Last night I was cutting some 4" squares for the star ornaments I'm making. I cut my strips with a June Tailor 6" x24" ruler, then used the Olffia 6.5" square to cut the 4 inch squares. Every time the width of the long strip kept coming up 1/8 or so short of 4". Finally, I got smart and checked the June Tailor against the other, and sure enough, the June Tailor is a hair off 4" when using the 4" line.

I can overcome the problem The squares don't have to match each other, I just need to be able to fold them into near perfect triangles. Got some trimming to do.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Really, I will have to keep an eye out when I use my June Taylor ruler next time...thanks for the heads up... :thumbup:

I have found issues like this when I bounce between different brands of rulers. I pick one brand, and stick with it throughout the project now. It is not just this one particular ruler :wink: :D:D:D

I've worn the lines off my oliffa 5" x 24" ruler which is why I had the June Tailor one. I love the older one one but couldn't follow the lines anymore. What I really need is a fine point magic marker to redraw my lines

OR BUY A NEW RULER.

The June Tailor is the ruler that has slits to run your rotary cutter down to help cut accurately. I wonder if when cutting the slits the ruler lost that tad of plastic resulting in the size being a bit off.

If you use the same brand for your other rules, it may not make a difference. I was switching between brands.

This was recommended to me years ago...has not failed me yet.

I have often thought that when matching the lines on ruler to the lines on the cutting mat too. Sometimes it seems like they are off a tad.

I haven't checked my June Tailor things -

but in thinking about how I cut my strips with a ruler - they are almost always a smidgen larger than what I'm supposedly measuring.

Example: I put the desired ruler line on the edge of the fabric - then cut - there is a tiny space between the edge of the ruler and the rotary blade. It might only be 1/64 of an inch or so - but it does eventually make a difference.

oh i know that is frustrating. one good reason to use all the same brand rulers for one project.

I learned over the years to try to buy the same brand of rulers so they match, except for specialty rulers, which I have never used.

I also don't line up my fabric on cutting mats. I use the double ruler method and most of the time it works out well
peace :D

I learned early on to find a brand and stick with it. I put my others away so I wouldn't accidentally pick up the wrong one.

This time I didn't use my mat to check sizes. Might have made a difference

Sorry you'll have to trim them. It's frustrating when they're off by such a little amount!

thanks great idea

I did that once, one ruler is 6.5 wide and the other is 6, what a difference that 1/2 inch can make. have put the 6.5 one away so I really have to search for it and hopefully will remember the next time I use it.

Don't you just hate that?!!! I use the same 3 rulers for all my projects. I use my 6 1/2" x 24" as much as I can. If I need more than 6 1/2" I use the same additional ruler, etc.

What project are you working on? :)

Something I learned when I began teaching quiltmaking;
stay with one brand of rulers for your quilt as some are off just a bit. Sorry you're finding this out the hard way.

one of my stupider moves was that one time I used blue painters tape to mark off 5" square on a bigger square ruler. Instead of using the 5 x5 square I'd blocked off, I used the 4 1/2 inch square formed on the opposite corner for a few blocks. Couldn't understand why some blocks were a hair off. NOW if I mark ff squares on a bigger ruler, I use a bit of blue tape to put an X in the corner I'm not using. LIVE AND LEARN!

Thank heavens it on a project like individual squares for the quilted stars ornaments, if one square folded into a triangle is a tad off, the other squares don't care. Just got to do a bit of trimming.

You could have used the June Tailor mat to cut the strips into 4" squares. Just turn it sideways on a strip. At least that way they would have actually come out square.

I just checked my JT slotted ruler. It's perfect at 4" with every ruler I have except the 6" square Omnigrid. My others are Simplicity, Omnigrid and June Tailor. What ruler am I using on this quilt to square up blocks cut with the slotted ruler? You guessed it - the 6" Omnigrid. Oh, well. As long I stay consistant with my square up ruler, I'm okay.

With my arthur it's easier for me to move the strip and the little ruler than to lay things out on the mat. But that is a good idea

I stick with the same ruler for any project because of the same reason.

Would you mind showing a pic of the star ornaments and directions? I love to make ornaments and make different ones every year.

judyjo

Thanks for all the tips on rulers and mats. I need to check all of mine. I use the June Taylor strip rulers fairly often. I purchased it at a garage sale years ago and just love it.

Someone on this board showed the star ornaments they made last winter from scraps. I VERY recently copied her pics and put them on here. I don't track links well. Maybe I can find it.

I had copied it for Honeybee, so I think the subject line was
"Honeybee...star ornaments" Probably not more than a week ago or so.

Directions are simple. Cut 3 each 4" squares from scrap--coordinate to some extent. Back each with fusible interfacing or something similar to stiffen a bit. I'm using various and assorted scraps of interfacing from my stash.

Fold square into a triangle and blanket stitch the two open sides by hand or by machine. Find or cut a 5 point star shape to use as your lay out template. Lay one triangle along one straight side, then the next and then the next. Pin or tack or sew or put a button in the center. Two of the triangle points will overlap. Use that point to sew in a hanger.

JudyJo, I just found the link and wrote a note to you on the last post. Title is "Honeybee..star pic"

THIS IS NO MY PIC. It's one I copied from this board. I don't have but one of my own COMPLETE!

Never came acroos this problem but sure glad that my rulers are all the same brand (exception:special ones for special projects !!!!)

I use the OMNIGRID...... and have had no problems.

I stick with one brand.

I also read that you should use the same brand of rulers for a project.

sorry for your extra work!! i was taught to use the same ruler for all measureing so i only use the omni's for cutting....never had a problem...

This is why they say to use the rulers by the same manufacturers. This should not happen but it does. It is frustrating

Hence the importance of using the same ruler throughout a project! I've had similar issues. Sometimes it's impossible if we've bought different brands over the years and you have a large block to square up.

When I first started quilting, I used two different brands of rulers (didn't know there was a difference). No matter how hard I tried my corners and seams would not match exactly and I was getting very frustrated. Then I was told to use only one brand of ruler. Started doing that...presto!!!!! my corners and seams started matching. It's amazing how that fraction of a quarter inch can make a difference. I am using the June Taylor rulers.

So THAT'S why my fabric pieces are sometimes a little bit off! Thanks for the post & advice.

I found I have the same problem with the June Tailor slotted rule so I seldom use it. Really disappointing as I thought I'd love it.

I feel your pain and frustration. I've never actually measured my rulers against one another, but one quilting teacher years ago told me to always use the same ruler when cutting, as there could be a slight difference. I guess that's like making sure that when you are quilting that you use the same machine when piecing, as every 1/4" is not the same, depending on the machine. Look forward to seeing the finished quilt.

I actually had the same issue w/plastic tape measures. The one from Germany was actually off by about 1/16" but the one from China was perfect. When I get any new rulers I double check there accuracy prior to opening the package, if they aren't correct I'll take them back. Fortunately the only issues I've had so far have been w/the German tape measures.

Marie

Not only that, but I try to use the same RULER throughout the project. It can be cumbersone, but it helps with acurracy.