How to use a Wave Edge Ruler

I bought this ruler at the Dallas Quilt Show and finally decided to give it a try. It was not easy at first, but after the 5th or 6th time, I finally had the hang of it.

You have to use a 28mm rotary cutter. I tried the 18mm, but it didn't cut through 2 layers of fabric very well. I also had trouble with the ruler slipping a lot while I was cutting, so at first I put tape on the back and used my magnet cutting pad to hold it in place. This worked ok for awhile, then I decided to use my rubber stamping foam. It is sticky on one side & foam on the other. It worked well being placed on the back of the ruler. It didn't move at all!!

First I cut out 9X9 blocks of different materials from my Camelot Cottons Collection. I made a 2 inch strip out of the orange block with the Wave Edge ruler. Then grabbed a purple square fabric. I put the orange fabric on top and slid it down over the purple about 1/2 inch, then moved my rotary straight up the wave edge ruler. All fabrics are face up when cutting.

Then I grab the next color (lime green & purple strips)  and lay the wave edge side of the purple block about 2 inches down on top of  the lime green & purple strip block. Add the wave edge ruler and cut. Now you have two wavy strips made. The orange and the purple.

Then I pick my next color of fabric, purple with orange stars and do the same thing. I put the lime green & purple strip fabric with the wave edge on top of the purple and orange stars fabric. Move it about 2 inches down, then cut along the wave edge ruler.

Here is a picture after several cuts. I lined them up in order of cutting on my hand made iron board.

Before you start sewing you need to cut little snips in the valleys of the wavy edge. Start by turning one of the wavy edges right side up. Match the hills up. Then cut small snips in the valleys of the fabrics wavy edge.

Now for the sewing part. It was odd to learn at first, but after awhile I started to fill more comfortable with it. You take the first two strips of your wavy edges and put them face to face. The strips wont line up with the waves, so you have use long tweezers and pull the top fabric over the bottom while your sewing and match the ends up, then use them again to pull the bottom fabric to the edge.
As you sew and keep lining the wavy edges up it all works out after you iron it down. I sewed 1/4 from the edge and marked it with tape on my sewing machine.

After sewing, I ironed the wavy strips. Grabbed my next piece and begin again. 

I would move your wave edge ruler in different positions while cutting, that way you don't have the same wavy lines all the way across.


I hope this Blog helps everybody out who is interested in using a wavy edge ruler. I really enjoyed it and the outcome was AWESOME!!
Happy Sewing ; )