What the Quilters Select 60 Degree Diamond Ruler Is
Some quilt designs live and die by their angles. Tumbling blocks, Lone Stars, kaleidoscope layouts and hexagon-based designs all depend on pieces cut at a true 60 degrees — and if one diamond in a row is cut a fraction off, the error multiplies across the whole top. The Quilters Select 60 Degree Diamond Ruler is a versatile cutting tool designed to help quilters create precise 60-degree diamond-based shapes, including diamonds, triangles, parallelograms and trapezoids. Measuring 12.5 inches in length, it gives you a generous working size for both individual pieces and strip-cut units.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
The ruler features easy-to-read 1-inch and 0.5-inch markings, which make accurate alignment and cutting of fabric pieces straightforward. Instead of guessing where a half-inch increment falls, you can line your fabric up against a marking you can actually see, confirm it, and then cut with confidence.
Its standout feature is the unique non-slip coating Quilters Select is known for. The coating ensures stability during cutting and prevents the ruler from shifting on various fabric types — including slippery or silky materials that love to slide away from an ordinary ruler mid-cut. That stability is what turns a good cut into a clean, accurate one: the ruler stays where you placed it, so the rotary cutter follows the edge you intended rather than the edge the fabric drifted toward.
The ruler is ideal for both fussy cutting and strip cutting. Fussy cutting lets you centre a motif inside a diamond for kaleidoscope and feature effects, while strip cutting lets you cut a long strip first and then sub-cut it into a whole row of matching diamonds, triangles or parallelograms in minutes. It is also compatible with companion rulers such as the 60 Degree Triangle and Half-Rectangle rulers, expanding its utility across a wide range of quilting projects.
How to Use It, Step by Step
- Decide your shape and size. Check your pattern for the finished size of the diamond, triangle, parallelogram or trapezoid you need, then use the ruler's 1-inch and 0.5-inch markings to plan your cut.
- Prepare your fabric. Press the fabric flat and, for strip cutting, straighten one long edge first. For fussy cutting, decide exactly which part of the print you want centred in each piece.
- Position the ruler. Lay the ruler over the fabric and align the markings with the edge of your strip or the centre of your chosen motif. Take a moment to double-check the alignment before you pick up the cutter.
- Press down and cut. Hold the ruler firmly so the non-slip coating can grip the fabric, then cut along the ruler's edge with your rotary cutter in one smooth pass. Keep your holding hand well away from the cutting edge.
- Sub-cut your shapes. If you started with a strip, reposition the ruler along the strip using the angle and the markings to cut each diamond or triangle in turn, keeping every piece the same size.
- Check the first few pieces. Lay your first cuts together and confirm the points and edges meet cleanly before you cut the rest of the set. A quick check now saves unpicking later.
Practical Tips
Cut a test diamond from scrap fabric whenever you start a new project — it confirms your strip width and angle before any good fabric is involved. When fussy cutting, re-check the motif placement after every repositioning, not just the first one, because prints shift slightly as you work along the fabric. On slippery or silky fabrics, slow your cutter down and let the non-slip coating do its job rather than pressing harder. Finally, sew a sample pair of diamonds together to confirm your seam allowance keeps the points sharp before piecing the whole block.
Care and Storage
Wipe the ruler clean with a soft, dry cloth after use so lint and spray residue do not build up on the markings or the non-slip surface. Store it flat or hanging by a ruler rack, away from direct heat, and keep it separate from metal tools that could scratch the printed lines. Avoid dropping it on hard floors, as acrylic edges can chip.
Project Ideas
Start with tumbling blocks for a classic three-dimensional effect, or piece a Lone Star where accurate diamonds make the points meet at the centre. Diamonds and triangles from this ruler also suit kaleidoscope blocks, hexagon-style layouts built from 60-degree pieces, table runners with parallelogram borders, and modern quilts that play diamonds against solid triangles.
Shop the Quilters Select 60 Degree Diamond Ruler at Linda's Electric Quilters.
