Watson

When you finish one line with a ruler and want to make a line 90 degrees to it, how do you know where to start again?

With the foot adding 1/4" to everything, I can't seem to line anything up correctly. I end up not starting at the point of the previous line. I'm sure there's a trick and I'm just not getting it?

It's seems like I can make a straight line faster just doing FMQ.

Watson

Tartan

Right now I am using the Bernina straight edge ruler to stitch around my stars. I find it helpful to put a little chalk mark 1/4 inch away from star point so I know where to stop so I can reposition my ruler to go down the next star angle. Make sure you are using your needle down function so you can reposition without the quilt shifting. If you can FMQ straight lines better then using your ruler, go for it.

quiltedsunshine

The more marks you put on the quilt, the easier it is to work with those rulers. Some of the rulers have some very useful lines on them, but I find I get a better result when I mark the quilt, instead.

My favorite marking tools are a white Charcoal pencil (not chalk) for dark fabrics and a pink Frixion pen for light colored fabrics.

Kwiltr

90% of the time I use a straight edge ruler that is 2" X 10" which is etched with 1/4" lines going lengthwise along the ruler and lines across the ruler at 1" intervals and naturally at a 90° angle (perpendicular to) to the edge you place your hopping foot along. I use the lines which run perpendicular to check myself to make sure I am staying square to the line I just stitched for example, if you were making a square. It keeps me straight. I use the marks that run the length of the ruler at 1/4" intervals as a check to ruler placement as well against the line I just stitched or previous lines in a succession. Having said all that, if you are familiar with Judi Madsen, she says she always pre marks her lines, because that is the only way you can be sure they will end up where you want them. I've done it both ways, marked and unmarked, and I always end up with better results when I premark my lines. Stitching on an angle always throws me. With practice you will get better an eyeballing where your ruler needs to be at the other end to hit your mark. Even with marked lines, I always put my needle down in the line I'm about to stitch, and then look down the length of the ruler to see if it's running square with your marked line or other reference point. It'll get better, it just takes some practice and it helps to have some reference lines etched or drawn on your ruler. I've used this same ruler on my Janome 6600, my Sweet 16 Sitdown and now my APQS Lenni. It's my favourite all round. Not to big to hold onto, but big enough to go a fair distance. Once you get the hang of it, you won't be able to do without it!

rryder

When I want to do perpendicular lines while quilting with rulers I start with my needle down on the line I ended on, then I use a straight ruler that has cross hairs across it's width. I line the cross hairs up on the line I just finished with the ruler against my ruler foot. So I've used the needle location to get my starting point, and the cross hairs on the ruler to keep my ruler lined up perpendicular to the original line. I also will sometimes mark some reference points on the quilt if the line I want to quilt is longer than my ruler, that way I will still have some way of checking my ruler placement if I have to move it along the new line. Hope that makes sense.

Rob

RedGarnet222

Most of my rulers have the 90 degree line marked on them. ( All different brands.) I am not sure what you are saying? I love my square up rulers that have the ninety on them for marking too. If yours does not, you could buy that omnigrid neon marking tape for rulers to put a ninety mark on the back of your ruler so you always have it as reference. I have been looking at buying it for my rulers to help with repeat strip cutting. It comes with three different colors of tape in the same package for about seven bucks.
From what I hear, it can be used to mark your machine bed for straight line sewing too without being sticky when you remove it.

Here is a picture of it. https://www.amazon.com/Omnigrid-Glow.../dp/B000YZ5QYQ

I also found where dritz has what looks to be the same thing for less money.

Kwiltr

I may be out in left field here, but i think what Watson is referring to RedGarnet, is a template ruler for machine quilting, as opposed to a cutting ruler, which you are referring to, judging by Watson reference to FMQIng being faster and you referring to Omnigrid who make quilting lets for cutting and measuring....