Guidelines Quilting ruler

[Diane O.]

Has anyone purchased one of these rulers? I clicked on the AD at the bottom of the newsletter email I just received, and it looks interesting, but wonder if it really is worth the money. There are so many gadgets to make things easier, it's hard to decide which ones are really worth the extra expense when I have so many rulers already.

I have numerous Omigrid rulers, and don't care for them, because of all the extra color around the lines. Yes, it is easier to see them, but the line is so thick, I don't know if I have my fabric lined up at the same place from one end of the ruler to the other.

I have a couple of the Creative Grids rulers, and use those a lot... the lines are not as thick, and the circles of grips does help keep the ruler in place. However, I do notice that if I don't apply enough pressure when I'm cutting using my 24 inch ruler, these too can move.

I also have the Altos Cutting mat system, I like the fact that it will hold my fabric in place, when I'm cutting yardage, it doesn't slide off the table. But the cutting guide does not sit straight, it is just ever so slightly off at the far end, and the guide for setting the width isn't accurate. I find myself getting a ruler to hold against the guide and checking the width of my strips all the way down to make sure it is right where I need it to be. I've even tried to use the mat with one of my other rulers, but the guides on the edges of the mat get in the way of my ruler, so it's easier to just use the ruler to line up their cutting guide.

Maybe I'm being too picky to make sure my cuts are ACCURATE, but I am trying to be precise when doing traditional pieced blocks. And yes, I have noticed that once I started paying closer attention to where my ruler is when I cut, and where I sew, my blocks turn out much much better than when I just try to get "close ".

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Eileen K.]

Hi Diane,
Do you have the QuiltCut 1 or 2? DH just upgraded to the 2 and he says the accuracy has improved 100%. He bought the upgrade kit, not a whole new system.
What I've done is to initially make the block as best I can, and make sure I square it up.
Have you watched Episode #407, with Elsie Campbell? It's all about precision piecing.
eileenkny

[Diane O.]

I have no idea which one I have.. how do you tell???

I just went and found my box, and it says 2... so I guess I have the latest one.

That episode is on my list of ones to watch when I have the time... just haven't been able to do it yet. I have a book on precision piecing and refer to that from time to time.. and it has helped a lot. But I tend to be a perfectionist. I'm sure that being off by a thead or two isn't going to make the world come to an end, but I like to at least strive for as close to perfection as I can.. LOL

Diane