How do you save on quilt rulers?
 

I would like to add to my quilting rulers but I have noticed that the one I want is around $15.00s . I was wondering if there is a way to save on them? If you have any suggestions on how to make them or how to save money on them that would be great. Because just like fabric I know they can get costly.

I bought mine years ago. I just buy the one I will hopefully use.

Lowes and Home Depot carry the plexiglas and acrylic sheets. I don't know about the craft stores. Anyway, they can be cut into any shape. The acrylic sheets are the best and can be marked using a permanent marker. I would recommend a very fine point. It will be permanent. My cousin will cut me any shape on his band saw. I have a scroll saw but I have not tried it. Some picture frames come with plastic instead of glass. I did not check the hardware stores yet. Good luck!

Shop where you can use coupons such as Hobby Lobby and Joanns. Check your rulers to see if one that you already have will do the job. For instance you really don't need a special ruler to cut squares into half square triangles. Use the edge of any ruler from opposite corners. Your rulers also have 30%, 45% and 60% lines so there is a savings too. One big say 14" square ruler can take the place of lots of smaller squares. True they may not be quite as convenient but a savings for sure. I imagine others can give more examples also. That is what comes to mind quickly.

Ditto. I have very few rulers because many times a regular ruler will do. The few specialty rulers I have will do multiple sizes of their particular thing, not just one size. Coupons help tremendously. You could also ask at a local guild or post on QB and see if anyone has the one you are looking for for sale. I found a multiple size Dresden template, in package, on EBay for less than other places.

You wanna know how I do it? I make shop samples for my LQS. :) I get a discount on anything I buy. If the sample requires a special ruler and I want to keep it when I'm done, I have that option.

You can find used ones on Ebay. I just bought some great fussy cut templates on there last week that were gently used.

Watch for sales, use coupons, watch ads for estate sales, some guilds have annual sales where members bring in items they no longer want. Some people have many rulers/ templates they never use & decide to pass on. Participate in exchanges ( secret santa, secret sister, friend exchange, etc.) and put the rulers you wish you had on the questionaire. Put the items on an Amazon wish list & let friends/ family know you have a wishlist.

Glad you brought this up. I don't like the prices of rulers. But I never seem to find a bargain on them.
Possibly Joann's with a coupon but I have most of the standard ones. I need the specialty ones and JF doesn't seem
to carry those.
I'll keep reading.

Honestly I don't think rulers are that expensive.

You're no help!! Lol :D
(just kidding, sorta)

Craftsy has some good sales from time to time. I like the Olfa frosted rulers. Many of my rulers are from my LQS. They have 25% off sales during Open House twice a year.

I know. LOL But compared to the other items we buy for quilting rulers are inexpensive. They last for years too.

I personally will not buy a ruler because someone recommends only that particular brand. To the best of my knowledge they are for measuring. This woman I know should get a kick back (or whatever it is called) from Creative Grids I swear she acts like that's the only way to get an accurate cut. It's infuriating because some of the people live on fixed incomes and they feel like they have to purchase these because she says to.

I just have 6 x 24, 6 x 12, and 11 x 11. I like to use the coupon from Hobby Lobby when I need stuff is on the high side. It gives you 40 percent.

I have many rulers. I often look for an alternative pattern and I also have a compass. My cutting mat gives me different angles for different cuts. I also have enough books and booklets with templates and my own templates it isn't hard for me to enlarge a shape. I have diamond and hexie and Lemoyne shaped templates and wedges. I have plenty. Not about to purchase a new ruler/template for every quilt out there.

If the ruler you really want is only $15, you're lucky. Many are double or triple that. Then look at the longarm rulers, where you pay a lot more for the extra thickness. When I want a ruler (or pretty much anything else) I shop around online. Amazon, Walmart, Craftsy, Connecting Threads, JoAnn's, etc. - and eventually I'll find a good buy. Yesterday I found Bonnie Hunter's essential triangle tool at 40% off at Connecting Threads, and then just before I purchased it they came out with an additional coupon for 20% off the entire sale (if you spent $60 or more). I put yardage for a few wide backs (also on sale) in my cart and was pretty happy.

BTW, I don't look at the % off anymore, only at the price I'll be paying. I've found that 40% off at one store may be less than 50% off at another, since they start at different price points. Also shipping can enter into the equation, so often I don't purchase until I need enough to get free shipping.

Watch estate sales in your area. Many of the sellers advertise on estatesales.net. You can do an advanced search by your zipcode (you have to put "advanced search" in the search block to bring up this feature) and what you are looking for. I usually put in "sewing quilt fabric" as a search. I've bought several rulers for $1.00 each. I've bought lots of fabric, seen hand quilting frames, great pattern books and odds and ends like quilting pins. (I'm still hoping to find a Kaye Woods starmaker 6 ruler, though).

bkay

Me either! Considering the amount of "work" they do! I only have 4 and I think that finding multiple or different ways to use your present rulers can save a lot! Imagine spending $ .01 for each cut you make. How long before its paid for itself?

I limit my specialty rulers to just those that I really plan to use and can't use my regular ones. Also, I won't buy a specialty rulers unless I see at least 2 patterns that show it's use that I'd consider making. that being said, while they are expensive, they do last a long, long time and I've found that the homemade ones I've been given haven't been totally accurate. I've priced having them done by Home Depot, etc, but that isn't that cheap either and I wonder about accuracy. So I'm in the "go ahead and buy"--or look for discounts--or borrow one from a quilter friend!

I find that some of my rulers I do not use, while others I use so much I wear them out. Definitely look at Hobby Lobby and such and use their 40% online coupon. Also shopping around is very helpful, Walmart online, and make a big difference. I am kind of lazy but making your own template versus buying a specialty ruler can help cut the cost. The rulers I do not use are the specialty rulers for a specific quilt or method while rulers like the Shape Cutter I wear out because of daily use.

