2. How to use the acrylic rulers

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1 Fiskars Acrylic rulers Transparent ruler for measuring and cutting fabrics Unique: highlighted 1 cm seam allowance measurement on 2 sides for visibility Precise grinds 3 sizes available 1. Features Non-slip feets for extra traction 60, 45, and 30 angle lines for triangles and stars Unique: highlighted 1 cm seam allowance measurement on 2 sides for visibility Half cm grids to help you positioning your fabrics They come in different sizes : 60x15 cm for cutting long strips 30x15cm 15x15cm for squares 30x30cm for squares

2 2. How to use the acrylic rulers For safety reasons, ALWAYS CUT FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, AWAY FROM YOU!!! Stand up to cut for more control and ease. The cutting should be clear. Otherwise, verify the state of your blade. The ruler is held firmly against the fabric with the left hand, thumb and index fingers stretched out, the cutter going alongside the ruler. For lefthanded people use the opposite hand. Unique for Fiskars' rulers: They have a highlighted 1cm seam allowance measurement on two sides for visibility. We provide you some non-slip feets for better traction. Note : the 0 is no longer at the edge of the ruler, but 1 cm back. This is particularly interesting for use in hand piecing where seam allowances are 0.5cm. For machine piecing, seam allowance is equal to the machine foot, that is 0.7cm to 0.75cm. In this case use the sides of the ruler that don t have the highlighted sides. The 0 will be at the edge of the ruler.

3 4. Basic Cutting Fabric Fabric is made of threads woven together at right angles : the crosswise grain and the lengthwise grain. All other grains are called bias. Fabric cut along either the crosswise or the lengthwise grain will not stretch, therefore strips and squares or rectangles will be cut alongside those grains. In order to get the best results, always cut on pressed fabric. Levelling and cutting strips Fold the fabric in half so the selvedge edges are aligned, making sure the fold runs along the lengthwise grain. To even out the crosswise fabric edge, place the square ruler along the fold and then place the ruler to its left. Remove the square and cut along ruler with the rotary cutter. Remove this first uneven strip. Now you can cut your strips at any width you choose. Squares Cut strips using the ruler and the rotary cutter. Then using the square ruler, align top and bottom edge of strip and cut fabric into squares the width of the strip

4 Rectangles Cut strips the width of which are equal to the width of the rectangle you want. Position the square ruler so as to cut rectangle lengths.. Triangles From a square To get triangles, cut a square that you then will cut along the diagonal line of the square. This triangle will have square sides and a bias base. You get 2 triangles from a square. To get 4 triangles from a square, cut the square on both diagonal lines. From a rectangle To get triangles, cut a rectangle that you then will cut along the diagonal line of the rectangle. You get 2 triangles from a rectangle.

5 Diamonds Diamonds that make up a star, are diamonds made using 45 angle lines on the ruler Cut a strip 3 cm wide (for example) then position the 45 angle line parallel to the bottom edge of the strip. Cut along the ruler. Cut parallel to this first cut every 3cm, you get diamonds. Diamonds that make up a cube (3 diamonds per cube) are diamonds made using 60 angle lines. Use the same method as above using the 60 angle line instead.

6 5. Strip piecing on the grain of the fabric This method is a fast and easy way to cut bunches of squares. Cut 3cm strips on the grain of the fabric. Sew them together lengthwise. Press the seam allowances on the same side. Position the ruler perpendicular to the strip obtained and cut at 3cm from the vertical edge. Strip piecing on the biais Strips are cut on the bias of the fabric. Sew them together. The idea is to get squares made of 2 triangles which sides are square. Place the diagonal line of the ruler on the seam of two left strips sewn together and cut each side of the diagonal line with the rotary cutter. Then place the square ruler (diagonal line on the seam) so as to get a square from the bottom of the strip. Cut. Then position the square ruler on the two right strips and do the same as above. By going from left to right, you get bicolor squares.