How many of you use cutting mat lines when cutting fabric?

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01-21-2011, 06:28 PM

#151

grammysharon

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Monmouth, Oregon

Posts: 5,884

I do use the lines on the mat and on the ruler. :D

01-21-2011, 06:29 PM

#152

cooper

Junior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 153

matt lines aligned with the ruler lines to cut
how else can one be on the LINE and straight?

01-21-2011, 06:30 PM

#153

Rose_P

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Dallas area, Texas, USA

Posts: 3,050

I use the vertical lines on the cutting mat if I'm cutting strips. I use an O-lip-fa ruler that firmly hits the bottom edge of the mat to stay straight, and I make sure the lines on the ruler match up with lines on the mat. I usually have to move the fabric slightly to keep the edge right on the line before my next cut. If I'm cutting or trimming small squares, I prefer to use a square grid ruler so that I can easily line up a horizontal and vertical edge at the same time, and in that case, I ignore the lines on the mat.

01-21-2011, 06:37 PM

#154

BRenea

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Seguin, TX

Posts: 558

I use the lines on my mat just as guidelines...I trust my rulers a lot more!

01-21-2011, 07:00 PM

#155

Annz

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Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: West Roxbury, Ma

Posts: 10,353

I do often enough to say I do. I think you get a more accurate cut that way, but sometimes I don't have to use the cutting mat's lines.

01-21-2011, 07:02 PM

#156

Gabrielle's Mimi

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: Sunny AZ

Posts: 570

Quote:

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.

I, too, use both methods at times, but mats are not always accurate, so I teach my students to use a ruler and not rely on the mat markings. Also be aware that you CAN indeed use a ruler when the cut is wider that your ruler...just put 2 rulers side-by-side! I do that all the time for wide borders, especially if your mat is well worn or not terribly accurate.

01-21-2011, 08:14 PM

#157

Berta48

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Posts: 554

I do both!

01-21-2011, 08:33 PM

#158

Quilter2B

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Our Little Green Acres in NorCal

Posts: 1,268

I never used to use the lines on my cutting mat; always thought the rulers were more precise. Until I made my bow tucks bag, then it dawned on me "why and I struggling so hard with this" butting up one ruler to another to get the width/length I needed. Now I use the lines in conjunction with my rulers but use the rulers more than the mat. :-)

01-21-2011, 08:35 PM

#159

Tsanchez

Junior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: New Mexico

Posts: 245

I do this all the time.

01-21-2011, 09:23 PM

#160

seasaw2mch

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Virginia

Posts: 1,260

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnquilt

The key here is just be consistent! If you cut using the lines on you mat then continue the whole project using the mats lines. If you use the ruler, use the same ruler throughout the whole project to insure better accuracy.

All rulers do not match. And usually they do not match the lines on your mat. My Fiskars ruler lines do not match exactly to the lines on my Omnigrid rulers. Albeit the difference is minute, when working on a project that bit of minute will rear it's ugly head.

exactly what she said. They don't always match and it doesn't make a difference which one you use as long as it's the same through out your project.