Ok..rulers? Any tutes on them? (and sorry, bit of a rant)

I've been seeing all these awesome quilts but seems to me rulers are required. But then I go look at rulers and run into two problems:

1. Are these manufacturers INSANE??! The price of these rulers is nuts! THEY'RE PLASTIC! Honestly! I can't get over how much they charge for these things....but then I guess we pay it so what do they care. Like, I'm not kidding they are making these things for pennies...if it cost them more than a dollar to produce I'll eat my hat! I can buy an entire chair mat to protect my floor for the cost of a single ruler...does this make any sense? Then again, I spend $30 on a mascara. sigh. Marketing is mental...just mental. but I digress....

2. HOW do you choose which ruller is right? I have a long rectangular one...I guess about 16 inches?...that came with my cutting matt and a triangle one that my husband made me out of acrylic...and will probably be making me more of with the cost of them (see rant above!). So how do you decide what a good ruler is and whether you will need it or not?

Wendy, I have a squillion rulers, and most sit in a drawer, some still in their packaging. Some are also double ups, and most were bought on sale. I don't really count specialty rulers into this, I'm talking about the everyday, measure and cut rulers.

The ones I use most are :-

6 1/2 x 24" for cutting just one or two strips and trimming back my quilt after quilting.

12" square for squaring up blocks (pull out the 16" sq for bigger blocks, rarely)

Shape Cut plus for cutting lots of strips and squares

4 1/2 x 6 1/2" rectangle, a recent purchase and probably used the most, to trim corners, seams, JR strips etc

And yes, I totally agree, rulers are way too expensive for what they are. I like the green ones with the laser etched markings best, and they are precision cut, but someone's making a BIG profit. Mass produced and they really don't spend much on marketing or advertising. They just have a captive audience of silly addicted women!! Lol

Cheers, Pami

I'm a gadget person in general, so I own more rulers than I actually need. I began my quilting life with just one 6x24" ruler and quickly discovered that I needed large square (12-1/2x12-1/2), too. Truth be known, if the 45 and 60 degree lines are marked, these are all you need. Every other ruler just makes your life easier. For example, I made a One Block Wonder, and I bought a 60 degree triangle ruler -- the time savings was worth far more than the price of th ruler.

As for cost, I think you'll find that if the ruler is made in China, you'll like the price. But if it's made in America, it will be expensive. In America, manufacturers have to pay living wages and health insurance, as well as meet USA environmental standards. And ALL manufacturers have to ensure accuracy in their markings. I don't like the prices either, but I try to keep these things in mind.

I saw an Eleanor Burns video and in that she stated that all you really need is a 6X24" ruler but that a big square is handy such as the 12-1/2" square ruler. She has a really big square for squaring up corners but she said that it is one of those "extras" that would be nice. Next ruler I get will be that big one!! LOL I have an abundance of rulers and will be glad when my sewing room is done so that I can have everything in its place!! I spend a lot of time looking for whatever!! Especially the fabrics I have unless they are in a box with the pattern to make it easy to go and sew the pattern. Thanks for posting. Piece and blessings, Vicki

Agree!!

Forgot to add, the little ruler I love so much is an Edge ruler. It's one with the sharpening strip on one side so it sharpens your blade with every cut. It wasn't expensive and I bought a few of it bigger brothers too, to rePlace my commonly used ones, but they're still in their packaging.

Will also add that I've worn quite a few rulers out over the years, painted markings wear off, get nicks in them, they get brittle and break, and one went all crazed, like china, so I couldn't see the markings anymore.

I always wait for the 50% off sales for rulers and notions. You can subscribe to Joanna's Fabrics and Hancocks and they send you coupons about every couple of weeks. That is when you buy those expensive rulers; if you don't have a hubby that can make them for you!! LOL Piece and blessings, Vicki

I've got many rulers and use them all. It depends on what I'm doing. Rulers and rotary cutters are so much quicker then scissors for me. My only suggestion is to use the same ruler or at least the same brand throughout the project because sometimes the brands are slightly different.

The two most important rulers to have are both made by June Tailor. One it the Shape Cut Pro which allows you to cut very accurate strips. Since it has laser cut lines in it for your rotary cutter to follow, you will never have your cutter veering off to the right, or your ruler moving on you. You can cut many strips in just seconds, and they are very accurate. The other is the June Tailor Half Square Triangle ruler. With it, you can make extremely accurate HST from 1.5 inches to 6.5 inches. I can't live without these two. They are my main rulers. You still need the 6 X 24 ruler for trimming the edges of quilt sandwiches, and the various sized block square up rulers. You can square up a block up to 6.5 inches with the HST ruler, too, but you need square up rulers for 12.5 and other larger sizes. There are several specialty rulers you need. You need a Dresden ruler to make them. You will find out as you go along what you will need. Be sure to watch the videos on the following site. Buy these, and you will be in love.

http://blekko.com/ws/june+tailor+shape+cut+/videos
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...ngles+ruler.do
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/shape+cut+plus.do

Girls, we are not only greedy with fabric, also with tools (like men, having a houndred from the same screw driver), we feel rich and well prepared for all eventualitys, if we have these tools aside. Ok, I think spending lets say 30 Dollar for a ruler is a better investment than chocolate for 30 Dollar. The one you have a life long, the other is gone when your children visited you once.
All things have the worth you give them.
So just have fun with your tools. And if you have not the right one, take a thick peace of hart carton and cut it with a carpet knife that will work for at least one quilt.

