by eggyannie 31 Aug 2009

Many folk find a problem getting a neat edge when in the hoop quilting so try this little trick of mine

find a nice short see through child’s rule, the six or four inch ones are great for this.
RIGHT HANDERS
Place the rule, next to the sew line and then fold the fabric back over the rule. this action will lift the fabric up a little and away from the hoop backing. hold the fabric down with left hand fingers. Now use the surface of the rule as a base and cut along the fabric with the scissors at a slight right angle to the rule. the scissor point stays on the rule and the sharpness of the scissors will allow you to slice through the fabric neatly and cleanly.
With a little practise you will soon get that nice 1/4 inch edge
LEFT HANDERS
Do the same thing as explained above but lay the rule against the sew line UNDER the fabric. This lifts the fabric up just that little and away from the backing Then with the fabric held down by the fingers on the right hand slide the point of the scissors along the top of the rule at a slight left hand angle.
In each case you can see clearly what you are doing.
TIP.... sew a straight stitch on scrap material and practise the folding back and cutting till you get the angle of the scissors just right to give you that 1/4 inch allowance.
also a nice big car sponge or a book can also be placed under the hoop to support the fabric in the hoop if its removed from the machine.
I hope this will help you. Annie in the UK
PS the word rule is correct. English teacher informed us in the UK class that " There is only one RULER and that is the Queen. The measuring device is a RULE. "
A sharp rap on the knuckles with a rule made sure I never ever forgot that one.

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by ruthie 31 Aug 2009

Annie, this tip sounds very useful. Love and hugs sweetie, and thanks.

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by jasanne 31 Aug 2009

Thankyou.

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by shirlener88 31 Aug 2009

Oh - right now - I need a picture or two - can you take some - I believe I understand what you are saying - but my brain is mush sometimes and needs something to visualize - so it can comprehend. Hehehe! Great tip! *4U

1 comment
dkjack by dkjack 31 Aug 2009

I'm with you Shirlene. I need a visual. hahaha

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by mops Moderator 31 Aug 2009

Great tip, thank you!

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by babsie 31 Aug 2009

Thanks, I have not done any quilting, but will try it. *4u In South Africa we also call the measuring device a ruler.

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by marjialexa Moderator 31 Aug 2009

Great tip, I'm going to start working on a QIH project soon, this should come in handy. We Americans have been butchering the Queen's English for many years now, so while "rule" is correct, most Americans wouldn't know what you were talking about unless you said "ruler", hee hee hee. And then, of course, we don't have the Queen, hee hee hee. Upstart Yanks, y'know, hee hee hee. Thanks so much for the information, it'll be put to good use! Hugs, Marji

3 comments
mops by mops 31 Aug 2009

Interesting language lesson. Being the curious person I am I had to look it up.
1. COD (Concise Oxford Dictionary - 1969) In one and the same lemma it states 'rule - graduated often jointed straight measure used by carpenters, etc., hence carpenter's rule.' and 'to rule - make parallel lines across paper with ruler or mechanical help'. That was not much help.
2. So I got my Collins English Dictionary. That gives for 'rule - any of various devices with a straight edge for guiding or measuring; ruler (a carpenter's rule}'. And gives for 'ruler - also called rule - a strip of wood, metal or other material, having straight edges graduated usually in millimetres or inches, used for measuring and drawing straight lines'. Hee hee.
3. Then I took my Webster (1983) and that states 'rule - a strip of material marked off in units measuring or ruling off lengths' and for 'ruler - a smooth-edged strip of material (as of wood or metal) that is usually marked off in units (as inches) and is used as a straightedge or for measuring'. I gather you Yanks can also use both according to you Webster. Hee hee.

ruthie by ruthie 31 Aug 2009

Thanks Martine, I sounds like it doesn't matter what we call it, as long as we all know what we're talking about, haha. Love and hugs sweetie.

ruthie by ruthie 31 Aug 2009

that should really be 'it sounds' - now maybe you all know what I'm talking about, haha!

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by lenamae 31 Aug 2009

Thank you so much this is a good lesson and I did not know that it was referd to as a rule I had always said ruler or tape.
Hugs Lenamae

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by evajungermann 31 Aug 2009

Great, this is exactly the kind of clever tip I was looking for! More of that, cuties, please.
And finally a lesson to improve my language skills- one of the many reasons I show up here so often.
Love it! Thanks.

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