I thought I'd share a "recent" find. It has been sitting in my closet for about 8 years.
Last summer I went to a retreat with the
Dallas Modern Guild and I was diligently working on one of the last few quilts for my
daughter's dowry set when
a friend saw me cutting strips and suggested a "better" way that would not involve spending an arm and a leg on an AccuQuilt Go machine.
Then she brought out this "ruler"....
I said.. I have one of those... someplace...
She looked at me with the look that says, you're an idiot because you are not using it!
:)
I proceeded to explain that I didn't know how to use the darn thing. My 42" WOF didn't fit under the ruler and I had some reservations on folding the fabric. She gave me "the look" again and pulled me over to show me how to use it.
I <3 my guild buddies. They pull me into the 21st century kicking and screaming.
Since I KNOW I'm not the only one out there that has this tool collecting dust in the closet, I thought I'd share my newly acquired knowledge...
So the first thing I do is fold the fabric. The 42" is folded once right from the bolt, but since I prewash all my yardage, I bring my selvages together and refold.
After I have a nice clean WOF fold, I fold again.
This time I don't bring the bottom edge all the way up to the first fold but I fold it up enough so that the resulting width fits under the ruler.
Align the bottom edge of the fabric with the first line on your Short Cut ruler.
The left side of the fabric should extend just a bit from the first slot (this allows you to trim the edge)
In the picture above I was cutting 1.5" strips. I fit my blade into the 0" slot and cut along the slot to trim the edge, I then move to the 1.5" slot and cut again. Move to the 3" slot and cut again. Move to the 4.5" slot and cut, so on and so forth until I get to the end...
I do move my hold on the ruler as I move along but it's more because I'm a newbie.
Lift the ruler and... wala! You have a gaggle of 1.5" strips.
My initial concern was that the folds would yield a deviation on the strip... has anyone seen the wonky strips on a jelly roll? but I have not had that experience. Each strip comes out nice and straight.
Since I bought my Short Cut, June Tailor has made a similar cutting tool with 1/4" slots.
I bought one.
I hope you all will dust off your Short Cut ruler and give it a try.
The way I see it, the less time I spend cutting, the more time I spend sewing!
*** Thanks to my personal hand model, my sister Jess.