Cutting 7/8ths Question

[madampolo]

For those patterns that tell you to cut something with a 7/8th, do you just round up to the full inch and square it up to the proper size? If not, how do you cut a 7/8th? I know there are rulers, but was not really wanting to buy another ruler.

[lilmouse]

you can cut it to the next inch and square up....I've heard that some people do that...just make sure you square up before joining to another block or you are going to have problems

[auntiemern]

I would round up, then square up block. I almost laughed when I read this because I have never used a pattern. I'm more of a fly by the seat of your pants kinda gal. But hey, guess that's why I don't make the ones that look so hard.

[rebeccas-sewing]

It would depend on what type of block it is. What kind of ruler are you using? Are you SURE you don't have 1/8" markings on it? I find that very odd. I checked mine and even one of my oldest rulers has 1/8" markings. What kind of blocks are you making? You can't oversize and square-up all blocks. For example, how would you oversize and then square-up a 9-patch? If you cut the outside set of squares when squaring-up then the squares in that nine-patch won't be the same size.

I wouldn't give any advice on this without knowing what the block is on which you're working.

[coffeebreak]

It would depend on what type of block it is. What kind of ruler are you using? Are you SURE you don't have 1/8" markings on it? I find that very odd. I checked mine and even one of my oldest rulers has 1/8" markings. What kind of blocks are you making? You can't oversize and square-up all blocks. For example, how would you oversize and then square-up a 9-patch? If you cut the outside set of squares when squaring-up then the squares in that nine-patch won't be the same size.

I wouldn't give any advice on this without knowing what the block is on which you're working.

I'd like to know this too..as it just recently happened to me...my outter squares are slighly rectangled when I squared the blocks..and i used 1/4 measurement!

[Bubby]

I wouldn't round up and square up because you would be doing the 'squaring' on the outside edges only and I think you could be setting yourself up for a mess. If you decide to round up, you will need to round up on all your block pieces to keep it in proportion and make the pattern work. Does this make sense?

[DCM]

Your cutting mat should have little lines between each inch -- for example the 1" mark is the first line for that inch, and there should be 7 more little lines before you get to 2". When you go to cut your fabric, cut on the little line just before the 2" line. Hope that makes sense. I would think cutting a whole inch instead of 7/8" would catch up with you and cause problems on certain patterns, just as using more than a scant 1/4" when sewing block pieces together can cause problems with certain patterns.

[madampolo]

The next time I go out to the office where my sewing room is, I will check my rulers. I never really checked them. Plus I do have markings on my mat. I mainly see this measurement when making half square or quarter squares, I forget which. I have a June Taylor (with the laser cut lines) square up ruler designed for half and quarter triangles, so I am a whiz at squaring up those. I just didn't know why it was so important to cut eights. I am telling you, you have to be so precise when quilting- your seams, your cutting, etc.

[Divine Daisy]

I feel for you! In the UK we are metric and no US instructions give a metric alternative. Depending on the block I either round up or convert to millimeters........If i can get away with it, trust me I round up lol

[Denis]

If I'm cutting strips and sewing them back together when the patterns ask for 7/8" (or 3/8" and 5/8") I will cut as directed because there has to be a reason for it. To be honest, I don't think I've come across this, but if I did it was long ago and I don't remember.

I do round up when cutting for HSTs, quarter square triangles, hourglass blocks, etc... It's much easier and more accurate. For example, when they ask to cut squares at 3 7/8" then cut diagonally to make HSTs by sewing 2 of them together, I know I will have a problem. Instead I'll cut squares at 4" and lay 2 squares right sides together, draw a line down the middle of one then sew 1/4" (or less) on either side, cut apart then trim down using Eleanor Burns square up ruler. This works everytime.