Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • rulers for machine quilting >
  • rulers for machine quilting

  • rulers for machine quilting

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 03-13-2021, 06:06 PM
      #1  
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Apr 2018
    Posts: 8
    Smile rulers for machine quilting

    Hello everyone! I am trying to figure out what would be the best rulers to use with my longarm for quilting. anyone got ideas or favorites and I would love to hear the pros and cons of your choices. I just got my long arm about a year ago and have one done meandering to get use to it now I want to try rulers. I don't have a computer on mine so it is basically freehand.
    Thanks for all the help and your ideas!
    quiltlady#3 is offline  
    Old 03-13-2021, 08:52 PM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,535
    Default

    There are tons of rulers out there, you would need to try some out. A straight edge and nice curve would be good to start.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 03-13-2021, 11:04 PM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: May 2011
    Location: Pacific NW
    Posts: 9,556
    Default

    I agree with Tartan, a straight edge and a curve are good places to start. The problem with longarm rulers is they can be fairly expensive and nobody carries them in retail stores, so you pretty much have to order them directly from the designer/maker. And the kind of rulers you will find useful depend mainly on what kind of quilting you want to do, so it's a very personal decision.

    Lisa Calle, Bethanne Nemesh, Deloa Jones, Jamie Wallen, Margaret Solomon Gunn (I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I have purchased from) are all professional quilters and have designed specialty longarm quilting rulers. I think the first thing you should do is find videos on their websites, YouTube, and/or Facebook, and watch them demonstrate how they use their rulers. Ask around locally to see if you can borrow a ruler or two from a quilting friend. I was actually able to borrow a couple of rulers from my local Innova dealer and test them out.

    Last edited by Peckish; 03-13-2021 at 11:08 PM.
    Peckish is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 04:16 AM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    jmoore's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Feb 2011
    Location: Boothbay Maine
    Posts: 9,518
    Default

    Tartan is right, there are a lot of resources for LA quilting rulers and Peckish named a few good ones. I was fortunate to have received a straight and curved ruler with the purchase of my LA. I have then purchased a few rulers at quilt expos where I have taken classes from LA quilters. Deloa Jones has a great selection of rulers, Natalia Bonner has a great 4n1 ruler and has YouTube videos as does Amanda Murphy who is a Bernina ambassador, but the list goes on...
    jmoore is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 05:27 AM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2010
    Location: Rustburg, VA
    Posts: 621
    Default

    Quilters Rule is another source for longarm rulers.
    BettyM is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 05:35 AM
      #6  
    Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2019
    Location: Oregon
    Posts: 65
    Default

    If you search for "Quilting Rulers" on YouTube you'll get a lot of videos to see various rulers in use. I have quite a few rulers designed by Angela Walters and Leah Day.

    Jim
    Flyboy Jim is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 06:14 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2019
    Location: northern minnesota
    Posts: 2,480
    Default

    My advice would be to stick with only 2-3 until you decide if you want to do ruler work. Don't forgot you also need a ruler table attachment for your longarm to safely use the rulers. My advice would be start out with a fairly short straight ruler only about 6-8 inch long and two inches wide. That actually is my go to ruler. bigger rulers get in the way. make sure it is a long arm ruler (about 1/4 inch thick) I got one with a "sticky" type tape on the bottom that makes it very easy to hold in place without too much pressure and is also easy to pick up and move. I bought about 7-8 rulers over the years and yep...about 6 of them I haven't ever used. Once you get the hang of the straight edge rule, get one with a nice curve. Yes angela Walters does have a lot of nice rulers.
    sewingpup is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 08:14 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    maryb119's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2009
    Location: Iowa
    Posts: 8,128
    Default

    I like Quilter's Apothocary rulers. I have arthritis in my hands and these rulers have handles to hold them in place. I have a straight edge and a curve ruler and a couple triangle shape ones. I love their web site that had short how to videos. I can order them on line and have them in a couple days. They work well for me.
    maryb119 is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 08:32 AM
      #9  
    Power Poster
     
    dunster's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2009
    Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
    Posts: 15,239
    Default

    I've accumulated a huge selection of rulers over the years. Handi-Quilter makes some really good ones, including the Versa Tool. I prefer rulers that are clear and etched with helpful lines. I do not like rulers with handles. The ruler I use most is a SITD ruler. I use it for SITD to stabilize a quilt, and also for straight lines within the blocks. I also use circles of different sizes, and clamshell rulers. If you have an opportunity to go to a big quilt show, take a class in longarm quilting with rulers. The instructor usually has a selection of the rulers that she sells and you can get an idea of how to use them and decide which ones you're most likely to use.
    dunster is offline  
    Old 03-14-2021, 08:34 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    juliasb's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2010
    Location: Waterford Michigan
    Posts: 7,241
    Default

    I picked up my rulers at the LQS about 20 miles from me. I have yet to use them. I am hoping to get the machine (mid arm) repaired in the near future and then go to townwith them.
    juliasb is offline  

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter