Shortcuts before basics?.. 4 7/8 inch block
 

I'm teaching a beginner quilter- one who has never used the rotary cutter.

A basic 12 inch churn dash block direction calls for one to cut a 4 7/8 strip then subcut a 4 7/8 block ( for half square part). Same directions for any basic block with a half square. Now how the heck do you teach this when no ruler has a 7/8 inch mark??

I really hate to teach shortcuts before basics.

All of my rulers have 7/8" marks!

I have several different brands of rulers ... all have 1/8" markings.


I understand your thought of teaching basics.

However, is it a shortcut when you cut a 5", and then after sewing, learn the skill of trimming to size.
Actually, it is extra work!!! :)

My ruler has the 7/8" markings, but why get so complicated? Use 5" instead. Usually I will cut 5" squares to make HST and trim them to 4 1/2" squares. Then the half squares would be 2 1/4". I surely hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong. Good luck with your lessons.

Except the special order ones we use in first grade classrooms that only have half-inches marked (because they don't do fractions yet) I've never seen a ruler that wasn't marked to eighths. I have some marked to sixteenths! My cutting mat is marked to eighths even.

Are you SURE your ruler isn't? What brand ruler are you using.


Also- how is this a shortcut?

Maybe I need new rulers!! Mine are all at least 15. Years old I haven't needed new rulers in years. I'll look in store today. I mostly use accuquilt go.

Some of mine are much older than 15
...... are you sure you are not confusing yourself and thinking 1/16" rather than 1/8"?

You definitely need a few new rulers. There is one that only has 7/8" measurements marked. That is a real time saver.

I have never understood the complication in measuring 7/8 then measuring 1/2. They are all measurements. I see a lot of quilters go glassy eyed when a measurement of 1/16th or 5/8 are in a pattern. It's just a different line. LOL.

Here is how I taught my kids to read a ruler.
Rulers have 16 lines between the inch marks. Each line is 1/16". Some have only 8 lines between inch marks. Each line is 1/8". Construction tape measures will have 32 lines for 1/32" or even 64 lines for 1/64" between the inch marks. Count the lines to get the measurement you want.

Just checked ! I have 11 rulers. All marked with 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 inch

Yea!! I get to go shopping!! What a chore!! Lol

There are lines on most rulers between the markings. You could have a ruler marked solely in inch increments but if it had 16 lines to the inch then you'd be able to measure to a 16th or 6/16's or whatever. How could a ruler have no 8ths? I'm amazed. Good luck! Have fun shopping!