Comments on: Long may it rule

By: Familiar Features : Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Familiar Features : Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:39:57 +0000

[...] post about long rulers ignited much interest. It seems quiltmakers develop a very personal relationship with their tools. [...]

By: Helen Conway

Helen Conway — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:13:25 +0000

Comiserations. I broke a good chunk of corner off my first ruler when I put it in a basket sticking out, placed the basket in the car boot and slammed it shut on the ruler. YOu can mail order the size ruler you want here: http://www.olipfa.com/quilting/

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:17:23 +0000

Thanks Judy but I am going to hang out for the 24×5in version as I know this works for me (and fits into the side pocket on my workshop carrybag!).

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:05:20 +0000

Brenda,

Pardon me for being cheeky! I found a 24 x 6.5 Olipfa ruller on Oz quilts under Specialty Patchwork rulers - as i said very cheeky but thought you may have missed it.

By: Diane

Diane — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:14:10 +0000

My condolences! I hate when that happens — I stepped on and broke my favorite square ruler, and had the same feelings you did … the replacement just didn’t feel the same. One would *think* that would teach me to keep the rulers off of the floor … Hope you find the right replacement soon!

By: joyce

joyce — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:55:07 +0000

I am constantly searching for the perfect ruler. I like 6×24 but I want one that never slips. I read about one that has sticky numbers on the back but of course I forget the brand. My present ruler has green lines that are a bit too thick and it’s hard to see where the fabric is. If you find the perfect ruler let us know!

By: helen

helen — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:39:29 +0000

My first ruler was one made in New Zealand called Quiltline, 3″ wide by 23 3/4″ long (why the 3/4 and not a full inch? Cos it had 60 centimetres on the other side). It had markings at 1″, 1 1/4″, 1 1/2″, 2″, 2 1/4″ and 2 1/2″ along the length. It had no markings cross-wise. I never thought this was a problem until I got a ruler that had them and I realised how much easier it is to be ’square’. I now use my 6″ by 24″ and 4″ by 14 Omnigrip rulers almost exclusively. I love to use to the smaller one for cross cutting after using the large one for cutting strips. Some people swear by the 6″ by 12″ but I find the 4″ by 14″ easier to pick up by the edges in one hand and the 2″ extra length is very useful. Each to his/her own!

By: Judy

Judy — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:50:55 +0000

Hi! Brenda,

Don’t know the Olipfa ruler but have just begun using a Westalee 24″ x 6″ and have found it super cant imagine using any other. But it is a bug when you break one of your treasured tools you get so used to how they function.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:36:57 +0000

Thanks for the tip Judith. I actually looked at that particular website soon after I broke my ruler but it appears that they only stock the 18×3in version.

Leonie- congratulations on the success of your product. It’s great to see innovations for quiltmakers.

I prefer 24in rulers for cutting selvedge-to-selvedge strips as the fabric only has to be folded in half and this approach is more, shall we say, “forgiving”. For an 18in ruler, the fabric has to be folded in half and then in half again. If the folds are not perfect, then the resulting strips will turn out slightly zig-zaggy which is usually not the desired effect.

By: Judith Thomson

Judith Thomson — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:09:20 +0000

Hi Brenda,
Happy to tell you that you can get an Olipfa ruler from http://www.ozquilts.com.au which is a great site run by a very efficient lady named Maree whom I have used a lot.
Cheers
Judith