Back To The Basics--Have I Been Cutting My Fabric. backwards???
 

After watching several quilting tutorials, I am now wondering if I am not cutting properly! To square off my fabric, I place the ruler along the right edge of the fabric and trim along one of the vertical lines on my mat. Then to cut the first strip, I simply slide the ruler to the left and cut the width strip I want using the mat lines to figure the strip width. So I am cutting on the right side of the ruler and my strip is NOT under the ruler. In many of the videos I watched, the teacher squared the fabric like me but then flipped the fabric over so the newly squared edge is now on the left side of the mat and moves the ruler so that the strip to be cut is UNDER the ruler using the lines on the ruler to get the proper width and then cuts along the right side of the ruler. Does it really make a difference? I seem to get accurate cuts but now I am wondering......?

I trim the left side and then use the ruler to make my cuts. (I can cut the left side left-handed & then switch to my right hand.) I do not use the mat lines to cut.

Everyone does it differently. I have done it and was taught both ways, and truly as you pointed out, as long as your cuts are accurate, you should not have any problems.
Happy quilting,
Susan

I cut to the right of my ruler and my fabric bulk is to my right. There are no quilt police so use whatever cutting method works for you. It is often hard to teach old dogs new tricks so it cutting to te left works for you Go Fot IT!!!!

As long a you are cutting accurately it really does not matter.

if when your done your fabric squares are truly the size you wanted then what the heck who cares? I use the omnigrid ruler not the mat lines but to each his own. I think there really are no quilt police :) so your probably safe but maybe keep your curtains closed and the front door locked while your cutting just in case.

I just got the slideblocs and I love them. They aren't a ruler, but hold the fabric down via little dots that come down when you hold the handle on the slidebloc down. That's done on the right side - then the ruler is slipped over the right edge and you butt the slidebloc up to it and cut. Wonders of wonders, it is wonderful!!!

that's the long and short of it.

Jeanne S., I cut like you do. I think I get more accurate cuts this way. I'm right handed.

The theory is, if you are not steady with your cutter, then having the 'target' strip under the ruler protects it. If your cut is off, your piece will be cut a bit larger, so you can trim it down to the correct size.
As everyone else said, there are no quilt police, so if you are happy with your cuts, you are doing it correctly!

Does your piecing indicate you are getting accurate cuts?

I used to use my mat as a measurement, no more. I was not getting accurate cuts. I now use a two ruler method. The ruler on the left is my "cutting line" ruler. I use a "measuring ruler" on the right to measure from the edge of the fabric to the amount I want to cut - place my "cutting ruler" along the left edge of the "measuring ruler" - remove the "measuring ruler" and cut along the right edge of the "cutting ruler".

A lot of the quilts I make use small pieces. The smaller the piece, the more accuracy required (I can't ease in a 1/4" on a 1" piece, but I can easily ease in 1/4" on a 12" piece).

As others have said, there are no quilt police, so if this method works for you, then keep doing it that way. The only downside that I can see, is when the top side of your mat with the lines, wears out, you won't have the lines on the back side of the mat to use for measuring. And since the back side is perfectly usable, why not? Might then have to get used to measuring/cutting differently. Just don't start that process in the middle of a quilt. You want to use the same measuring tools/process throughout the construction process.

For me it depends on the width of the strip I'm cutting. If it is 6" or less (the width of my 24" ruler) I have the cut edge of the fabric under my ruler at the line on the ruler for the width of my strip and cut on the right hand side of the ruler. If I'm cutting a wider strip (8" for instance) then I line up my fabric with the "0" edge line on the mat then line up the edge of my ruler at the desired width mark on the mat. And once again cut on the right hand side of my ruler.
This seems to work well for me.
Do whatever works well for you and doesn't feel awkward.

As long as you are accurate and are cutting SAFELY, the final results are all that counts !!

Where do you find these slide blocs?

I do it as you do except when I'm cutting from a narrow piece of fabric. For example, if I am cutting a two and a half inch strip from a four inch strip, I turn it so the two and a half is under my ruler. Skinny strips move sometimes. If it works for you--I say do it as you have been. :)

Gads, I don't think about it much. I have a cutting cart/station that I can literally walk around. I can easily cut material without having to move it or use a rotating mat. I do have my measured strip underneath my ruler so that I accurately cut it from the rest of the material.

