Rulers vs Pre-Cuts

[Clementine]

Honest! I searched the forum for this as I am sure it's been addressed.
I will use "Pre-cut Charm Packs" for an example of my question.

I am a new quilter.
Saw the Jelly Roll Race video: "Hey! Even I could do that!" Fell in love with Jenny and her tutorials and here I am!

Charm Packs. (layer cakes, etc., etc...)
They are 5" (.duh.)
The square corresponding ruler is 5 1/2. I can understand the ruler giving me an extra 1/4th inch all around.
I know when one makes a pinwheel or whatever it becomes larger.

I made a gadjilliamtrillionmillion pinwheels for a baby quilt (Hey!! I'm going to be a Grand-Ma in January!!) Now I've come to the "squaring the blocks out part".

Wasn't using the left side of my brain until I noticed my pinwheels were different sizes.
5 or 5 1/2. Realized it depended on which of my 1,000s of rulers I used. I don't wanna buy no mo' rulers.

I even went to my local quilt store; and I live way out in the country so it was a bit of a trip and asked the girls there. (.duh.) Why are they working there if their vocabulary is limited to ".duh."?!

• Can someone please riddle me this and explain why the rulers are larger than the pre-cuts?
  
• What size should my finished blocks be .... I mean do I add an extra 1/2 inch to the 5 or 10 or whatever size?
  
• Do I need to keep buying rulers?

​

Thanks. I know my profile says my name is "Clementine" but it's really Kate.
It's my old, old internet handle and I'm so used to it Some use "ClementineKate" to ease confusion.

~ClementineKate

[Hulamoon]

Hi Kate. If you have a 5 1/2 ruler that would be when you are cutting yardage. There is a 5'' in the store here. Or used to be.

They don't have it, but you can get one on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Omnigrip-5-Inc...QMEF3ETRYK1972

[Clementine]

I'm referring to the "square" rulers. I have 5 1/2, 6 1/2, 8 1/2 12 1/2 and a new 9 1/2. All squares.
I have (3!) 6 1/2 X 24 1/2 and a 9.5"x 9.5" as well as a 2 1/2 X 18.

Then I have triangles and misc shapes galore.

I'm a real sucker.
Plus they keep coming out with better and better ones.
The older ones I couldn't even see through.

But most of them .... all .... add 1/2 inch. I can see they would be used for cutting yardage.
So that means I would need to buy ANOTHER for squaring out? Or use the measurements?

When I am squaring things do I want a 5" square or a 5 1/2"?

[Clementine]

I really can't afford more rulers!
I just want to know what size my pinwheels should be?
5 or 5 1/2?
If I mix the pinwheels with pre-cut solids; obviously they need to be 5"
Then with my 1/4th inch seams they end up at 4"?

[K. McEuen]

I just want to know what size my pinwheels should be?
5 or 5 1/2?
If I mix the pinwheels with pre-cut solids; obviously they need to be 5"
Then with my 1/4th inch seams they end up at 4"?

You answered your own question. IF you plan on using the pinwheels with charm squares they need to be 5". Use the sides of your ruler that doesn't have the extra 1/2" on it. Square 2 sides, turn the pinwheel, square the other two sides.

As for your 1/4" seam, your 5" square will become 4.5" finished, not 4 inches.

[Clementine]

On Amazon I found a 5 X 24" ruler. No I/2s
http://www.amazon.com/OLipfa-5-Inch-...uilting+rulers
That way I can use it for more than one thing ...... still looking ....

[Clementine]

With my A.D.D. brain ..... I'd never remember to turn it around, K.
With a 24" that would help my brain.
The 5 1/2"Omnigrip is 5 1/2 inch all around.
( ... writing down things helps sort through a problem ....)

[K. McEuen]

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop...te-charm-maker

There is a 5" template for cutting your own charms, can be used for squaring up too.

[Hulamoon]

If you are doing it Jenny's way they will come out to 5 1/2''

[Hulamoon]

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop...te-charm-maker

There is a 5" template for cutting your own charms, can be used for squaring up too.

Where was that when I was looking for it lol