bamamama

Before I spend another small fortune on rulers, guides and templates (still broke from purchasing the machine)I was wondering if some of the more experienced Long Arm Quilters could recommend a good starter package of rulers, etc. that are the most helpful to a beginner. Thanks!

nycquilter

I love the Gadget Girls (thegadgetgirls.com). I use several of their rulers all the time. I particularly like the circles. I often do feathers. I also like the straight edge ruler. Another favorite is the one for making swags.

knlsmith

cool stuff! Wow are rulers really that expensive though? I was looking at some of their package deals. I am also a soon to be LA owner.

feline fanatic

The tool I find most helpful to a LA beginner is practice. I find the template tools just too pricey at this stage of the game. Besides I like the look of free hand guided. When I took delivery of my machine, I did spring for a straight edge ruler though. I think a straight ruler might be the most universal LA template.

kathy

yes rulers and templates are expensive because they have to be 1/4" thick, don't make the mistake I did, I thought I found a really good deal, they were like 1/2 the prices I'd seen elsewhere! so I bought several sets for $75, when I got them I realized that they were DESIGNING templates, only 1/8" thick! A must have is a stitch in the ditch, I've heard a lot about the linetamer (haven't bought it yet tho) and there is a 4 in 1 tool that I see used a lot, I do have that one

Queen Deb

I have used my circle set a bunch and the straight ruler for in the ditch work. I also have a flower that I have used on a bunch of stuff. My approach was to buy a few that I knew I could use and then try to use them in as many ways /designs as I could.

StitchinJoy

I rarely use rulers. I do mostly freehand and custom work with very few pantographs.

I use rulers for stitching in the ditch. I have two that I use most often, the one that came with my A-1 Elite longarm machine and a nice little Megan Best ruler. I love the little ruler because it fits my hand so well, and also because it has a quarter inch cutout along the side. That allows me to hold the ruler on the seamline, while the machine stitches in the ditch. You can get it at http://www.bestquilter.com/2.html

When I want to make straight lines (not stitching in the ditch), I prefer not to use a ruler at all. I prefer MARKING the straight lines on the top with chalk, either by drawing with a piece of school chalk or by pouncing with chalk.

I find the stencil by Pam Clarke, with straight lines one inch apart, is one of the most useful tools in my workroom. I use it for piano key and beadboard borders and also for marking small spaces for crosshatching, like behind applique.
http://www.homestitches.com

I'm not affiliated with these women or their companies.

sewwhat85

that is great info thanks

candlequilter

I agree with feline here - practice is the most valuable of all the tools you can have.

I went to a 3 day longarm class thru my Gammill distrubutor and we did free motion and custom using basically easy things you would normally have at home as guides. The one I really liked was the 1 inch strip of tape that has about 1/8 or maybe 1/4 inch of foam on it and you tape it to your top and use that as a guide for your hopping foot. Great for doing cross hatch and etc. Plus you can reuse each stripe numerous times. We made a practice quilt top by having 9 squares that were 8 or 9 inches squares and 3 x 3 then in each of those squares you practice one little element like making little feathers, or the crosshatching, or taking a jar lid and stitching around it just to get comfortable making designs. Do you have micro handles for your longarm? They make alot of difference too.

Good luck,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

suezquilts

I didn't read all the posts, but what I did was went to the glass specialists and had them cut me a few rulers, round ones for the center of feathers, and straight ones around 3 inches wide. I did this for a fraction of the cost, and then I went hog wild and purchased Gadgit Girls and several others.
Which I sold after I purchased the Statler... lots of $ invested in the rulers...