Help with best ruler for cutting dark fabrics
 

Happy Thanksgiving ,ladies. I am posting today asking for help in finding a ruler ( preferably 24" x 36" ) that will help in cutting dark fabrics. I am having a hard time seeing the ruler markings on my standard yellow Olfa rulers.( I don't use the mat markings for cutting , but it's green Olfa in case that makes a difference) . The ruler that appears to be the problem. I see different colored ones ,but I was hoping for some feedback on which ones are effective. I don't want to buy another ruler I won't use :)

Is there a brand you like best? I think it's a good time to look for one with the Friday sales coming up.

Thank you and God bless.

I have never seen a ruler 24" X 36".... Are you asking about a cutting mat? I have a 6" X 24" ruler with yellow lines, they show up well on dark fabric. I have a ( table sized- 35" X60") cutting mat which is white with blue lines, purchased at Joanne's when on sale

Creative Grids ruler, you can't go wrong with that ruler using any color of fabric.

Another thing you can do is get some tape and place it on the bottom of the ruler along the line you want to cut. You can easily see the edge of the tape and there's even less of a possibility of a cutting error because you aren't constantly looking for a specific measurement. Put it on the bottom of the ruler for precision if you put it on the top, you may get different size cuts when looking thru the thickness of the ruler. I've used different colors of electrical tape & blue printer's tape. Just remove it immediately to avoid any sticky residue.

When in doubt, go to a store that has the ruler you are thinking about and go lay it on dark fabric. Can you see the lines well enough to be accurate in cutting fabric?

my favorite ruler is fluorescent and laser etched. i picked it up at a quilt show and the seller is no longer in business. but if you google fluorescent quilt rulers, you will find some. the color is easy to see no matter what color the fabric and the laser cut lines are thin, but also easy to see.

Oh! Yes, indeed, you are correct. I did make an error. Evidently my poor vision has now translated into poor typing, too :)

T

Thank you for the replies. I will do as Barb suggested and try out a few with a dark background. They say the best solution is often times the easiest. Not sure why I didn't think of that!

But I do very much appreciate all the feedback.

I like plain black markings like creative grids, but that's just me.

Yes, typing errors do occur more often with poor vision. I am in the same boat as you are. I like the spell check that is on Firefox. But I am still able to cut accurately with my Omnigrip rulers.

My favorite large ruler is the Wrights EZ ruler. It's 6-1/2x24", clear plastic with thin black lines. To me, Omnigrid/Omnigrip rulers are really hard to see through on any fabric. My Wrights ruler gives me no trouble, not even on black fabric (which I use a LOT). I bought it at Joann's. I love it so much I bought a spare!

I also have a large gooseneck lamp that arches over my cutting table with a "daylight" spectrum bulb in it, so I have very bright light that shines directly down on my cutting table. That makes a HUGE difference - even during the day when the room is pretty well-lit naturally, if I switch on that lamp I can see EVERYTHING. And the light comes directly down where I cut, not at an angle, and I think that helps with cutting accuracy too. No shadows being cast an an angle from the cutting lines on the ruler...

Someone else mentioned Creative Grids rulers - those are great rulers too.

Thanks again for all the replies. The ruler size was 6" X 24" . That was the typo from yesterday. I was thinking about quilting and trying to make Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily, I did not stuff the turkey with batting.

I do so much appreciate the opinions.

Sometimes when I am cutting just a few pieces out, I use post-it notes to stick on the top of my ruler. I stick one at both angles so I don't make a mistake. Another place I use them is when I am squaring up a block. They really come in handy and Santa always brings me some!!!!!

Thanks for this great ruler tip. I think I need to have one of these myself!! The Creative Ruler that is.
:D :D :D :D

There is a Glow line tape they had us use in my beginning quilting class that you lay on your fabric and your fabric butts right up to it.

I have used the painters tape and it works very well. You also can use post-it notes on the top, several pieces along your line.

Fat Quarter Shop has the Creative Grids Rulers on sale today.

The first thing I do when working with dark fabric is to refold it and cut it with the back side out. Unless you are cutting black, navy, drk brown, the back side of fabrics are usually lighter than the front side and makes it much easier to see the ruler marks. I use the ordinary olfa rulers.

The idea of using painters tape or sticky notes as a great idea to help make any cutting task easier. Thanks.
peace