What would you do?
 

Hi everyone! I sort of have a delima and was wondering what others would do. About 4 years ago I went to a quilt show and purchased a large purple cutting mat and several rotary cutters. The other day I was so frustrated that some of my blocks were coming out a little smaller or larger but not much. So as I am starring at the cutting mat with my ruler laying on it I noticed that the inches didn't match up to the inches on my ruler! I then started checking the rulers inch to the mats inch and low and behold they didn't match as I traveled around the Mat checking for accuracy. No wonder I have had trouble with blocks being off! My delima is: should I contact the company who made the mat (which I won't mention the name on the board here cause I don't know if that's appropriate)! Or should I just let it go. I have taken really good care of the mat, always covered it and never let the sunshine hit it so I can't believe it's anything I did. I know it's four years old but I would never guess that such a large and expensive mat would skew! What would you all do? Let it go, as they say which I could but I worry about new quilters having the same issues! Plus now what good is mat? Yes I can use it as a straight line marker but in making blocks I can't trust the accuracy. I know I used all sides of the mat when I cut so maybe that's why my blocks weren't always exact. I asked a quilter about this and her answer was that she never uses the mat to cut her pieces. I was to embarrassed to ask how she cut her pieces but maybe there is something I should know about cutting pieces other than how I cut my pieces is by ruler and mat working together! Anyone have any input?

I only use the lines on the mat, to line up my fabrics. I never use them as measurements. That is what my ruler is for. Since the mat is 4 years old, I do not think you will get any financial satisfaction from the company. You could try emailing them but I don't think it will do much good.

Always use the mat under the fabric, but measure with your ruler.

Totally agree with auntmag.

It's not anything you did to the mat and I'm sure it didn't "skew". Mats are not reliable for making accurate blocks. When I first started quilting, I also had a ruler that was not accurate - not good!

If you tell us how you're using the mat to measure, we can help you out with a more accurate way of doing what you're doing. You should always go by the ruler.

Even though it's been four years, I would definitely contact the company that produced the mat. Just tell them the problem, as you've explained it to us. Anything that's sold with marked measurements, is bought under the assumption that those measurements are correct. If the measurements are noticeably off, then the mat is defective.

That said, I also use a ruler for my final measuring. Although my own (Olfa) mat has proven to be accurate enough, my habit of measuring from the exact same center point of each line, is not. :p

I used my June Tailor Shape Cut ruler, for accurate blocks. http://www.junetailor.com/shapecutvideo.htm

I will mention names. One of my June Tailor rulers is off---------I was so frustrated by the time I found the problem that I was ready to cry. So, NOW whatever brand I use, I use it across the board.

i only use my mat for lining up straight lines. i rely on my laser marked ruler for accuracy. i certainly wouldn't hurt to provide feedback to the company.

I was told when I started quilting that the mat lines are just guidelines and very few are precise for accurate measurements and never change brand of rulers when cutting out a quilt pattern. I read an article some years ago that the mat lines are stamped on the mat so many variables can happen to make the lines a smidgen off.

I used to cut fabric the way I think you are doing: you lay the fabric across the mat, with the cutting edge to your right and the bulk of the rest of the fabric folded on your left, slide the ruler on top of the fabric to your left until you have the right strip width and then cut your fabric on the right side of the ruler with the strip to the right of your ruler and the rest of the fabric under the ruler and to your left. You have to use the lines on the mat to do it this way, and you are simply using your ruler as a straight edge for the rotary cutter. Then one day I was watching a quilting video and the presenter cut a different way--using the ruler as the measure of the strip width. To do it this way, you straighten the edge of your fabric the way you usually do, but then FLIP the entire length of fabric over so that the new straight edge of the fabric is on the left side of the mat and the rest of the length of the fabric is on your right. Then place your ruler on top of the fabric, and then look through your clear ruler to line up the straight edge of the fabric under your ruler to the right strip width. If you are cutting a 2 1/2" strip, the right edge of your ruler should be 2 1/2" right of the end of the fabric--the strip you are cutting is UNDER the ruler. Remove that strip and keep going down the length of the fabric to your right. With this method, you are only using the ruler lines for vertical and horizontal measurements and don't look at the mat lines at all. I hope this makes sense. I am getting much more accurate cuts now with this method, but it took me a little while to adjust to it. Here is a photo of the placement of the fabric and ruler if I was cutting a 2 1/2" strip.
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When I started quilting (years+ ago) and took a 101 class at my LQS, the instructor had us turn our mats over (no lines, on the green ones). So that we would learn to us only our rulers for measuring. IMHO that was a great learning lesson.

I've taught my classes for years that they should use rulers for measuring and mat line for cutting....in fact I make them turn their (Olfa) mats over to use where there are no lines! We also use only Omnigrid (the yellow lines of which I personally don't care for) or Olfa rulers, too.

Jan in VA

Like a lot of other posters I use my mat to line up my fabric, but my ruler to measure and cut,

I only used the mat for straightening the edge. I also try and use the same brand of ruler for an entire project.

I will echo what others have said....I never depend on the mat for measurement, only for lining up straight edges. I also try to use the same brand of rulers. I have been told they vary by brand.

I know everyone says not to use the mat for measuring but when you are doing something wider than your ruler what are you supposed to do? I use Olfa mats and Olfa rulers and I've checked them for accuracy and they match.

Joyce , if you are cutting a wide strip, use two rulers next to each other in the same manner as a narrow strip.

I use to take all the workshops and classes I could when I started quilting. I learned so much and how to do something the right way before taking shortcuts. Now we have Craftsy classes!

