Fun with Templates & Rulers--on a DSM!
 

Hello All! I've been MIA from this board for quite awhile, but just had to come back and share this with you.

Last spring I bought a starter set of Sew Steady Westalee templates and rulers along with a ruler foot to fit my domestic machine from my LQS. The guys there are so funny; whenever they get something new in, they tell me "We got something you need..." I had never seen these, but the clamshell template really caught my interest. I've been trying to do consistent clamshells for a long time and have never been really satisfied with them.

These are some of the sample pieces I did to try them out, and I'm having so much fun playing with them!

Here's the first one; it's just a little larger than placemat size. This is actually the 2nd piece I did with these rulers. The first one had more free motion elements in it. This does have some echoing and some small fill between the parallel lines that is free motion, but for the most part it is done using the rulers from the sampler set.
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Here are a few smaller sample pieces using some of the templates; the large rotating arc, a 2" clamshell, circles and the straight ruler.
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These next two are placemats.
On the orange one, I use the little straight ruler, the small arc, and one of the "Spin E Fex" rotating templates.
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The purple one is done with the feather template and the straight/arc ruler.
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These templates & rulers are a little pricey, but they sure are fun and it doesn't take very long to learn to use them if you have a little free motion quilting skill. The ruler foot comes in a few different versions so you can get one to fit most any brand domestic machine, so if you decide to try these, be sure to get the one that's right for yours.

*No, I am not in any way affiliated with the company that makes these, just having a ton of fun with them. I started learning to FMQ about 6 years ago, and you can find my earlier posts on this board, as this is really where I came for a lot of advice and encouragement when I started out. I have become a passionate (read "obsessed") hobby quilter, in part because of all the help from members of this board!

Wendy G

beautiful work, Wendy. I amazed and delighted every time you share.

You have done some beautiful work with these rulers. Thanks for sharing. Are you going to try a larger quilt to see if you can keep it balanced? It is so hard to keep a large quilt in place. Are there tutorials that help you learn how to use them?

Thanks again for showing so your fabulous work.
peace

I found a few videos on youtube by doing a search on "Westalee" rulers & templates. They were enough to get me started, but I had to experiment a bit to get things just the way I wanted them. The feather template was the most difficult to learn to use; placement is everything with that one!

I have used some of these rules on larger pieces. Having a large, flat surface to support the rest of the quilt is a must. You need to be able to "pool" the part you are working on and not have the rest of the quilt create any drag.

You quilting is exceptionally great. Guess the rulers work for you.

Positively droolworthy! I am always in awe of your mastery of FMQ on a domestic.

Thanks for the inspiring pictures of your really great ruler work. I have wondered about these for some time and debated with self, if I should go for it. You have egged me on some.

Just beautiful. Good purchase, I would say.

I have a longarm so I really don't need these rulers, but I am amazed at how well you have done with them on a domestic machine. I really don't understand how they work, but might check them out because sometimes I like to quilt some small projects on my domestic.

They should pay you to advertise these for them. The rulers and your already existing skills are a perfect match.

I just received this ruler foot and the sample templates yesterday. Thanks for posting your samples.

I have been playing with mine,and would like a local class....but can't find one. Guess I'll have to teach myself...aww,the joys of living in the sticks!

I purchased these rulers about a month ago but haven't had time to play yet. Your work is beautiful! I can't wait until I get time to play with mine.

wow! those are super! i had ordered the foot and basic rulers, and the 5 fill rulers/templates. i've not had time to play yet as they arrived the day before guild [saturday]. i have another guild meeting today, so hope to get to it later this week. did you have any trouble with the quilt sandwich dragging on your machine bed?

These are beautiful. I bought a set last spring but have not had the time to even think about playing with them. You have inspired me to get mine out and play with them on my upcoming vacation. I signed up for Craftsy class on using them so I hope I can do as well as you have.

I have my machine set into a large table and these pieces were small and easy to work on. On larger pieces you need to make sure you are set up so that there isn't any drag or you'll have problems, just like with any other FMQ work.

A Craftsy class to get started sounds like a fantastic idea!

Great job!! I haven't gotten the hang of moving the quilt and using the rulers yet. Maybe I should practice on something smaller.

Your work is always stunning. The rulers cranked it up another notch!

Very nice job!!!

thanks for the response

Wow Fabulous!

Your quilting is awesome!

Wow ... they are all quite beautiful.

These are beautiful. All from a DSM.

It definitely takes some practice. I tried this on my machine and did not learn very quickly at all. Need to try again when I get some time to work on this. Yours is super!!

Thanks!! An inspiration for sure.

Your work is beautiful.

Exceptional work! I really need to look into that.

Fantastic work with rulers for a domestic. I am very curious about them and hope to see them demonstrated at some quilt show. I would like to give them a try before spending lots of money.

same here...but I won't get any time with my sewing machine until summer is over.

Wendy, your work is beautiful and encouraging. I consider myself to be a beginner FMQ but if you've been able to accomplish that in six years, there's still hope for me. : )

Beautiful work! I have the starter set and ruler foot, but can't find the time to practice with them. You have inspired me to make time! Thanks for sharing your beautiful work!

I bought a couple of the rulers & foot awhile back & they are really fun. Debbie from The Quilt Journal has a few great videos for using some of the rulers & so does Amy Johnson from Quilting Adventures. There are a couple more I would love to get but they are expensive & I have never seen them on sale. I keep watching though. Also there are great videos from Westalee. They also sell rulers.

I just bought these for myself! What was the learning curve? I'm a little intimidated, but I know I have to just jump

Not enough words to express my awe in your work!! Absolutely positively beautiful! I know you used the rulers, but you indeed have a great talent to put it all together and make something so pleasing to the eye. Thank you so much for sharing.

Just like with FMQ, I think the learning curve varies by individual. I found that the most important first step to successfully using these rulers is to have an extention table or have your machine in a cabinet or table where the machine bed is LEVEL with the surrounding table top.

If I could quilt like your samples I am in!!!!

Wendy, you have mastered the rulers and templates for sure. Beautiful work.

Oh yeah, oh yeah!! :thumbup: LOVE!