What the Quilters Select 1.5" x 12" Non-Slip Ruler Is
The Quilters Select 1.5" x 12" Non-Slip Ruler is a long, narrow measuring and cutting ruler sized for the strips, sashing, and trims quilters cut again and again. At 1.5 inches wide by 12 inches long, it fits neatly along folded fabric and in small work areas while still giving you enough length to measure and cut many common quilting pieces in a single placement.
What sets this ruler apart is its unique non-slip coating, designed to help hold the ruler in place on fabric while you mark or cut. It also features easy-to-read lines for marking and measuring at multiple angles, one-inch lines with two sets of corresponding numbers for ambidextrous use, and exact measurements around the perimeter.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
A ruler that shifts even a little can turn a straight strip into a wavy one, and small errors add up quickly across a quilt. The non-slip coating helps reduce that creeping while you guide a rotary cutter along the edge, supporting cleaner, more accurate cuts.
The slim 1.5-inch width is especially handy for narrow work: checking and cutting narrow strips and sashing, trimming small units, and verifying seam allowances without covering the fabric with a much larger ruler. The 12-inch length also makes it convenient beside the sewing machine or on a small cutting mat.
Because the one-inch lines include two sets of corresponding numbers, both right-handed and left-handed sewists can read measurements in the direction they are working, rather than counting backward or turning the fabric around.
How to Use It, Step by Step
- Start with a straight edge. Press your fabric and trim one edge straight on your cutting mat before you measure.
- Place the ruler. Align a printed line or the perimeter measurement with the straight edge so the width you need falls under the ruler.
- Read the numbers in your direction. Use the set of one-inch numbers that reads correctly from your side, and double-check before cutting.
- Hold firmly. Press down with your non-cutting hand, keeping fingers well away from the cutting edge, and let the non-slip coating help grip the fabric.
- Cut in one smooth pass. Run your rotary cutter along the ruler edge, keeping the blade snug against the ruler.
- Use the angled lines when needed. Align the angle lines with a fabric edge or seam to mark or check an angled cut, as your pattern directs.
- Check your piece. Use the perimeter measurements to verify the cut piece matches the size your pattern calls for.
Practical Tips
- Measure twice, cut once: Confirm both ends of the ruler sit on the same measurement line, so the strip does not taper.
- Keep pressure even: Steady pressure along the ruler helps the non-slip coating do its work and keeps the far end from drifting.
- Use it as a quick gauge: Keep it by your machine to check sashing, border widths, and trimmed units as you piece.
- Protect the edge: Always cut on a mat, and guide the cutter steadily without forcing the blade into the ruler.
Care and Storage
Store the ruler flat or hanging where it will not be bent, dropped, or buried under heavy tools. Keep it away from heat, wipe it with a soft cloth when lint builds up, and avoid harsh or abrasive cleaners that could damage the printed lines or the non-slip coating.
Project Ideas
This size shines for narrow sashing and border strips, small strip-pieced units, trimming pieced blocks to size, and marking angled lines for patchwork. It is also useful for bag straps and other sewing projects where a long, narrow, easy-to-read ruler is easier to manage than a large square.
If you cut a lot of narrow pieces and want measurements you can read from either direction, with a coating that helps the ruler stay put, this is a practical addition to your cutting table.
Shop the Quilters Select 1.5" x 12" Non-Slip Ruler at Linda's Electric Quilters.
