Welcome from Central Florida!! You have already started in the right direction (here at the QB). :-) I make most of my quilts from free patterns off the web, my go to rulers are 6"X12" & 6"X24". I use a 45mm rotary cutter & an Olfa cutting mat. I use the dollar store plastic cutting mats for template plastic as it holds up forever & is easy to see through for tracing patterns. Plus they cut easily with scissors. (Not your fabric scissors! LOL!) That fits my budget & lets me enjoy the quilting process over & over. :-) I call it quilting on a budget. LOL!! You could spend a fortune on special rulers you'll only use once, but there's a satisfaction from making your own template to make a lovely quilt!