I use my ruler to cut to measure. I don't use the mat to measure. I do line the ruler with the mat but measure everything with my rulers. I also measure my rulers against each other. I like my June tailor and have had no problems with it. Been 4 years just make them aware that their mats are not true measure.

I have been quilting for over 25 years and I never use the mat for measurements. I don't care if there are lines or not. I do occasionally refer to the measurements on the edge to quickly measure out if I have enough fabric.

Wow, thanks for all the replies! I have learned from all of you. Yes I think that I used my ruler and mat interchangeably and there's the answer to the blocks being off. I do use my ruler to measure but I also used the mat not knowing any better. I have been learning quilting on my own but thanks to all of you I will be turning over my Olfa mat and use the line only for alignment and stick to using my trusty rulers to measure! Also I wasn't thinking about reimbursement of the tweaked mat (not an Olfa) but just thought they should know but after reading all your comments it sounds like most people knows mats could be off so they use the mats for cutting and alignment! Well this has been a good lesson and now I think my cuts will be more uniform. Thanks everyone! This board and your responses are my teachers!

I stick with the same brand on all of my rulers and mats if possible. They will differ from brand to brand.

I agree completely with this. Most importantly, use the same brand rulers all the time. Measurements are different (typically) with different brands. Always use the same brand and/or ruler throughout ANY project...not just quilting...if you want all of your pieces to go together correctly.

Use only your ruler to measure and cut. I only use the mat to cut on and sometimes the line to lay my fabric along to keep it straight. Mats are notorious for being off.

if you are using something that is gridded - check the measurements both ways. I have had gridded template material be off and a pressing mat with lines printed on it was also off. the pressing mat was okay to use to get 90° corners, but not trustworthy for blocking a block to size.

The only demo I know of where someone uses the lines on the mat for measuring, then uses the ruler as a a straight edge is our loved Jenny From MSQC, and I sort of squirm when she does it! All books I have ever read or demoes watched all else use the ruler for measuring and cutting.....but I may be wrong........I know F&Ps mat does not have lines for that reason......

I would contact the company--specially if they are a big name company. Just to let them know. I would tell them the facts about it just as you have told us...and tell them you are just informing them till they can check for accuracy on their current mats.

Jeanne S If you are left handed do you do the same thing but from the right side.

Jenny is probably not making 3" or 4" blocks. She can wing it. But accuracy is important. I need the mat lines to line up fabric for rough-cut and right angles, but I measure from the rulers, always use the same brand.

I do not ever use the mat for oversize measurements. I put two rulers together side by side, and to check my math I put a third one on top of them going across, or use my carpenter's tape measure to double-check, so I don't accidentally have the 1/2" side in there twice!

Suzanne, you make an excellent point! I am right handed so my explanation was from that point of view. I would think a leftie would have the fabric turned in the opposite direction (bulk to the left, straight edge of the fabric on the right) and cut on the left side of the ruler. The key is to have the strip UNDER the ruler.

Ok that's the correct way I have been told many times I am doing it wrong. my rulers all differnt brands range from 4 to 6 inches wide I sometimes need wider cuts 8.5 10.5 how do you do that and still have accurate cuts?

Also Jude by the sea I would absolutly contact the mat company we buy them assuming they are a correct measurement I have never seen a notation on any mat stating the lines and "measurements are not necessarily accurate".

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Billi, You are right, in that my 24" ruler is only 7" wide and only works alone for strips up to 7" wide. For wider strips, I use my 16 1/2" square ruler to add on inches. See the photo below, I set up an example of cutting a 10" wide strip. You can see that all 7" of my long ruler is on top of the fabric as well as another 3" of my large square ruler, so if I cut on the right side of my long ruler I will have a 10" strip. Of course I can also just use my large square ruler by itself for any strips up to 16", but if you just have smaller rulers, just line them up side by side to get the width you want. Hope this makes sense. Others may have better ways to do it, but this is what I do and it seems to work.
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I was told the same thing and I continue to follow this advice.

So many quilters have told me to always use the same brand name ruler all through the quilt you are working on. I often do mine the way Jeanne explained, but I still get wrong sizes sometimes. The dang ruler slips or something. I bought those sticky things you put on the back and just recently I bought those sheets of sticky clear plastic and they still slip. You really have to be careful when cutting....Measure twice, cut once.

I agree with Jeanne. It takes 3 of my rulers side by side to cut the width of fabric down the middle. I always put the long one on top so I can make the longest cut before re positioning everything down the length.

I am with Tessagin...measure with the ruler and also line up the ruler with the mat...something like double checking and verifying not only the measurements but also the grain of the fabric.

Neesie I just watched the video on cutting that you posted the link too. It was amazing. I want one of those rulers so bad. I am going to save up until I have enough to get one. That was totally amazing. Of course, she made it look so super easy and I am sure it would take me a while to get the "hang" of it, but wow. And I love to sew but not thrilled with cutting LOL so this method would save so much time. I am still amazed by this video. Thank you so much for sharing, as a newbie, I love learning all this new stuff. :-) Have a great day, Rachel

i'm sure it's been said in these replies, but i'm going to second it--always use the same ruler on the same project, all the way through. every manufacturer has tiny variations in their process, so if you start with a ruler on a project, stick with that one. if you can't remember which one is for which project (who really has a bunch of extra rulers, anyways?) like me, i use a tiny square of the project taped onto the ruler with see through tape (looks like a bandaid) so i can visually match things up. the most important thing is consistency in the cutting. same ruler fixes that.

Jude... one thing I learned the hard way..ALWAYS use the same ruler or mat for cutting..If u put many rulers and mats together..U will find more than one to be off just a little..Its worth try to contact the maker of the mat..all they can do is say no...