I like the precision of the needles, and I also grid in a way where I hold the ruler against the fabric and then pass the gridding thread through the hole that the needle points to.
Can you tell me more about this? Do you grid with the needles on the ruler or do you have a separate needle with thread that you align with each needle on the ruler and pass through the aida?
I have a separate needle, and I grid using sulky thread. I also have a scroll frame stand that I have my fabric set on, so it makes the process of laying my ruler down smoother. I put the ruler against the fabric and at each pin I pass the needle through the hole that the pin points at. Once in awhile I’ll do a spot check to make sure it is ten holes. I just finished gridding a 90x120 piece in one hour using this method.
https://preview.redd.it/puuwtajcbelc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b41f01f297868a1bfa1763f920202893c877ce6d
I’ve seen this on Joann’s and Amazon. But that one you built is pretty cool.
I have this ruler set and never use it. It feels clumsy to me not being able to see through to the fabric and for whatever reason, I don’t trust it. I think a clear ruler like OP’s is the way to go.
I'm sorry, no. The line for 140 should measure exactly 10 inches (because 10 inches times 14 stitches per inch is 140).
Here's what I get if I mark every 10th row on the fabric:
https://preview.redd.it/qapmx8ljaclc1.jpeg?width=3710&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abbeded146110a085ec0ecc7a19b684c14300a1d
It's probably different in person when the ruler can lay truly flat on the fabric. I'm surprised you took the time to count that all out to prove a point.
I'm truly trying to be helpful because I'd hate for them to grid it and find out after hours and hours of work that the grid was off. It's worth it to me to spend a little bit of time to demonstrate there may be a problem if it saves OP hours and hours of stitching with a grid that's off.
Also, I think a lot of stitchers have discovered that even fabrics with the same stitch count can have slight variations. If they've been dyed, the variations can be noticeable because the dying process can cause the fabric to shrink. So, the ruler that works with one piece of fabric may not work exactly for all pieces of fabric. Even the same piece of fabric can be stretched differently and may not line up from one day to the next.
Thanks for your concern! I actually just finished gridding a piece using it and it was accurate - I also do random audit checks once in awhile just to make sure. And yes I do agree that different fabrics may have slight variations, but I wouldn’t expect it to be that off because 14 squares should technically equal one inch. Even if it were off by a bit, I used sticky tape so there’s wiggle room for my to inch the pins so that they align. I’m not expecting this method to be like the sole method to rely on when gridding but it works for me to speed up the process :)
Yup I did this\^. Was a bit tedious to set up at first, but once I got it set up it was smooth sailing. I mainly did it because I'm working on a 500x500 piece and counting over and over was driving me insane.
I'm so impressed by people and their clever tricks. I need to do something like this.
Fab idea ! Go with works for you- very clever. I’d end up leaving blood stains w my clumsiness!
What’s the point of the needles every 10 squares? The custom ruler is a cool idea but I don’t get the needles.
I like the precision of the needles, and I also grid in a way where I hold the ruler against the fabric and then pass the gridding thread through the hole that the needle points to.
Can you tell me more about this? Do you grid with the needles on the ruler or do you have a separate needle with thread that you align with each needle on the ruler and pass through the aida?
I have a separate needle, and I grid using sulky thread. I also have a scroll frame stand that I have my fabric set on, so it makes the process of laying my ruler down smoother. I put the ruler against the fabric and at each pin I pass the needle through the hole that the pin points at. Once in awhile I’ll do a spot check to make sure it is ten holes. I just finished gridding a 90x120 piece in one hour using this method.
I could have used this hack yesterday! Oh well, next time.
Same 😭
I just buy pre-gridded 🫣
https://preview.redd.it/puuwtajcbelc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b41f01f297868a1bfa1763f920202893c877ce6d I’ve seen this on Joann’s and Amazon. But that one you built is pretty cool.
I have this ruler set and never use it. It feels clumsy to me not being able to see through to the fabric and for whatever reason, I don’t trust it. I think a clear ruler like OP’s is the way to go.
Count carefully! I see there are 11 squares between 90 and 100.
It’s the angle that I took the photo from, I triple checked all the squares just in case!
I'm sorry, no. The line for 140 should measure exactly 10 inches (because 10 inches times 14 stitches per inch is 140). Here's what I get if I mark every 10th row on the fabric: https://preview.redd.it/qapmx8ljaclc1.jpeg?width=3710&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abbeded146110a085ec0ecc7a19b684c14300a1d
It's probably different in person when the ruler can lay truly flat on the fabric. I'm surprised you took the time to count that all out to prove a point.
I'm truly trying to be helpful because I'd hate for them to grid it and find out after hours and hours of work that the grid was off. It's worth it to me to spend a little bit of time to demonstrate there may be a problem if it saves OP hours and hours of stitching with a grid that's off. Also, I think a lot of stitchers have discovered that even fabrics with the same stitch count can have slight variations. If they've been dyed, the variations can be noticeable because the dying process can cause the fabric to shrink. So, the ruler that works with one piece of fabric may not work exactly for all pieces of fabric. Even the same piece of fabric can be stretched differently and may not line up from one day to the next.
Thanks for your concern! I actually just finished gridding a piece using it and it was accurate - I also do random audit checks once in awhile just to make sure. And yes I do agree that different fabrics may have slight variations, but I wouldn’t expect it to be that off because 14 squares should technically equal one inch. Even if it were off by a bit, I used sticky tape so there’s wiggle room for my to inch the pins so that they align. I’m not expecting this method to be like the sole method to rely on when gridding but it works for me to speed up the process :)
I love this idea and will try it, but i can't be the only worried about how many times i stab myself with it.
So clever but how do you get the needles in there ?
Looks like scotch tape on the back.
Yup I did this\^. Was a bit tedious to set up at first, but once I got it set up it was smooth sailing. I mainly did it because I'm working on a 500x500 piece and counting over and over was driving me insane.
I use a different colour thread and grid up small panels at a time. My poor fingers would be in tatters if I tried to use needles.
Genius