I have and use the 9.5" x 9.5" square ruler but it doesn't get used as frequently as any of the others. Larger squares are lovely to have, and depending on the kind of quilts you make, they might be on your must-have list. 4.5" x 4.5" - most used for sub-cutting squares and for trimming half-triangle squares to size.6.5" x 6.5" - most used for sub-cutting squares and pieces from strips, and for trimming blocks.6" x 12" or 6.5" x 12.5" - most used for sub-cutting strip sets and cutting Layer Cakes.
6" x 24" or 6.5" x 24.5" - this is used for cutting fat quarters, fat eighths and yardage.There isn't nearly the variety in size options with Olfa Frosted as there are with Omnigrid but that's rarely a problem as most of use a handful of sizes for the majority of our cutting.Īn informal office poll says that these are the most-used ruler sizes:
And I'm sure that's the result of my eyesight and lighting. I have also found that the frosted back makes it easier for me to see the lines. I found that the thin lines give me a bit more accuracy and consistency with cutting pieces - even a 1/16" makes a difference when it's multiplied in a block. What I like about these rulers is the thin lines and the almost-minimalist approach when it comes to logo size and markings. I have all the sizes - of course - but the three that get the most use are 6" x 12", the 4.5" x 4.5" and 6.5" x 6.5". That said, most of the rotary cutting rulers in my sewing room are Olfa Frosted. I bought and used an Omnigrid gridded ruler - this one. Years ago, I made a Feathered Star quilt and the blocks used two sizes of half-triangle square, one of which trimmed to 2-3/8" x 2-3/8". The company also leads the way with gridded rulers - rulers with 1/8" lines instead of just markings. Just look for rulers that say " Omnigrip". Moda's Michele Skeene uses Omnigrid - this is her new sewing space.ĭid you know about Omnigrip? It looks just like a "regular" Omnigrid ruler but has a non-slip backing that grips the fabric while cutting - no slipping or sliding. Omnigrid is also recognizable for having clear 1/4" and 1/8" markings. You'll recognize their rulers because they have yellow or bright green markings to make the lines more easily visible, especially on dark and printed fabrics.
They've been in the ruler business for many years and are always adapting to what quilters need and want, and improving with new technology. So this isn't about which ruler is the best for you so much as this is why we love these - why they are our go-to rulers. And since most of the pieces I cut are "smallish", I use a 4.5" x 4.5" square more frequently than I use a 6.5" x 6.5". I love using Layer Cakes so a 6" x 12" ruler is my go-to for that. The lighting on our cutting table, our eyesight, whether we're right-handed or left-handed. Our preferences are based on a variety of factors, some of which might not be obvious. What I have learned in all these years is that we have our favorites - and some of our best friends use rulers we don't like. If you doubt me, the old rulers weren't acrylic, they were a hard plastic with corners that were easily "chunked" by dropping or aggressive cutting. There is also a lot more variety - in sizes, markings, and quality. I'm happy to say that rulers today are much, much better than they were when I started quilting in about 1983. Alex, can I have Rotary Cutting Rulers for $600? We've written about rulers before - everything you needed to know, might want to know, and okay, probably a fair amount that was just trivia for the day it's a category on Jeopardy. The question isn't whether you have a rotary cutting ruler - the question is how many do you have? And how many do you actually use?
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