Attach gripping tabs to the bottom of rotary rulers to help keep them from slipping on fabric. One of the tricks is to place ruler on fabric, start cutting with rotary, stop and move hand forward on ruler without moving the rotary and then continue cutting. I found with the rotary that tipping it on an angle causes the ruler to slip. Previously, they were made anywhere from 3 ½” to 6” wide and in several different lengths. Not only does a non-slip ruler make for more accurate cutting, but it also is much safer to use. Rulers wear out! If you are left-handed, work from the opposite side of the fabric, placing fabric and rulers in mirror-image positions. You don’t need much to keep your ruler in place. Using either the 30°, 45° or 60° angle, you can cut diamonds from a strip. I put three small 0.5″ squares on this 9.5″ square ruler and now it isn’t going anywhere at all. Not a big deal unless you want the fabric to remain stationary so a second cut can be made. Move the strips into the same position that the fabric had after you have finished cutting strips. Then my husband needed to hand cut some vinyl for a decal business we own, so I gave him my ruler with Grip Strips. I have told friends they had to get some – and they love them. Hold your ruler very firmly to prevent it from slipping and causing an uneven cut. I found this tip on Bonnie Hunter's quilt blog to make your rulers non-slip. You can get a square up ruler with a sticky film on the ruler. It is made with a retractable system that keeps all your fabric in place. Sliding it along the fabric … Although it is not essential, I keep on my sewing table which simplifies quick cuts when sewing. "Glue small pieces of sandpaper on the backs of your rulers to keep them from slipping on the fabric when rotary cutting." Taking care of a rotary mat is simple and will make your mat last for years and years. Some work better than others. Put your rotary cutting ruler down on the side of the fabric. I tried it and it really works. Then put a square up ruler down on the fabric at the fold. Our patented track and guide system prevent slipping and keep all of your cuts straight. No More Slipping Rulers & Templatesincluding Mask Templates! To use a quilting ruler, you need a piece of fabric, a cutting mat and a rotary cutter (for all but the Westalee ruler in this article). They have bumpy textured dots spaced at regular intervals that do an excellent job of grabbing the fabric. When you cut your strip width, use one of the horizontal lines on your ruler to keep the folded edge straight. Our patented track and guide system prevent slipping and keep all of your cuts straight. No more aching hands, arms or shoulders. Press the ruler down firmly, take a short cut, if you have to make a long cut, stop and reposition your hand on the ruler before you keep cutting. Acrylic templates can be slick, which is not a bad thing! Our peel and stick fabric grip strips help keep everything in place with minimal pressure. If I want to cut something and be able to slide the ruler as I cut, I just turn the ruler over to the other side. InvisiGrip™ can be removed and reused without leaving a The TrueCut rulers not only provide precise measuring, but also solve one of the most common cutting frustrations: slipping and veering away from the ruler's edge. Reposition your hand up your ruler so that you never cut beyond your hand position. Tips. I worked in a fabric store and have tried every product I could find to keep my rulers from slipping. - Marti in Mexico I stumbled across this tip while browing the internet and thought it a great & affordable way to prevent your rulers from slipping. Two-color marks; The strong quality body; acrylic; Multiple sizes to fit your needs; Comes with non-slip rings; Hole for hanging; Cons. Secondly, the non-slip back will ensure that the ruler stays put while you cut. Nothing worked until I found Grip Strips! This video has some great tips on how to take care of your mat. TIP: Using a good ruler can make all of the difference in the world. It’s a very clever tool. This is a stay in place straight edge that will not slide. Keep the rotary blade flush against the ruler, cut away from yourself and down the right side of your ruler. Over time the sharp edge of your rotary cutting blade can shave off the plastic of the ruler. Here’s a favorite quilting tip—apply double-sided transparent tape to your template to keep it from slipping as you cut. As you get more comfortable and practiced with rotary cutting, you may not need to keep your pinky off the edge of the ruler and you may not need to adjust your ruler-hand position as often. Caring for a Rotary Mat. Never Slip your Rotary Ruler Again Boring subject I know, but let me tell ya - when you quilt and cut fabric as much as I do, nothing can tick you off more than when the rotary ruler slips a little on the fabric while you're cutting, and you end up messing up the cut having to start over and go through the entire slippage mess all over again. It is clear so you can see through it but has a sticky side to place down on the ruler and on the other side a slightly bumpy surface to prevent the ruler from slipping. Both keep the smooth plastic rulers from slipping. Long Rulers. Place the Stripology ruler over the folded fabric. A folded width of fabric will juuust fit so be sure to center the ruler so the rotary cutter goes end to end here. Lastly, it comes in a very handy size, which isn’t huge, but it isn’t very small as well, so it could fit most fabrics conveniently. Many types of grippers are available commercially, including clear versions that won't obstruct your view of ruler lines. When cutting smaller pieces it’s nice to not have to turn the fabric. Just make sure you cut it nice and straight and that will be an inexpensive substitute for a ruler. If you trim these down to 2mm wide and put them along almost the entire edge of the ruler, they would work a lot better. This is where I wish this ruler was tiiiny bit wider. Small sandpaper dots (Fabric Grippers from Nifty Notions). If it isn't straight square up your fabric again and cut again. Rulers The clear ruler should have sightlines, or markings to help you line up your fabric. You could also apply some optional products to the underside of the rulers that help prevent slipping.InvisiGrip™ is a clear cinyl cling product that can be cut and applied to the underside of rulers to create a non-slip surface. There are bi-colored markings on the ruler in case your fabric is odd-colored. Here are just a few tips we’ve heard about acrylic templates and rulers. There are also products to make the ruler less slippery (InvisiGrip, rubber dots or felt pads) that you can stick to the bottom of the ruler. The system has small rubber balls that will hold all your fabric when pressed down. It’s not pretty. Don’t cut any further than the position across from the tips of your fingers that are holding the ruler. They now make this quilting ruler up to 6 ½” wide, making it much easier to cut both strips and blocks. Also, a lot of dots are needed to prevent the fabric from slipping. I know - I've had it happen a hundred times. It’s always a good idea to use the lines on your mat to keep things nice and straight. If you need to move your hand up your ruler, keep your cutter in position and “walk” your fingers up to the next position then continue cutting. It came in a tape dispenser. The safety shields only come in a 24″ size so I had my husband cut down an extra one to fit my smaller rulers: Cutting the Fabric. 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