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  • Can you make your own 45 degree kaleidoscope ruler?

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    Old 04-19-2012, 03:44 PM
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    Question Can you make your own 45 degree kaleidoscope ruler?

    I have a pattern that requires you to use this ruler to make some of the blocks. I really do not want to buy another ruler as I doubt I would use all that much. Can you make one that could work out of some sort of sturdy plastic to use as the template. Thanks for any help.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 03:49 PM
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    Perhaps one of the rulers you have, already have the 45° markings on it?

    Many of us have had glass shops cut templates for us out of the same acrylic aka plexiglass as the rulers that we buy. Of course, those will not have any of the normal ruler markings.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 03:50 PM
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    You certainly can. There was a thread a few days ago about making them from plexiglas ... and that some quilters get them cut at Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, or local hardware stores for just the price of the plexiglas. I haven't tried this yet, but I did find some at an estate sale that were homemade.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 04:18 PM
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    Almost every ruler has a 45 degree mark. Many also have 60 degrees. There's often no need for a specialty ruler.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 05:50 PM
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    If you take a piece of paper that is square then cut it on the diagonal twice you have the 45 degree triangle for the kaleidoscope. You can use this as a pattern to take to a store and have it cut (be sure and tell them that you need the exact size as your template). To get the size you need, your square needs to be twice as wide as the size of triangle you need is tall. If you only need to use it a few times, glue it to some of thea template plastic and cut the template plastic with a "paper" rotary blade (you don't want to cut fabric with it after using it on the pastic so I use an old retired blade).
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    Old 04-19-2012, 05:56 PM
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    I made a kaleidoscope quilt using a regular ruler. I followed instructions in a book by Bethany Renolds.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 06:10 PM
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    A cheap math set (like the kids use for school) is always handy, compass, protractor etc. and you are good to go.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 06:20 PM
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    I didn't bother with a fancy ruler when I made my OBW and that was a 60 degree angle. 45 and 60 are already on your big rulers. You just have to figure out which way to angle them for the cuts.
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    Old 04-19-2012, 06:22 PM
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    Thanks for all of the advice, I had thought of using the marks on the ruler, the 45 degree triangle ruler allows you to cut on either side, where if you use the markings on my ruler, will have to flip over and move. Right?
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    Old 04-20-2012, 04:45 AM
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    Originally Posted by judylg
    Thanks for all of the advice, I had thought of using the marks on the ruler, the 45 degree triangle ruler allows you to cut on either side, where if you use the markings on my ruler, will have to flip over and move. Right?
    Expense? or inconvenience? Plus you've been given some other options for the in between possibilities.
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