World Wide Quilting Page

Question of the Week

Question for the week of February 4, 2002:

Our question this week comes from Dale

When cutting fabric with a rotary cutter and ruler, do you line up the fabric ON the line of the ruler, INSIDE the line of the ruler, or OUTSIDE the line of the ruler?

Darla :
I would say outside the line of the ruler as to make sure that I don't cut off too much.

jalynne :
I place the line right down the middle of the line...right on top

linda :
I line up on the outside of the line to make up for the amount taken up by the seam line.

Ann Y. :
It really doesn't matter as long as you are consistent.

paulette haggan :
on the line of the ruler

Velda :
I always line up the yellow line on the ruler with the left edge of the fabric.

Susan :
I think as long as you are consistant throughout the quilt with whichever tech. you pick it doesn't matter.

Nora :
I line up on line of ruler. I think if you always follow same quidelines, your strips will all be the same.

Tobylehnj :
I always line up with the outside edge of the line. This will make my piece a little bit larger and will give space for the seam to turn. That tiny bit will make my seam allowance and pece come out just the right size. If no, you can always trim, but you can not add to the piece.

Julie :
I have pondered this question every time I cut. I recently saw, in a rotary cutting chapter of The Joy of Quilting book, I think, that you should try to line it up in the middle of the line on the ruler. I personally find this difficult, and have chosen to be consistent by always lining up on the far side of the line. I guess I must account for this in my 1/4" seam, since they all come out OK.

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