The ruler I use most is my 6 x 24. I have one that goes across my cutting table and has a notch to catch the edge of the table and I do use that quite a bit too, it's a 4 x 36. I have others too but those are the ones I use most. Any money I spend on something that makes me happy is money well spent.

Shirley, you are so right. You are worth spending money on yourself.
I have to second the idea of the June Tailor shape cut one. I have the large one and don't think I could do with out it. it probably has saved me lots of money in fabric since I can make accurate cuts without much waste from wiggly hands.

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Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

Shirley, you are so right. You are worth spending money on yourself.
I have to second the idea of the June Tailor shape cut one. I have the large one and don't think I could do with out it. it probably has saved me lots of money in fabric since I can make accurate cuts without much waste from wiggly hands.

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I have the June Tailor shape cut too and I need to get it out and work with it some more....maybe I'll learn to like it :)

The rulers are precision-cut, precision-marked, and scratch-resistant. They cost a lot more to make than pennies. (If you ever got a cheap ruler you'll know the difference)

I admit that I have more rulers than I NEED but very few are never used.

My preference is the one with the yellow and black lines (not sure which brand) but I am just used to them and know where to align the ruler lines.

Of that type I have my go-to ruler 6X12 for most cuts.
For long cuts I use the 6x24.
For squaring up quilts I use the long one in conjunction with a 15x15 square.
Then I bought a set of squaring rulers which come in handy when I make blocks (12 1/2, 9 1/2 and 6 1/2)
I also have a small square for small blocks at 4 1/2.
For circles I have the half-circle ruler (has incremental sizes) and the Square-a-round.

Then I have assorted triangle rulers that get little use (I generally align the angle marks on the 6x12 for angle cuts.)
A few specialy rulers were bought for the heck of it and I have good intentions to use them or at least try them eventually.

.....I like that...$30 is better spent on a ruler than chocolate....

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Originally Posted by pamipatch

.....I like that...$30 is better spent on a ruler than chocolate....

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I second that! I don't eat chocolate anyway. I know I'm wierd, but I'm stuck on red vines right now. lol

I know it's frustrating to have to buy a specialty ruler but how much fun! I just got my Pyramid ruler and can't wait to use it! I think it was $15. Waiting for my June Taylor now :)

Think of it like your kitchen. You need the pot's and pans, plates and bowls, silverware etc. You couldn't do with out all that could you? :)

Feed yourself with rulers. lol

Just curious, does Joann's accept Hancock's coupons?

I forgot I was going to send a tut your way. You need the pyramid ruler and this is what I wanted to make. I think it would make great placemats, runners or mugrugs too.


http://www.modabakeshop.com/2013/01/...ids-quilt.html

My DH is a mechanic. He can tell you all about buying good tools. Also about owning more than 1 of the same thing. (I mean, 3 air compressors? LOL) My favorite brand is OmniGrid. I can't stand to even look at that yellow and black brand - too much visual stimulation I guess.

As someone said, I'm not rich enough to spend my money twice.

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

I forgot I was going to send a tut your way. You need the pyramid ruler and this is what I wanted to make. I think it would make great placemats, runners or mugrugs too.


http://www.modabakeshop.com/2013/01/...ids-quilt.html

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Be careful with that pattern - whilst they say you only need one jelly roll (two are pictured), it takes 54 strips. 2 jelly rolls and lots of waste. Also, you will save A LOT of time if you stitch your strip sets, right side together, with your background strips, stitching along both sides, before cutting your triangles. When you open them up they'll be diamonds, pice them into strips on the diagonal instead of horizontal rows, you'll cut sewing time in half.

Cheers, Pami

Oh man, I buy way too many templates/rulers and gadgets. Actually I'm waiting on an order for over $100 worth of gadgets lol I ordered the seam ripper with the nubby end (seam fix I think it's called) and the Drunkard's Path/5 Point Star template set, the Shape Cut Plus ruler, some more Wonder Clips, the thimble with the squishy sides and the metal tip, some invisigrip for all my rulers, plus a magnetic pin holder thingy. That doesn't count what I already have lol I have a 13" square, a 12.5" square, two 6.5" squares, three long rulers 6.5"x24" (I think), the layer cake dresden tool, the lil' twister, the easy circle and easy hearts... Hmm... I think that's it... For now... lol

I just love gadgets, and I love finding new templates, especially when they're on sale :D The only ones I've paid full price for so far was one of the 6.5" x 24" rulers, the 12.5" square, the layer cake dresden and the lil' twister, but they were still fairly cheap, even at full price!

I currently have only two rulers: the 6" x 24", which I use all the time, and a 6 1/2" square ruler that I like to use on smaller pieces. I just ordered a flying geese ruler and a 4" x 10" ruler. I think the next ruler I will buy will be a 12" square ruler for squaring up blocks.