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I never use the lines on the mat.I have been quilting for over 35 years and now use the Go cutter which is accurate.
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I always do this with large pieces. Smaller pieces the width of the ruler, I follow the ruler lines. Small square pieces, I use a square block ruler that size to block. Not everyone has these to fit the size of their required block. I've collected a few as the years went by.
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I had always used my mat and a friend told me that's not the right way to do it - she indicated the lines weren't as reliable as a ruler (or maybe she had been taught that way). I haven't had any accuracy problems using my mat, so continue to mostly use my mat anyway. Sometimes I use my ruler, whatever is most convenient.
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I'm fairly new to quilting & I think I use my ruler more as a straight edge to the lines on the cutting mat. Wish I knew someone that could come over & show me how to use the ruler for other cuttings.
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Originally Posted by mom-6
Sometimes I will use the lines on the mat and sometimes I'll use only the lines on the ruler. If it is a measurement wider than my ruler that's the only way it can be done! For the ones that are within the ruler's width I usually don't bother with also lining it up with the lines on the mat.
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I do not use the lines on the cutting mat as some of them may be off. I only use my ruler for cutting.
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I use it so guilty as charged. :)
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Originally Posted by mom-6
Sometimes I will use the lines on the mat and sometimes I'll use only the lines on the ruler. If it is a measurement wider than my ruler that's the only way it can be done! For the ones that are within the ruler's width I usually don't bother with also lining it up with the lines on the mat.
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If my ruler isn't wide enough, I use two and butt them together. Rarely do I use the mat lines. I don't think they are as accurate as a ruler.
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I have always used just the markings on my ruler or rulers, and make sure that my rulers are the same brand. I have heard stories about people using two different brands of rulers for a cutting project and then end up with them not being the exact same measurement and the quilt top wasn't right. I think the same goes for using a mat with lines for measurements. I may use the lines to make sure that the fabric is laying straight, but as far as cutting using the mat instead of the ruler for measurements, no, I don't do that. My first mat was a long time ago, and it didn't have lines on it, so I didn't get used to using them to begin with. I guess I'm telling my age here, old, but I believe that for me anyway, I'll stick with using the rulers as my measurement in cutting fabric. :)
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Always done it that way. I have tried not to use the cutting mat lines, but feel lost. Of course I am a bit OCD!
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That is how I was taught and I have not had a problem with matching lines. I do on occasion use the ruler too...just depends
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Originally Posted by nursie76
Ok...so I just watched the first 2 segments of the new Quilty show on QNN TV. It features Mary Ann Fons daughter, Mary. Quick little show for newbies. In the second episode she teaches a friend how to use a rotary cutter, teaching her to line up the ruler with the grid lines on the cutting mat.
SO...now I am wondering if I have been doing it wrong (or harder, or less precise) all along? I was taught to use my ruler for this. However, she was cutting 2" squares by placing the bottom straightened edge of the fabric on the left/right (horizontal) line of the mat and then lining up the ruler with the correct north/south (vertical) line on the mat and then using the ruler as the straight edge, cutting. Do any of you do it this way? Is it more or less precise? Inquiring minds want to know.... |
Just to have the fabric straight, not to measure.
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I use the limes on my cutting mat ONLY to be sure that my fabric is straight on the mat. I use my ruler for the size I am cutting.
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I use the lines on the mat and ruler all the time. I make sure the lines on the ruler are in snyc with the lines on the mat and that my fabric is straight on the line on the mat and then cut. Can't imaging not using the lines on the mat.
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I check my ruler against my mat to see if they are the same. If you swap rulers or mats there may be a chance they don't match. I think that is why some teachers tell you not to use the lines on the mat. Just check them out.
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I always use the lines on the mat, line up the fabric and ruler with those lines and cut
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Always, always the ruler.
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Originally Posted by Quilter7x
I use the lines on the mat and ruler all the time. I make sure the lines on the ruler are in snyc with the lines on the mat and that my fabric is straight on the line on the mat and then cut. Can't imaging not using the lines on the mat.
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I was told by my friend that had owned a quilt shop to never use the lines on the mat - they're innacurate. She said to always use the lines on the rulers. That's what I do now and my piecing is much more accurate!!!
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I only use the lines as a general guideline to keep things straight, but my ruler/ templates are what I follow & ALWAYS use the same ruler during a project, to ensure things are exactly the same. Believe me, they're not all even! If I have to change rulers (too long or short) in the middle of my project, then I double check it against the one I was using before. The only time I would rely on the mat lines is if it's a quick project w/ a lot of room for error.
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Originally Posted by mom-6
Sometimes I will use the lines on the mat and sometimes I'll use only the lines on the ruler. If it is a measurement wider than my ruler that's the only way it can be done! For the ones that are within the ruler's width I usually don't bother with also lining it up with the lines on the mat.
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I use the line on the mat to lay my fabric straight, then use the ruler to measure my cuts. I try to use the same ruler for all the cuts. I really, really love the June Tailor Shape Cutter ruler, then I don't have to use any other lines.
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The only time I use the lines on the mat is when I am squaring up the edge of my fabric to begin cutting. I always use my ruler for any other cutting.
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I use the ruler. Have never used the lines on the mat to line up. Never had any problems.
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Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I use the lines on the mat, but the lines on my ruler do match it. I line the fabric up on the mat, place the ruler on the fabric and match ruler lines to mat lines.
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I never used the lines on the mat till I watched Ricky Timms. He's so about making it fast and simple! If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.
But truthfully, I use my ruler more than the lines and along with the lines. Old habits... |
My mat doesn't have lines on the side I use, and they're metric on the other side which only confuses me! I've only ever used my rulers.
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I never use the mat for measuring.
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I use the lines on the mat to square for a clean edge then I use the lines on my ruler. I do however also line the bottom edge of the fabric on one line so that I have an even fabric edge.
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Originally Posted by amandasgramma
I do on anything that has to be cut more than the width of my ruler.....how else would you do it??
You can use two rulers butted up together. eg. 8 in strip, use your 6 in ruler with another ruler lined up on the 2 in mark. It's hard to describe, but it works well. |
This is the only way I was taught to do it and it has always worked.
Originally Posted by Lacelady
I have always done it this way - lining up my fabric on the mat, then putting my ruler over all of the fabric except the part I want to cut away, aligning it with the markings on the mat.
I read all the reasons why I should put my ruler on the piece I wanted to cut off, and it never made any sense to me, especially if I wanted to only cut off a small piece. |
I use the mats markings
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That's really weird that she would do that, on any of the fons and porter shows, they always line up the ruler, not the mat
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I mostly use the mat grid lines, but occasionally I use the ruler. I think the rule is Use one or the other for the entire quilt. Don't cut part by the mat and part by the ruler.
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half and half
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I have to use both! I haven't been quilting long enough to "take a chance"!
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I have used both but it should be noted that what one begins doing at the start of the project (using the mat for instance to measure) should be maintained throughout the project because if you interchange mat and ruler or rulers then it is likely you will find a difference and develop a few headaches along the way as well.
Been there done that won't do it again :oops: |
I use the lines on the mat.
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