Hi all
I was recently asked to review a notion kindly donated by EQS. This “Add-A-Quarter-Plus” ruler by CM Designs.
Its packaging claims to “Simplify Foundation Piecing”. Well if you are anything like me, the thought of Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) scares the living “what-zit” out of me. Previous attempts at FPP have been awful and I was firmly in the No FPP please camp. A the same time thought I have been obsessed for months (ok ….. years!!) with the New York Beauty Blocks.
So as I had this notion, I thought it was finally time to try and break my bad FPP ju-ju and have a go. To start I rewatched the video I had saved for just this occasion, and I was off.
I downloaded and printed FPP templates from one of the many free template sites I found. After cutting each template out, I selected some batiks to use for this trial. I chose batiks for two reasons. Firstly I like the look of New York Beauty blocks made up in batiks but also (and probably more importantly) they don’t have a wrong side. This way I could test the ruler without my shabby FPP skills getting in the way.
So far so good, the ruler made cutting a quarter inch easy. The ruler had a lip along one edge. This meant that I could butt it tight against the paper to ensure accuracy.
It took a while to be confident that my work was coming together. In a surprisingly quick time the first piece was finished. And didn’t look half bad! (if I do say so myself). The other block pieces came together similarly well. Now for my next “Achilles Heel”, curved piecing.
The final block needs pressing and the curve needs a bit of work, but I think overall the FPP part of the block looked a lot better than my previous attempts. The only difference between this block and previous ones was this Ruler.
As such, I would not hesitate in giving this ruler a very strong 10 out of 10! My bad FPP ju-ju has gone, and I feel confident now to try other FPP blocks, maybe even with some fussy cutting!!!
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