Fabric & Quilting Rulers

If you're just starting out, you may find that one quilt ruler will work just fine. If you are going only have one ruler, we recommend a 6” x 24” or 8” x 24” sized ruler.

More seasoned quilters may choose to keep it simple and use one or two types of quilting rulers or go all out and purchase several rulers that serve a variety of unique purposes. Let's go through some of the main types of rulers for quilting projects.

Quilt Rulers for Cutting Strips

Use long quilt rulers that are 18" to 24" to cut narrow strips and borders. A long ruler is also handy for squaring a quilt edge before binding. To cut wide strips, opt for a ruler that's 6-1/2" x 12-1/2".

Basic Square Quilt Rulers

A square quilting ruler is always a great tool. Better yet, get a set of square acrylic quilt rulers. You'll be in good shape if your set includes the standard sizes that correspond to the common quilting block sizes.

Quilting Rulers for Trimming Edges

Advanced quilters like using a smaller ruler for trimming edges. The ideal size for this is a 3" x 7" fabric ruler.

Fabric Rulers for HSTs and QSTs

A half-square triangle (HST) and a quarter-square triangle (QST) are two basic units in quilting. There are many methods for making these triangles, but long-time quilters have discovered that using these dedicated fabric rulers makes the process a whole lot easier.

And Many More Quilt Rulers

Manufacturers like Creative Grids make quilt rulers for a wide range of specialized uses. For example, you can get measuring tools for certain types of quilts, like the Log Cabin quilt. While this kind of fabric ruler may not be practical for occasional quilters, it will undoubtedly come in handy if you do many different types of quilting projects.

Whether you're sewing by hand or machine, quilting rulers are a must-have. With over 100 types of fabric rulers to choose from, you're sure to find the one you need for your next quilting project at Fat Quarter Shop. As you shop for your favorite fabric collections, make sure you have all the necessary rulers for quilting and sewing projects!