, you should cut two or three pieces of strips equal width, sew them together and then press them. See if the test strips come out at the right width. If they don't, then make the adjustments you need to make so that they are accurate.
Example...take three 2" strips and sew them side-by-side. After ironing they should measure out to 5 1/2 inches wide. Because of all of life's happenings, it can take me forever to finish a quilt. I make periodic test-strips throughout my quilt making process just because the settings can be messed with or changed without me realizing it. |
To be honest, I really wish my piecing was accurate enough that a thicker line on a cutting mat made a difference! I try to be very accurate, but 1/16th of an inch either way is rounding up or down to me.
Maybe my inconsistencies are consistent? |
Cut three strips
Sew them together Press them Measure them and see what you get Make adjustments if necessary |
I never use the lines on the mat, except to get the fabric basically square to begin with. I cut a straight edge, then use my rulers. If the piece you are cutting is wider than the ruler you are working with - use two rulers. My 12 1/2" square comes in really handy for this. I line up the cut edge to the little spaces in the ruler markings ( at the inch marks). Works for me! Consistency......
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See...this is just why I haven't been successful. No matter how much (I thought) I was doing it right/the same way, my squares were never consistant. I am certified math handicapped. Perhaps I really should take lessons instead of "winging it"
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I can cut ok, it's my sewing that gets screwy. I made yellow brick road blocks and I used the "shape cutter". It's a large square thing with 1/2" slots for cutting, it worked amazingly well. There is a smaller one with 1/4" slots too. I just stacked a couple layers of fabric, trimed and away I went. Depending on the width of the strip you can cut several before moving the ruler. Give it a try on old scraps.
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