why does Jenny do this?
06-23-2014, 08:28 AM
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
She probably does it for expediency's sake. The recommendation that's always made the most sense to me is to be consistent with the tools you use to measure and cut, which means using the same brand of ruler throughout a single project. A mat falls short because it's difficult to cut things in increments of an inch, so I ignore the lines on it. In fact, I often turn my mat over to cut on the non-gridded side because it's less distracting.
06-23-2014, 08:33 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Monroe, IN
Posts: 2,283
I "almost" always use the cutting mat for measurements...it matches the ruler I cut with and never had any problems....my ruler is clear with marks for half and quarter inch, so by placing those lines to match the mat I am able to achieve partial inch measurements very easily.
06-23-2014, 08:49 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,608
I used to use my mat markings to cut, because I didn't get why it shouldn't work (even though Harriet Hargrave insisted it wouldn't). Then I made a tree skirt using templates, and I was amazed -- all my pieces were exactly the same size and it was so easy sewing them together. So now I use only my ruler to cut, and I find it so much easier and more accurate.
The problem with using the mat lines isn't the accuracy of the mat. It's the difficulty in factoring in the lines themselves when you cut. If I would cut my first piece by positioning my ruler on the outside of a line, and then position it on the same place on the line 2" away (for example), that second cut wasn't quite 2".
I don't know if that makes any sense, but cutting is so much easier and more accurate for me, now that I am liberated from the mat lines!
The problem with using the mat lines isn't the accuracy of the mat. It's the difficulty in factoring in the lines themselves when you cut. If I would cut my first piece by positioning my ruler on the outside of a line, and then position it on the same place on the line 2" away (for example), that second cut wasn't quite 2".
I don't know if that makes any sense, but cutting is so much easier and more accurate for me, now that I am liberated from the mat lines!
06-23-2014, 08:50 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,644
I use my mat markings all the time - the only reason to not use it - is you get grooves in your mat if you keep using the same line over and over. Otherwise - I use both - depends on what I am cutting.
06-23-2014, 09:26 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The middle of an IL cornfield
Posts: 7,014
I use the mat lines all the time. Except when I use the ruler lines. 
I still end up with a quilt and the quilt police have not hauled me away. Do whatever works for you and don't be afraid to break "rules". What you were taught was just the teacher's opinion.
I still end up with a quilt and the quilt police have not hauled me away. Do whatever works for you and don't be afraid to break "rules". What you were taught was just the teacher's opinion.
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