You have the ideas. I would also invest in a bias square up ruler. It is easier to use than a square ruler. Martingale made the one I have.

ali

I get my rulers when JoAnns has them half price.

My favorite work horse ruler is the 8 1/2 x 24. After that my 6 1/2 inch ruler and 12 1/2 square up get used the most. I do a lot of quilts on point and have one to cut the triangles on the edge. I like having the straight of grain on the ends so I don't like cutting squares in half for the set in triangles. I like cutting them from a strip.

I love any ruler that will save me time. But some I can mark off on the rulers I already have.

I have an 8.5 x 24 and an 8.5x12 that I use the most. I like the extra widths.

ditto to this

and i use my 12.5 squaring ruler all the time too - it squares blocks from 2.5 to 12.5 inches

I have a few rulers and the ones that I use the most are my 6.5 square my 6.5x24 and my 2.5x6.5 I have a 12.5" square and a 8.5" square and a 6.5x18" also but dont use them quite as much as the others. I would get a diamond ruler maybe and would either get an olfa or one that I saw from martelli's. saw it at a quilt show. those two would be the ones that i would get. have a fiskers now and it works for the price i was willing to pay. looking at getting a larger one soon.

The ruler I use the most is the 6"x24" and I use my rotating mat almost as much as my big mat.

I use a 2x20 and a 3x18 more than any others. Also the June Taylor cutting thing.

The 6x24 gets in my way. The bigger squares area bulky. I use a tile (12x12) from the home store for 49cents to square-up some blocks.

I agree with QuiltnNan

I don't think any mat is self-healing for life. I have gone through 4 over the last 15 years, but I use the old ones for various things. I have also found a little 6 x 8" mat useful for cutting and for carrying to classes.

My favorite ruler is 6 x 12 but I don't have a huge amount of space for cutting.

Ruler: My newest best friend is a 2.5 x 6.5 creative grid ruler, I love it and use it most by my machine.


Mats: I use Fiskars most because the colors enable me to see the edge of the fabric more clearly. I recently purchased the pink one which works great for the more intense jewel and earth tones I love. For the lighter colors I still use the OLFA green one. I also use a OLFA 5.5 x 7.5 and a Omnigrid 8 x 11 (these are actual grid measurements) on a table by my sewing chair for quick cuts.

Regarding mats and self-healing. I do not believe any of them are totally self-healing forever. If you always cut in the same area, you will lose that area. The trick for me is to use enough pressure to cut the fabric, but not so much that I cut deep into the mat.

Where are you visiting in the U.S.?