Westalee Designs

Two things beyond the template: a ruler foot sized for your machine, and the ability to drop the feed dogs for free motion work. The foot rides against the edge of the template and keeps the needle a fixed distance from it, which is what makes the traced shape accurate. We stock ruler feet for domestic machines and for longarms, including a 1/2" ruler foot for Gammill longarms.

Both, but the set is usually built for one or the other and the listing says which. Domestic sets tend to be smaller so they clear the harp space on a home machine, while longarm versions are scaled up for the larger throat. Check the product title before ordering, since a longarm-scale template is awkward to move under a domestic arm.

They cover different circle diameters, so the set you want depends on the scale of the block you are quilting.

Range by set:

• Set 1: 2" to 12", two pieces, domestic machines.
• Set 2: 2.5" to 11.5", two pieces, domestic machines.
• Set 3: 2" to 12", four pieces.
• Set 4: 12" to 18", two pieces, for larger blocks and borders.
• Set 5: 12.5" to 17.5", two pieces, domestic machines.

Browse the full range under quilting templates.

It replaces a stack of fixed-size rulers with one that slides and locks at the size you need. An adjustable locking triangle or wedge covers a stated range, so a single tool handles a run of block sizes instead of one. The locking mechanism is what keeps the setting from creeping while you quilt against the edge.

Start with a sampler rather than a specialty shape. A general set teaches the ruler foot technique across several designs, and the motifs it covers are the ones that appear most often in borders and sashing. Specialty sets such as the snowflake or kaleidoscope collections make more sense once you are comfortable moving the template.

Good starting points:

• Free Motion Quilting Sampler Set 1: A broad introduction to ruler work.
• Simple Circles, Set of 4: Straightforward shapes that build control.
• Adjustable locking rulers: One tool covering a range of sizes.

Not always, and the listing title is the place to check. Items marked as a bundle pair a pattern or DVD with the template, while a title ending in "Template Set Only" is exactly that. The Westalee Designs books are written as instruction and are sold on their own.