5 quilting rulers I can’t live without

Most quilters would agree — there are so many quilting rulers available that it can make your head spin. Walk into any quilt shop and you’ll see rows and rows of options, each one promising to make something easier or faster. But when you’re building your quilting supplies — especially as a beginner — do you really need them all? Definitely not.

In fact, there are just a handful of essential quilting rulers that I use again and again in my own sewing room. Today I’m sharing the five must-have quilting rulers I can’t live without — the ones I recommend most often, especially to beginning quilters who aren’t sure where to start.

Criteria for Choosing the Right Quilting Ruler

It wasn’t easy to limit my self to five rulers because there are so many available, especially when you include specialty rulers (of which I am queen of acquisitions). But if I had to pick a few essential quilting rulers to take on a weekend quilting retreat, or if a new quilter asked for my top ruler recommendations, a few guidelines are in order.

My criteria for choosing these quilting rulers was based on three factors:

• Ease of use (clear markings, no slippage, easy to control)
• Function
• Multiple uses

Top 4 Quilting Ruler brands

Since there are many brands to choose from, let’s start by mentioning the four major brands of quilting rulers.

My personal preference is Creative Grids. They are accurate, good quality and easy for me to read. They have frosted grip circles on the bottom that help prevent slippage. I like the frosted 1/4″ and 1/2″ markings on the edge of their basic rulers and the numeric markings can be measured from either edge (left or right). Beginners may find the rulers have too many markings (too busy) making it difficult to read.

Quilter’s Select is another good brand that is appreciated by many for the tacky grip it has on fabric. If you’ve had issues with the ruler slipping, you may want to try a Quilter’s Select ruler. They’re great at preventing slippage — almost to a fault. My only complaint is it’s difficult to nudge the ruler into place without having to pick it up and reposition it.

Omnigrid and Omnigrip have been around for quite some time. The quality is good and they’re more affordable than most. My very first ruler (28 years ago) was an Omnigrid 6″ x 24″ ruler. I had to apply a product to the back of the ruler to keep it from slipping. Shortly after, they came out with their non-slip line, Omnigrip. This line also includes neon green markings so it’s easy to read on most fabric colors.

Olfa Rulers have a good reputation for being visually uncluttered and easy to read. They have thin, clear lines for good visibility and precision. They are also more affordable than some others.

I recommend that once you’ve found a brand you like, stick with it. Purchasing rulers from the same brand will keep things more consistent and you’ll find it easier to switch between different ruler sizes and functions within that brand.

5 Must-Have Quilting Rulers for Beginners

1. Long ruler, 6.5″ x 24.5″

Every quilter should own a 6.5″ (or wider) x 24.5″ ruler. This long ruler is essential for cutting strips from yardage, trimming quilt edges and squaring up your quilt. If I had to choose just one ruler, this would be the one because it can do so many other things.

Most long rulers have 45, 60 and 30 degree markings so it can cut a variety of diagonal pieces, square up HST’s, and sub-cut smaller units. This versatility makes it an indispensable ruler to keep around.

I own the 8.5″ x 24.5″ Creative Grids ruler. When I switched brands to Creative Grids, I decided to try the wider version and I haven’t regretted it. The only drawback of the long ruler is that it’s big and not easily transportable—this would keep it off my packing list for a weekend retreat.

2. Square ruler, 6.5″ or larger

A square ruler is another essential tool for quilters. I reach for my Creative Grids 6.5″ square ruler more than any other – it’s so dang versatile. It can be used to square up most blocks that include a diagonal seam such as HST’s, QST’s and flying geese. It can be used to sub-cut larger pieces, cut up scraps and draw diagonal lines. Other square sizes are useful as well (I own most of them), but the 6.5″ size is my go-to.

3. Rectangular ruler

I like having a larger rectangular ruler, again for its versatility. My favorite size is the Creative Grids 8.5″ x 12.5″ rectangle. The 8.5″ width makes it nice for larger cuts and squaring up larger units or blocks. It’s also perfect for cutting strips from fat quarters. It would be the first ruler in my tool caddy for a class or a retreat. A smaller rectangle is useful as well, such as a 4.5″ x 8.5″. I also have a 2.5″ x 6.5″ which is nice for drawing diagonal lines.

4. Square up ruler

Most of my quilt projects include HST’s (half-square triangles) and having a good square-up ruler is essential. Any square ruler that’s large enough to cover the HST and has a diagonal line will suffice. But specialty rulers specific to squaring up HST’s and QST’s (quarter-square triangles) are even better.

I have become a huge fan of Bloc_Loc Rulers and I use their 5.5″ Half-Square Triangle Square Up Ruler on a consistent basis. If I were to buy it again, I’d purchase the 6.5″ version because it’s slightly more versatile in size range. FYI: I love their flying geese square-up rulers, as well.

Bloc_Loc Rulers have an etched groove in the back that slides along any seam that has been pressed to the side. It’s a quick and efficient way to trim oversized units. They are an investment to be sure, but they are worth every penny.

You may want to check out my favorite tools for trimming HST’s which includes a video to see the Bloc_loc ruler (and rotating mat) in action.

5. Folded Corner Clipper Ruler

My last quilting ruler recommendation is a specialty ruler that might surprise to you. The Creative Grids Folded Corner Clipper Ruler has been in my rotation for a few years and has become a personal favorite. I rely on it for anything that calls for “stitch and flip” or snowballed corners. Once I got the hang of this ruler, I found it to be much more efficient than using traditional methods—plus it’s great for piecing binding strips together, too.

The premise of the Folded Corner Clipper is to cut the 1/4” seam allowance first and then stitch the seam. This replaces drawing a diagonal line on a square that will become a corner triangle (snowballed), then stitching just a thread width away from the line and trimming the seam. The ruler eliminates the need to draw diagonal lines and does the trimming at the front end.

One caveat of this technique is that you stitch with bias edges exposed so you need to be mindful when sewing. The ruler itself is simple to use and quite accurate — I hope you give it a try.

If you are still curious about this ruler and the snowball technique, check out my blog post about the stitch and flip method using specialty rulers. It gives more detail on the Folded Corner Clipper and other options as well.

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Final Thoughts On Essential Quilting Rulers

These five quilting rulers are my personal favorites and the ones I consistently recommend as the best quilting rulers for beginners. You certainly don’t need every ruler on the market — just a few essential quilting tools to get started and that help you cut accurately and confidently.

There’s no single “right” answer when it comes to quilting rulers, and that’s part of what makes quilting so fun. We all find tools that fit our style and the way we like to work. As your skills grow and you expand to more complex techniques, you’ll find there are specialty rulers that can make life easier. Another blog post for another time!

I’d truly love to hear from you — what quilting rulers do you reach for again and again? Leave a comment and share your favorites so we can all learn from each other’s experience.