I am a Bonnie Hunter fan!! Pure and simple! Love her patterns, love the way she is so generous with her time and ideas and love the way she pokes around Thrift Shop! A gal after my own heart!
So when Bonnie tossed out the idea to use clear textured Nexcare surgical tape on the back of your rulers to prevent slippage, bells and whistles went off!!
I wasn’t sure whether I could buy this tape in Canada so I went right out and bought some before we left Southern California!
Before I go any further…I need to back up a bit….
I really wanted/ NEEDED a Block Loc Ruler to make trimming half square triangles easier..it’s the square ruler with the groove down the middle…(you put the groove over the seam and it locks the HST tight so that it won’t shift and the ruler won’t rock which makes squaring up these blocks so much easier). Of course none of the three thousand Quilt Shops that I had visited had one!!
So when Bonnie mentioned Nexcare on the back of rulers…I had an idea…why not try to make my own squaring up ruler!
Do you see how I placed the tape on the back of my square ruler…1/4” on either side of the diagonal line and two small pieces in the corners!
Here’s another view…
Does it work…??
It sure does!! The Nexcare strips forms the groove and by placing the smaller ones on the side you get no rocking!
Bring on those Half Square Triangles!! I’m ready for YOU!
THANKS, BONNIE…add to that list…I love how SMART you are!!
Have a Wicked Wednesday and Happy Quilting!~P
You Go Girl, Go Sew Girl!! :)
ReplyDeleteWell done Paulette! Quilters helping quilters is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good idea, I am always fighting with my rulers and always end up moving just enough to make a bad cut.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I use this tape on my Marti Michell templates too. My Quilt Buddy shared this tip with our small group making Marti's Block of the Month and Farmer's wife. I like how you put the tape on your ruler rather than buying yet another ruler!
ReplyDeleteNexcare is going to go down the same road as Freezer paper did! Booyah!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't you know you could have bought your Block Loc ruler locally, but you saved $30+ !! Way to go, Thrifty!
ReplyDeleteI bought one on the Oregon Coast, at Forget Me Knots, the shop you bypassed because you couldn't park the rig!!
I can't remember when or from whom I heard this great tip about the tape for the back of rulers but as soon as I did, I went right out to my local (SDM) drug mart and purchased a roll. I stuck it on every piece of acrylic tool I had and rejoiced that I would have no more slipping. Fast forward to the last month or so while clearing out my parents' home, I have found about six or seven rolls of the tape and then in my son's room (he's in the long process of moving away) I found yet more from his various first aid kits. I can fix all my friends up with this tip too. I don't know why I thought it was such a rare thing. Only thing to do is to go out and buy more rulers.:-)
ReplyDeleteOMG! I am going out this afternoon to buy a roll. Sounds great. You've got to know I have tons of HST's that need squaring up!! Thanks for passing the tip on!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea,,, but Deb Tucker's rulers are sooo much easier. She has many different kinds for various blocks and once you get The Tucker Trimmer, you'll want them all....they are very accurate! L
ReplyDeleteI agree about the Nexcare tape. Last time I went to buy some they were out (walmart) so I bought a cheaper generic brand and like it better. It's got a few more ridges that seem to cling better and is a little more transparent. I also have the Tucker trimmers all affixed with the tape and now I get very accurate cutting with no slippage.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Your blog is all pleasantly posted.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy patchwork time. :))
great idea I have that tape here I am going to have to give this a try
ReplyDeleteI use the nexcare liquid bandage comes in a bottle like nailpolish all the time to help heal the needle pricks in my fingers from hand applique and hand quilting, love their stuff!
Kathie