Originally Posted by
DogHouseMom
Whichever rulers you decide to get, I highly recommend that you get all the same manufacturer. They *play* better together. Seriously.
While at the stores, take two of the squares to some fabric and lay it out and use the tools to pretend to cut. Do the tools make sense to you? Can you easily see the hash marks and the intersects? Try them on a few different fabrics.
My personal preference is Creative Grids. When I started quilting I started with a 6X24, a 6.5 square and a 12.5" square of two different manufacturers. At some point I needed a different size and I bought a Creative Grids. I have since collected every size they make. They are well marked, can be used to the left or the right, easy to see, have 1/4 and 1/5 edges that are frosted, have non-slip dots on the back, marked angles with good intersecting hash marks. All around - great rulers.
Oh my - thought this was me talking! I'm definitely a believer in having all your rulers be of the same brand. And tae what initially appeals to you to both some light and dark fabrics and see which brand you prefer on BOTH fabrics. I'm not so wedded to the frosted edges - I never remember why they are there or which measurement I'm using at the time, lol.
But yes, start with the basics - you know what they are. Go to JoAnns armed with coupons. Since you've been down this road previously, you probably already have some brand preferences. Go with your gut. You can take your time.
Remember, all you really need is fabric, needle, thread and some scissors. Anything other than that is just there to make your life easier. It definitely takes time to amass all of our goodies - most of which we can live without for a while.