Check quilt shows - ours has a "country store" where members donate used items. Many times you can get rulers for cheap. Also, having volunteered at the local Salvation Army store, there are lots of donated quilting items when someone is getting out of quilting. You might also check other charity shops. Oh, and if you google salvation army, there used to be a store (or maybe more than one) that sold online. Also, check with your friends - do they have rulers that they no longer want. Maybe they would sell to you for reasonable price.

Creative Grids have a lot of nice specialty rulers but I can honestly say not one brand out there I have used come close to Quilter's Select rulers. Yes all ruler measure but QS are non glare, do not slip, cling to the fabric and have very thin easy to read lines. QS comes in basic ruler sizes. I have a lot of the yellow and orange rulers that most have. They are awful compared to the new rulers out now.

And I want them to be ACCURATE. Maybe swap rulers with others? Tho I never let go of my tools.

Sandy

I've never heard of quilter's select. The ones I have that I don't like are the ones with the yellow lines- can't think of the name at the moment but I don't like them at all.
I'm going to check out the ones you mentioned.

If people ask you what you want for your birthday, Christmas (or whatever holiday name you use) or any other occasion give them them the name and brand of the specific ruler you want. Savings 100%. :)

I also don't think the majority of rulers are that expensive. You just have to be sure you don't have two of the basically same rulers, just named differently.As I've stated before, I have enough trouble wrapping my head around patterns and if buying a ruler makes it easier for me then I buy it. Life is too short to bang my head against the wall daily!!

A decent ruler is worth the money.

I have upgraded some of mine over the years.

The first ones I bought were the Quilter's Rule ones with the ridges on the bottom and the thick lines. I would not buy them again - mainly because of the thick lines.

The next ones were the Ominigrid Rulers with the yellow lines. I like the ones that have the very thin 1/8 inch grids on them.

I bought a couple of Creative Grids ones (8-1/2 x 24-1/2, 6-1/2 x 6-1/2, 3-1/2 x 18-1/2)
For me, there are too many lines and I have to "think" too much when using them.

And my current favorites - the Olfa Frosted Rulers. The lines are thin, and they are easy for me to read.
I wish the company would come out with a few more sizes of them.

Probably the best way to "save" money is to avoid buying duplicates, and making sure that the ruler is one that you might actually use.

I feel strongly that if a certain tool, or book/pattern, is called for when attending a class, please have it! It makes things so much easier for all concerned - the instructor, the other students, and oneself!!!

I agree! The last few classes I have taken a class fee was charged in the total. That included the pattern, book, ruler, or special tool needed.

I love rulers! I usually buy them with a coupon to save $$$.

Quality rulers will last you a lifetime, and I wouldn't settle for anything less. Most of my rulers are Omnigrid, and every one of them was bought on sale, sometimes at 50% off; I've bought them from Joann's or Amazon or Fat Quarter Shop, typically. Having said this, I discovered, by watching a video for a specific quilt pattern using precuts (Fat Quarter Shop), Creative Grids rulers. They never slide around, but the reason I have fallen in love with them is because the rulers are very clear, the markings large and dark so that is very, very easy to see what you are doing. They are a bit more expensive than Omnigrid rulers, but I just wait for sales (Amazon carries all of them, by the way). These rulers are so wonderful that I intend to replace all my rulers with this brand. Regardless of your brand choice, and I do think you need known quality rulers, shop the sales.

I urge everyone to buy or try a Quilter's Select ruler. That's how good they are. Also QS mat is the best I've used and I've used them all.

See if a local community college has a maker space. My son runs the one at his school and he has 3D printed me several and I have a couple more ideas for him. He printed me 2 sizes of orange peel templates and a special gadget for marking 1/4" dots on edge of pieces for blanket stitching. Maker spaces are free to public and they will make what you need free as well (ask to be sure). These templates have no ruler marks, but orange peel didn't need any.

My two favorite rulers: Guidelines 12 inch ruler has a bar that snaps on to the underside of the ruler that runs the length of the ruler at whatever measurement you want to cut. You simply butt your fabric against the bar and can quickly cut strips without having to find the line on the ruler. The other favorite is the Creative Grids shape cut ruler that has slots across the whole width of the ruler. The ruler is clearly marked for different widths and you can cut several strips in seconds. I almost bought a ruler that was especially for cutting diamonds. But then I watched a video that showed me how to use a regular ruler to easily cut diamonds. Some of the rulers are kind of expensive but worth it to me!

Thanks for this information. I think I'll check that out.

A couple of months ago there was a local quilt show. 1 vendor was Ladybugz from Montrose, CO. She had the Quilters Select rulers & mats & I just had to try them. They were wonderful. The show ran a couple of days, I went both days & purchased 3 rulers, 2 mats & the cutter. I have the Olfa frosted but I liked these even better. Sorry, I didn't answer the question on saving. I agree with previous posters, sales, coupons, etc. What ruler are you looking for?

I need to check out those Quilter's Select. They sound nice. I looked on Amazon but didn't see any there.

I'm a recent Creative Grids convert so I'll need to stay away from the Quilter's Select. My local quilt shop has a punch card for purchases and when mine was filled, I bought my first one. Technically, I didn't really save money by doing it that way since I spent money to save money but I would have bought the other stuff anyway. I am trying to be more selective when buying rulers than I did with the brand I started out with.

I just buy rulers as I need them. Yes, they are expensive, but they are incredible time savers. I just did other projects until my budget allowed me to buy another ruler. The delay also helped me to decide whether I really needed that ruler or not. Save money on your fabric, don't worry about it as much for quality products that you will use repeatedly.

I don't have lots and lots of rulers. I am just adding them gradually, maybe one or two a year.