Iamquilter

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.

amorerm

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.

flikkem

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.

Debbie B

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.

GammaLou

Same here...both work best for me. :thumbup:

katlady

I do not use the lines on the cutting mat as some of them may be off. I only use my ruler for cutting.

JeanDal

I use it so guilty as charged. :)

quiltingaz

This is what I do.

Baloonatic

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.

stormatsea45

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. :)