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. |
I always use the lines on the mat as well as the lines on the ruler.
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Originally Posted by Rachelcb80
Originally Posted by peacebypiece
OK. We are not building rockets here. The "smidge" of difference between the ruler and mat are so small I doubt if it will ruin a quilt. The difference between the ruler and mat cannot be that bad or you would have noticed it before you cut. If you cut the whole quilt the same way, they will all be the same "variance" so won't matter anyway.
Sometimes we seem to be making MOUNTAINS out of little bitty molehills. If you get this hung up on a quilt, you need to relax a bit. Really sloppy cutting is the stuff that makes the pattern pieces not fit right. Couldn't agree more! For those that say they never use the mat lines, how do you measure and cut pieces bigger than your ruler? And can you explain why you don't use your mat to measure? Out of curiousity I put a tape ruler on my mat and it measured correctly with the ruler. Isn't that about as good as you could ask for? I don't trust mat measurements and only use them as a general guide. |
I use the ruler linned up with the lines on the mat , other wise
I would never get the right cut.. |
Like this ,sometimes I count more than once beffore cutting
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I never ever use the lines on the mat! I really think I am a creature of habit and I do it the way I first learned.
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Rulers rule (so my quilting teacher says and she's my inspiration).
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I only use the lines when accuracy is not as important. Other wise I use the ruler for more accurate cuts.
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I mostly use the mats to line up and use ruler for straight edge - I have never had problems with this method. I think as long as you are consistent it should work out.
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Originally Posted by Lacelady
I have always done it this way - lining up my fabric on the mat, then putting my ruler over all of the fabric except the part I want to cut away, aligning it with the markings on the mat.
I read all the reasons why I should put my ruler on the piece I wanted to cut off, and it never made any sense to me, especially if I wanted to only cut off a small piece. |
I never use the lines on a mat for cutting. I use the plain side of my mat and all my rulers are the same brand for consistency. Most of my quilts are miniatures to wall sized. When I do make a lap or bed sized quilt, the individual pieces are usually in the smaller range. I have found that when the pieces are smaller, there is less "wiggle room" for sewing the pieces together. Being more precise starting at the cutting step has made it so much easier for me to construct the quilt top.
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I use the ruler to cut strips and then I use a smaller one to cut squares and triangles.
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I do not use the lines on the mat, and have actually turned it over so I can't. I have always read that it isn't accurate and I want my pieces to be as accurate as possible.
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I use the line on the mate to line up but use the ruler for me straight lines, double check both before cutting. I have termors so I do alot of double checking to make sure I haven't moved anything lout of line... Everyone has their
procedure, when I learn to quilt the mats and roller cutters were not thought of. |
Like this statement
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Originally Posted by DebraK
I do it that way. but you have to make sure you have a good and accurate mat.
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Well, I guess I am the loner here. LOL I don't have all the rulers so I have to cut a template and draw around it then cut with scissors. May not be the correct way, but has to work for me.
Grandmother and Mother didn't have rulers either, but the quilts turned out beautiful. Of course, they weren't fancy patterns like is available today. |
I only use the mat lines rarely (when cutting yardage for 9 patch posies, or to cut left over fabric into fat quarters, etc) other than that I only use my rulers for cutting.
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I use the both together.
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Originally Posted by Lacelady
I have always done it this way - lining up my fabric on the mat, then putting my ruler over all of the fabric except the part I want to cut away, aligning it with the markings on the mat.
I read all the reasons why I should put my ruler on the piece I wanted to cut off, and it never made any sense to me, especially if I wanted to only cut off a small piece. I forgot to say, that I still use my ruler to measure too, and it always lines up with my mat lines :thumbup: |
You loose accuracy if you use the lines on your mat. If you are off 1/8" on each square, and that is easy to do, especially if you have several pieces in each block, then if you have 4-8 blocks in a row, you would be off 1/2 to 1 inch. That makes a lot of difference.
Sue |
I use the lines of my cutting mat to line up my fabric but use the rulers
to cut. My cutting mat is metric (LOL) but still in good shape. |
I use the lines to help line up the fabric, but use the rulers for cutting.
I've seen Eleanor Burns (in videos) use the lines on the mat for cutting. |
I never use the cutting mat lines when cutting.
Only use my rulers and I have several sizes,this is the way i first learned and the way I have always done it. :D |
I don''t use my mat because it is warped - too many times used as a placemat I guess. Since it never goes off the dining room table LOL!
I use my rulers exclusively. Esp my June Taylor shape cut. I love that ruler! |
Originally Posted by Lacelady
I have always done it this way - lining up my fabric on the mat, then putting my ruler over all of the fabric except the part I want to cut away, aligning it with the markings on the mat.
I read all the reasons why I should put my ruler on the piece I wanted to cut off, and it never made any sense to me, especially if I wanted to only cut off a small piece. |
If you use the cutting lines on the mat, soon you will have permanent grooves and your mat on the measurement lines and it will become useless -- I turn the mat over and don't use any lines at all but use the ruler for measurements. Also make sure each ruler you use are synced. Not all rulers are equal, and if you swap between ruler, make sure each measures the same. Hold them together and check to see if the lines match up - surprise, many don't especially if you have different brands.
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CrashNQuilt is sooo right
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Never use those lines
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I quit using the lines on the mat after taking a class years ago but after watching the Quilty video I think I'll give the mat a try again.
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I think that using the lines on the mat as a straight edge with your ruler to make that first straight edge on the left side of your piece of fabric (if you are right handed) is completely different from using the spaces between the lines on the mat as measuring units. The method I was taught in a quilt class was to use the lines on the mat to get your fat quarter, etc. aligned with the mat. Then line up the ruler with the mat line for that first cut only. From there it was ruler only to measure and cut the strips. This method requires that the ruler is placed on the piece being cut away from the whole. I agree with whomever pointed out that placing the ruler on the piece you are cutting prevents ruining the piece if your rotary cutter should veer away from the ruler.
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Originally Posted by Granna of 5
I use to use the lines on my mat until I read on this board that they are not always accurate, so now I use my ruler.
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I cut both ways it just depends on what I'm doing.
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I use the lines on my mat when I am cutting strips.
But use a ruler when I cut my pieces from the strips. |
I've never had a "matching" ruler and mat! Therefore, the discrepancies between the two always made for chaos in putting anything together. I depend on my ruler. Never pay attention to the mat except to straighten something.
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Out side of a cutting surface and doing a quick measure of fabric (that's what I use the mat for), I always use my rulers to cut.
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I use both, the lines and a ruler
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I use the mat lines to make sure the corners are square, but I use the ruler to measure.
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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.
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I was taught to use my ruler, I try to do this.
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