I do it the same way you do, except that instead of using the mat to give me proper width measuring, I use a second ruler and put it over the material to the right just to make sure it's proper width. Then I move that second ruler away before I do the cutting. It works for me and gives me accurate cuts. I suggest it only if your cuts aren't accurate enough to suit you. Just make sure both rulers used are the same brand and have the same kind of lines for measuring, because two different rulers can make the cuts inaccurate. That said, if your method works for you, I wouldn't change it. We all have different ways of accomplishing the same thing, and all that matters is that it works.

You're doing it "right". The bulk of your fabric is under or behind (to the left) of the ruler. Only the strip you are cutting is "exposed". All it does is anyway is keep you from whacking up more of your fabric if you you slip with your rotary cutter. Whatever works.

Ditto on everything for me.

If you end up with the square you expect and all your fingers intact then it doesn't matter how you get there.

Which ever works for you is the best way...

Either way works. Just be sure you cut all of your strips using either the lines on the ruler, or the lines on the mat. They are not always the same.

I was using my mat lines to measure my pieces and then I read on the Board not to do that. I went to my cutting board and measured the lines with my metal ruler and found that the lines on my mat are not all one inch. From now on I will not use my mat for measuring my strips.

I use the lines on my ruler, even for the first cut. I lay all the fabric to the right, lay the ruler on so that the first strip would be completely under the ruler at the correct distance, a little wider than needed. That first strip is not usually completely straight on the left side. Cut that off and flip it over; put the ruler back on that piece and cut off the extra from the edge.
That way the large piece of fabric is always on the right and doesn't have to be flipped over. You just flip the first strip to cut off crooked edges. I stand the ruler up on edge and bump it up to the cut strip to be sure the strip is straight, or line it up to a line on the ruler.

If it works for you, don't worry about it!!!

I cut the way you do, but to square it first make sure you edges are straight not just the ends.

This was how I was taught and have always done it this way...doesn't mean this way is the RIGHT or ONLY way!!

If you are getting accurate cuts it doesn't matter. I used to use the lines on my mat and found I was getting off cuts so I only use my ruler now and it is much better for accuracy. Being a mile high I have to be careful 'cause the air is thin and the fabric wants to float above the cutting mat. You believe that, right?

I just use the mat lines to help line things up but not to square up.

I also use my slide lock rulers and they are great. You cut on the right and the fabric never slips

Use the method that works best for you. It shouldn't matter what other people do. The thing to remember is that you are comfortable cutting the way you cut and trying something new may be okay, but if it doesn't feel right and work well for you, go back to what you have always done.

Thanks for a good laugh, needed it this week.

I always line my fabric on a mat line and measure width with ruler for either side. Originally I also checked measurement on the mat as well as ruler but told very sharply this wS wrong.

I LOVE my SlideLock tools! I had to completely change the way I cut to use them but it was worth it. These tools are pricey but after buying the long one last year at Road 2 CA, I bought the shorter one this year. You use them with the rulers you already have. I am taking more time now when I use them to do my cutting BUT my confidence and my accuracy have improved tremendously. With the price of fabric continuing to rise, I figure I need to "take the time to get it right the first time".

If your system works for you, keep using it. If you watch even a few tutorials you find very quickly that even those who teach have their preferred ways. I see so many who say to never use the lines on the mat, but it works for me, so if what I am measuring is more than 5.5 inches, I use the mat lines (Olfa mat). I just make sure that I canter the lines on the ruler with the appropriate line on the mat. One thing I feel is very important is to use a long ruler even to cut smaller units and be sure to keep the length of the line true the full length of the mat and ruler. I do try to keep the bulk of my unit under the ruler as I cut because I think it keeps it from the possibility of slipping.

You do whatever works for you. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

If you are getting accurate piecing from your fabric cuts, I would not worry about how you cut your fabric. There is always more than one way to do something, if it's working, I wouldn't worry too much about it.