Ruler-Work On The Longarm Plus Tips

 

Welcome Back!

Thanks for sharing some of your precious time with me again! You may remember that my last post talked about how I was using our sometimes hot, sometimes rainy Wisconsin weather to get in a little extra longarm practice time. And practice time led me to free-motion quilting.

Well, we’re still experiencing a summer of sometimes hot, sometimes rainy weather. And though Rick and I snuck in a little vacation time with the kids, I’m still trying to capitalize on any extra practice time I can fit in. But this time I’m especially focused on ruler-work!

I think of ruler-work as a natural extension of free-motion quilting. (If you missed my last post on free-motion quilting, just click here!) The two methods share commonalities, but each has its own characteristics and strengths as well. Let’s start by looking at their similarities.

What Ruler-work and Free-motion Quilting Have in Common

Ruler-work and free-motion longarm quilting share some very basic traits. Both methods:

are controlled by the quilter – you guide the stitching, not a pattern or the computer.
offer creative freedom – you create the specific design to enhance the piecing, applique and/or open spaces of your quilt top.
require practice – you personally build your own comfort level, skills and memory to produce smooth, consistent results.
complement each other – while ruler-work and free-motion quilting stand independently, you can also combine both methods to add variety and interest to your quilting design.
But let’s get into ruler-work.  Let’s explore how it’s different from free-motion quilting … and how it can further enhance your quilting skills!

The Specifics of Ruler-Work

Remember how I said that free-motion quilting is like “drawing with thread?” Well, I think of ruler-work as “tracing with thread.” In this case, you’re “tracing” the ruler. It’s guiding your stitching.

Additional equipment needed

Let’s start with the obvious. To do ruler-work, you need a ruler … and a ruler base and a ruler foot.

The rulers used for ruler-work are specially designed quilting rulers.

These rulers are at least ¼” thick. When quilting, your longarm’s foot moves up and down as it stitches. When you are doing ruler-work, the foot is moving along the ruler. Using a ruler thinner than ¼” can result in the ruler slipping under the foot, potentially damaging your machine, ruler or needle, or even worse … injuring you.

A ruler base provides a stable platform for the ruler.

The longarm’s bed is too narrow for you to hold a ruler flat and stable. A ruler base attaches to your machine and provides a wider, more stable surface for supporting your ruler.

A ruler foot provides additional security and stability.

This specifically designed foot has a taller profile than your longarm’s standard foot. It complements the thickness of quilting rulers.

Techniques and tips

Get ready to quilt.

Start with your needle down where you plan to start stitching. Snug your quilting ruler against the foot. Remember that your needle will stitch ¼” from the ruler’s edge.

Place your hand on the ruler.

Spread your fingers across the ruler. One fingertip touching the fabric at the edge will provide better control. Apply even pressure on the whole ruler.

Reposition your hand when using longer rulers.

You can only control the ruler effectively within the span of your fingers. For longer rulers, stop quilting before exceeding your reach, reposition your hand to the next section of the ruler, and then continue quilting.

Apply light and balanced pressure.

Your goal is to keep even pressure on the ruler without restricting the machine’s ability to glide across your quilt top. Too much pressure will pinch the quilt between the ruler and the ruler base, making it hard to move your machine. This can also affect the tension of your stitching.

Move slowly and deliberately.

Ruler-work is about precision! A steady pace is key to achieving clean, even lines.

Start and stop with your needle down.

This helps maintain your place, keeping your quilting consistent and smooth.

Think ahead.

Design your quilting path in advance. Decide how to maintain a continuous flow while using comfortable hand and ruler positions. Whenever possible, keep your ruler to the left of your foot so you can see where you’re going.

Increase the size of your quilt’s backing fabric.

Because your longarm is now fitted with a ruler base, the bed area of your machine head is even larger. Make sure that your quilt back is large enough to avoid hitting the side clamps and bars when you’re stitching along the edges of your quilt.

Just beginning your ruler-work journey?

Here are some things to consider.

Start with basic, simple shapes. (Think straight lines or gentle curves)
Consider rulers that are designed with alignment bumps. (They may help you to position your ruler more precisely.)
Choose smaller, hand-sized rulers. (A smaller ruler surface will be easier to control.)
Additional tips

You may find adding grips (non-slip material) to the back of your rulers helpful. Some rulers come with grips “built in.” But test your ruler before adding grips. When using smaller rulers or rulers that you turn or flip frequently, you may want them to slide freely across your fabric.
Experiment to find what positioning works best for you. Practice going around all sides of your ruler. Try both convex and concave rulers. Switch hands while holding your ruler and guiding your machine to determine which is more comfortable.
Above all, be kind to yourself! Everyone acknowledges the importance of practice. Accept that! Give yourself time and don’t expect perfection right from the start. Relax, experiment, learn and have fun!
Choosing a Ruler

There’s no right or wrong choice, but there may be a choice that better suits you. Here are some things to consider when choosing a longarm ruler.

Match the ruler to your design goals.

Straight rulers are the best choices for stitch-in-the-ditch work, crosshatching and sharp geometric shapes.
Curved rulers will give you arcs, scallops and repeated curves or waves.
Circle rulers help you create precise circles and echoed round motifs.
Specialty rulers provide you with specific motifs that can accent your piecing or applique.
Look for markings you can see clearly.

Many rulers have etched or printed lines to use for alignment while you’re quilting. This also allows for precise spacing and echoing.

Invest in versatile basic rulers.

     

A straight ruler and a gentle curve ruler give you a great place to start. They’ll help you create designs that beautifully complement just about any style of quilt.
Consider a ruler that offers multiple design shapes. Handi Quilter’s Versatool is an example of a multipurpose ruler. It is small (only 4” x 7.5”), but it provides straight line, 90⁰ angle, and convex and concave curve options.
Build your ruler collection over time as you discover your favorite motifs and quilting styles.

Thoughts on ruler-work? Just think how this skill will expand your quilting toolkit! I love that ruler-work gives me the creative freedom of free-motion quilting while also increasing my options and precision!

Give yourself the gift of some extra practice time to find out if ruler-work is a skill that you’d like to add to your quilting repertoire!

Ruler-work Online Resources

Online resources for longarm quilting with rulers abound. Here’s just a small sampling if you’d like to know more!

APQS

Blog post: Mastering Ruler Work on Your Longarm Quilting Machine (07-02-2024)

YouTube: Quilting with Rulers on Your Longarm Quilting Machine (21:52)

Handi Quilter

Blog post: Beginner’s Guide to Ruler Quilting (05-18-2024)

YouTube: Longarm Quilting with Jade Rulers - Watch & Learn with Handi Quilter (38:09)

The Quilting Central Podcast Update

And finally, have you had a chance to catch the latest episode of The Quilting Central Podcast?

Check out Episode 8: Deepdive into Needles that just posted on August 6th!

And for a listing of all our episodes posted to date, check out the Quilting Central Podcast YouTube channel! Be sure to subscribe and comment. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Time to wrap up!

Please remember, if you ever have ANY questions or want additional information about ANY of the products and services we offer, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.

You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).

Finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.

And please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!

Angie