A good ruler?
 

Hello,

I am wondering what determines a good ruler for cutting for quilting. I'm shopping for one, as I lost the one someone had given me. I am new to this. :)

If you could make recommendations I would appreciate it.

Thank you,

Karen

I like creative grids rulers or omni rulers.

This is almost a "use" question. I don't know any quilters who have only 1 ruler. That's like asking, do you like fabric? These days, I really like the ones that have the little grippers on the back so that they don't slip. My most favorite ruler when I am squaring up a quilt is an 8.5 x 24 that I have. When I am doing normal cutting, I have a 6x24 that is good. When I am squaring blocks, I have a 6x6 and a 12.5x12.5 that are my favorites. When I am doing embroidery, I have a ruler that is 15x15 and has slots to mark where I want to center the embroidery pattern.

Seriously, most of the longer strip rulers 4.5 x 24 or 6.5 x 24 have all the lines to do triangles and 60 degree items. You can make do with one of them, but you get to work a bit harder to do it. When buying a new ruler, make sure you can see the lines on both light, medium and dark/black fabric.

Good luck!

If you are asking for brand recommendations then I'd nominate:
1. Olfa Frosted
2. Creative Grids
those are tied for first place.
3. Wrights EZ rulers

If you are asking which type is best as a starter ruler, I'd nominate the 8-1/2" x 24" Creative Grids for versatility.

I have so many different rulers - mostly Omni-Grid rulers - but the main ones I use are the 6 x 24 inch and the 6 x 12 inch. Lately I have been using my 3 x 18 inch ruler.

My 6 x 24 inch ruler I put those little sand paper dots on it so it doesn't slip because it is not an Omni-Grid.

I second this. I wish I had started with Creative Grids brand when I first started quilting.
The 6 1/2 X 24 or the 8 1/2 X24 is a good place to start, then add a square up ruler, 8.5 or 9.5 are the ones I use most.

i prefer the fluorescent laser marked ones. they are easy to see on light or dark fabrics and the lines are so easy to see. my favorite size is the 6.5x24

I use Omni-grid and the newer Omni-grip rulers mostly. Love them.

I have rulers from all manufacturers but I really love the ones Kaye England does. I have 2 complete sets of them and use them constantly. I did a seminar with her to learn how to used the marking on them to get really accurate cuts.

I like my Olfa frosted ones best. they are the easiest ones for me to read.

the Creatve Grids ones seem overly "busy" to me.

I like the Creative Grid rulers, and I'll tell you why. They have black AND white lines, so you can see on light or dark fabric. And they have dashed lines instead of solid lines. You can see where the edge of the fabric is, in relation to the lines, with a dashed line. They also have the rough dots on the back so they grip better. My 4 favorite sizes are 6 1/2" X 24 1/2", 6 1/2" X 12 1/2", 6 1/2" square and 12 1/2" square. It's important for the squares to have their diagonal line in the very corner of the ruler, so you can square-up your half-square-triangles, etc.

I like my OmniGrid rulers with the Guidelines strips applied so they don't slip but do slide when needed to reposition. This for my basic rulers.

While I also like Creative Grids, I do like and ruler that has a 1/2" extra measurement because I am easily distracted and can cut from the incorrect side of the ruler quite easily.

Specialty rulers are rated by ability to use easily and for multiple uses.

yep. i know what you mean.
i had fits the first few times i used a friend's Creative Grids ruler.
but it's worth getting used to because it doesn't slip and all those extra markers do come in handy.
they ain't cheap, though, so if you know anybody who ones one, take it for a few test drives to try before you buy.

Creative Grids! I'm fairly new and at my first quilting class the owner allowed my to try almost every brand on the market. Right away I found I didn't like frosted, or those neon yellow colored ones. True Cut was kinda cool, but expensive and I already had rotary cutters (their rulers/cutters work together).

As soon as I tried Creative Grids, I was sold. Easy to read, I love the 1/4" and 1/2" marks on either side, and best of all THEY DONT SLIP!!! So I have slowly been investing in different sizes. Started with 6 1/2 x 24 1/2. My other favorite sizes are the 2 1/2 x 12 1/2, the 3 1/2 x 18 1/2, the 6 1/2" square, and the 12 1/2" square. I just ordered their Stripology Slotted Ruler (it's on back-order) and am looking forward to that one!

I agree with the size recommendations you've received totally. As to brand...what I suggest is to go into a shop that has a variety of brands and varieties of fabrics. Pick out fabrics - lights; mediums; darks that you like. Grab a bunch of the different brand rulers and lay them over all of the fabrics. Which rulers do YOU see the markings best. Go with that brand. I also recommend, once you've chosen the brand of ruler you like - get all the different size rulers you want ALL THE SAME BRAND. An inch is not necessarily an inch when switching from brand to brand of rulers. Has the potential to affect your cutting accuracy if you change ruler sizes mid way through your project.

Just my 2 cents.

Altho it took a bit of getting used to for me, the Martelli ruler helped me make the most accurate cuts. No slipping and the 'slits' keep the fabric in the same place. For the first time, my 9 patch didn't need any squaring up. Their stuff is not inexpensive but it does what it says. They just had their 50% off sale and there should be another in the spring. BTW, I'm not affiliated with them in any way. ;-)

Omni here, I put felt dots on the back of all my rulers and sometimes I also use invisi grip on the back for more stability. As far as sizes I have all from 1x6, 2" sq, 3x17, 6x24, 6" sq, etc. People often ask why do you need so many rulers but seriously I use all of them at one point or another.

I have all kinds. I like the Olfa Frosted and Creative Grids the best for basic rulers. I never pass up a great sale price on a ruler I already have. After time they get scratched, cloudy, or nicked edges.

I use the OmniGrid & OmniGrip ones. My favorites being the 8.5" x 24", and the 12.5" square.

Do you mean you don't like those types? I didn't realize creative grids rulers had that 1/2". My fiskars rotary ruler has it and it's one thing I don't like about it. My omni brand square rulers have it (9.5" and 12.5") and I don't like it much on them either.

I have only bought years ago almost every size that Omnigrid and Omnigrip has made from JAF when on sale. This was years before Creative Grids came out. I could probably take the 12 days of Xmas tune and write a jingle for all the sizes I have. :)

I like the June Taylor "Shape Cut" rulers. the ones that have the slits for your rotary cutter. For a beginner you might check theses out, wish I had known about them, when first started out making quilts.

I vote for Creative Grids.

I really, really don't like the yellow-marked rulers. I'd like to trade them. Can't focus on the measurement marks easily..that yellow distracts my eyes. I hear the orange -marked rulers are easier on the eyes, I've seen them and I agree.
My favorite go-to rulers, hands down: frosted Olfas. 6x24, 4.5 x4.5, 2.5x2.5. That 4.5x4.5 is special. Listen to me talking about rulers as if they were my kids LOL!!

quilter's rule rulers have thick lines which I think interferes with cutting accuracy.

they have gridding in the back which does make them more slip resistant.

Although I have several rulers, my go to ruler, is my June Tailor Shape cut ruler.

I vote for creative grids any time