One of the things that keeps me sane, especially with smaller blocks.. on your sewing machine or the sewing table, there may be a pre-printed ruler. As I am still what I would consider a advanced beginner, I do a couple of things. I use stronge see through tape and tape one of those cloth measuring rulers. I snip it at 18 inches and make sure it's very flat and then cover it with the tape. I have measured twice at the cutting table and now I'm sitting at the sewing machine and I can just have that one extra peek. Another thing I do, use brown paper tape and place it right at the edge of the 1/4 "line on the plate. I have also used a thin maker and made a 1/4" black line to extend from the bottom of the plate down to the very bottom of of ruler that I have taped. Since I'm older and even though I wear glasses, that 1/4" is the absolute rule for quilting. yes, I know someone will toss in "using a scant 1/4" ".... and I don't have a clue on how to measure that so you're on your own on that one. The very first time that I held up a quilt top and every block met at each corner, I thought some one else had made it..

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