Gotta Have An Acrylic Ruler!
Written: Dec 07 '05 (Updated Dec 08 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: clear ruler, thick acrylic, many grid measuring lines and bias measurements, bold numbers
Cons: orange numbers and lines hard to see against some fabrics
The Bottom Line: I am teaching the Bottom Line to quilt. I just wish it would stop pretending it is Luke Skywalker and that this ruler is a light saber.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Fiskars Acrylic Ruler (6" x 24") 8762 |
I have been sewing for over 20 years and have been using a rotary cutter for at least half that time. Anyone who uses a rotary cutter knows the importance of having at least one acrylic ruler. One of the acrylic rulers I own is the Fiskars 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler.
Description
As the name of the ruler suggests, this acrylic ruler measures 6" wide x 24" long. Both sides of the ruler are smooth. It is constructed from clear 1/8"-thick acrylic and has orange and black markings. The markings are orange since that is Fiskars’ trademark color.
The orange numbers on the ruler are about 3/8" big and plenty large enough to read since they are also bolded. The short side of the ruler (both top and bottom) have the numbers 1 - 5 with the last inch of the six inches extending to the edge of the ruler. Both long sides of the ruler have the numbers 1 - 23, with the 24th inch extending to the end of the ruler.
Orange and black lines extend across and down the ruler in a grid design. These lines measure in 1/8" increments. Long solid orange lines extend the full 24" length of the ruler at each quarter inch with a short dash between each quarter inch line. At each inch mark, there is a number and the line is black (instead of orange). Looking across the 6" width of the ruler, there are long solid black lines at every inch mark. Orange dashes between each inch mark of the ruler indicate 1/8" measurements. This ruler also has 30-degree, 45-degree and 60-degree bias lines.
The manufacturer says that the ruler markings are generated by a computer for accuracy. There is also a triangular hole at one end that can be used to hang the ruler.
My Experiences
I already own another brand acrylic ruler this size, but the ruler markings are beginning to show wear (it’s ages old!). So when I saw a sale at my local fabric store, I had to buy this Fiskars ruler. I trusted the Fiskars brandname and it was a great sale.
Since I do a lot of rotary cutting, I need a thick acrylic ruler. Many of the quilts I make use strips of fabric (ex: 2" x 44" strips). The acrylic ruler is a must for anyone interested in accurate rotary cutting.
For those who don’t know how to rotary cut, a rotary cutter is essentially a round razor blade on a stick. Hold onto the rotary cutter handle, apply even force, and roll the blade forward through layers of fabric. The acrylic ruler is an easy way to keep the rotary cutter moving forward in a straight line. Just snug the rotary cutter blade against the acrylic ruler edge while keeping one hand on the ruler (to anchor it in place) and the other hand on the rotary cutter. Once you’ve cut a few strips of fabric, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without using one of these marvels.
The Fiskars acrylic ruler is sturdy. The acrylic is thick with a bit of flex to it. Since the ruler is see-through, it is easy to see the fabric beneath the ruler. This comes in handy for when working with small bits of material. Sometimes when I have a patterned fabric that follows a straight line, it is helpful to look through the clear ruler to view the fabric as I cut.
For the most part, the ruler markings are easily visible against the fabric as I am cutting. If a fabric is orange, or a similar hue such as some red colors, the orange numbers and orange lines are more difficult to view.
I don’t just use this ruler on fabric, either. It also comes in handy for craft projects where I am working with paper. The ruler markings are also great for measuring the length of trims such as ribbon or lace.
The one drawback to a 24" ruler is that you need space to accommodate the ruler’s length so that it lays flat. I use a large rotary cutting mat. The cutting mat is made of a special material that protects the rotary cutting blade as it cuts and also protects the table surface from the cutter blade.
This Fiskars acrylic ruler is working well for me. It is easy to use and durable. The ruler has some faint scratch lines on its surface, but they are only visible when I hold the ruler up to the light. The orange and black markings look like new despite almost a year of use. Should something spill on the ruler, it is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Purchasing
This ruler retails for $12.99. I purchased it at a local Joann Fabrics store where I had a 60% off coupon. So the ruler only cost me about $5.00.
Summary
If you need a large acrylic ruler, check out the Fiskars 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler. At first I wasn’t sure if I would like the orange numbers and lines, but they are growing on me. The only problem I have is when I cut on a fabric color that is too close to the orange colored numbers and lines on the ruler. This Fiskars ruler is a good cutting aid that is lasting well. I’m glad I added it to my collection of sewing tools.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Please read my other reviews:
Olfa Self-Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Olfa 12" Self-Healing Rotating Cutting Mat
Olfa 18mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa Rotary Cutter Replacement Wheels – all sizes
Olfa 4-pack Mini Weights with Organizer
Olfa Weights
Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table
Ott Lite Flex-Arm Plus True Color Lamp
Keepsake Quilting Online Store
Joann .com Fabric & Craft Store
Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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