What was your biggest waste of money?
#291
these posts are hilarious. we are so gullible. i agree with the rulers. now i just buy things i need, rather than things i want. how bout a rotary cutter with a light on it. what is that for? cutting at midnight?
#293
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 3,273
1. I used to have (past tense) a ruler that had the rotary cutter attached to it. I think it was made by Fiskars, but I'm not 100% sure. In theory, it was an awesome idea, but in reality, it was a pain in the patootie. The stoppers on the ends kept coming off, which would allow the rotary cutter mechanism to come off the ruler. You had to really pay attention not to push the mechanism right off the end of the ruler. Eventually both stoppers got lost, and after that, the cutting mechanism fell off and got lost as well. Even before the ruler fell apart, the table under your cutting mat had to be 100% PERFECTLY smooth and level, or the cutter would miss whole sections of the fabric. It was easier just to use a regular ruler and rotary cutter.
2. My DH bought me a set of June Tailor rulers one year for Christmas. If I remember correctly, there was a 4-1/2", a 6-1/2", a 9-1/2", and a 12-1/2" ruler in the set. The problem was that the rulers have a 1/4" border (seam allowance) around them, and the measurements start AFTER the 1/4". It's very confusing to cut specific-size fabric pieces, because you have to subtract the 1/4" to get the size you really want. They're made of a flimsier material than Omnigrid rulers are, and several times I've taken slivers out of the edges of them with my rotary cutter.
2. My DH bought me a set of June Tailor rulers one year for Christmas. If I remember correctly, there was a 4-1/2", a 6-1/2", a 9-1/2", and a 12-1/2" ruler in the set. The problem was that the rulers have a 1/4" border (seam allowance) around them, and the measurements start AFTER the 1/4". It's very confusing to cut specific-size fabric pieces, because you have to subtract the 1/4" to get the size you really want. They're made of a flimsier material than Omnigrid rulers are, and several times I've taken slivers out of the edges of them with my rotary cutter.
#294
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
I'm with you on that! I was super excited to get it, but it's so clunky and difficult to use. Even with a Wacom drawing tablet I can't get a good tracing, yet I can trace just fine in photoshop or on real paper. I can't get appliques to work properly - can't figure out how to tell it NOT to lay a heavy border over parts that will be overlapped. Very frustrating. I've never stitched anything out of it because it always turns out terrible.
Thanks for letting me know! My niece & nephew (9 & 13) are getting into sewing and quilting and so far I've been afraid to give them a rotary cutter to use on their own; I was thinking one of these might be a safer alternative but now I'm thinking maybe not!
1. I used to have (past tense) a ruler that had the rotary cutter attached to it. I think it was made by Fiskars, but I'm not 100% sure. In theory, it was an awesome idea, but in reality, it was a pain in the patootie. The stoppers on the ends kept coming off, which would allow the rotary cutter mechanism to come off the ruler. You had to really pay attention not to push the mechanism right off the end of the ruler. Eventually both stoppers got lost, and after that, the cutting mechanism fell off and got lost as well. Even before the ruler fell apart, the table under your cutting mat had to be 100% PERFECTLY smooth and level, or the cutter would miss whole sections of the fabric. It was easier just to use a regular ruler and rotary cutter.
#295
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ontario,canada
Posts: 474
Oh, those paintstiks and the class on how to use them. Never made anything but a mess with mine. Rulers, rulers and more rulers. I always fall for the magic way to make that complicated block and I usually find an easier way to make it when I spend some time looking. After i've bought the ruler of course.
Oddly though the fabric mover which some people mentioned I consider r money well spent. It allowed me to get very comfortable moving the fabric and creating nice designs. I don't use it or the stitch regulator on my sweet sixteen but they were learning tools for me.
Oddly though the fabric mover which some people mentioned I consider r money well spent. It allowed me to get very comfortable moving the fabric and creating nice designs. I don't use it or the stitch regulator on my sweet sixteen but they were learning tools for me.
#296
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 400
Last year I donated a TON of quilting and knitting books to a used book store. The owner told me she didn't even have a craft section until my donations!
I donated a lot of books to our local library. No more subscriptions and no more buying books.
I donated a lot of books to our local library. No more subscriptions and no more buying books.
#297
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 400
This posted wrong. The first part is a quote from someone else. I donated to the library.
#298
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 307
I "Second that Emotion".
#300
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 1,286
My waste of money was the babygo and applique dies.
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