Quilting Rulers

Quilting rulers are thick acrylic guides used for rotary cutting fabric and guiding stitches during free motion quilting. For cutting, they provide straight edges and precise measurements when paired with a rotary cutter and cutting mat. For quilting, they guide your fabric along curved or straight paths while the needle stitches, creating consistent designs like arcs, spirals, and crosshatching.

Quilting rulers are straight-edged tools primarily for measuring and cutting fabric. They feature grid lines for accuracy. Quilting templates are shaped guides (circles, curves, feathers, arcs) used during free motion quilting to create decorative stitch patterns. Rulers focus on precision cutting, while templates focus on stitch design. Many quilters use both. Browse our full selection of rulers and quilting templates.

Using free motion quilting rulers requires a ruler foot and dropping your feed dogs.

Basic steps:

• Install a ruler foot: This specialized foot has a raised edge that rides along the ruler, like the Westalee Ruler Foot.
• Lower the feed dogs: Free motion quilting requires manual fabric movement.
• Position the ruler: Hold the ruler firmly on the quilt surface.
• Guide the fabric: Move the fabric so the foot follows the ruler edge while stitching.

Practice on scrap fabric before starting your project.

A 6" x 24" ruler is the most versatile starting size. It handles common fabric widths and strips for binding, borders, and sashing. Add a 12.5" square ruler for squaring up blocks. As you progress, add specialty sizes for specific tasks. Creative Grids rulers feature non-slip backing and easy-to-read markings, making them a popular choice for beginners.

For rotary cutting, yes. Any cutting ruler works independently of your machine. For ruler work during free motion quilting, your machine needs the ability to drop the feed dogs and accept a ruler foot. Most modern sewing and quilting machines support this. Check your machine's specifications or consult your dealer to confirm compatibility and find the correct ruler foot for your model.

For cutting fabric, no. Rulers lay flat on your cutting mat and require no machine attachment. For free motion ruler quilting, yes. You need a ruler foot with a raised flange that guides along the ruler edge.

Popular ruler feet include:

• Westalee Free Motion Ruler Foot: Fits most domestic machines with low shank.
• Brother High Shank Ruler Foot: For Brother quilting machines.
• Janome HD9 Quilting Ruler Kit: Designed for the Janome HD9.