Rulers

Circle rulers

July 20, 2024

This is Circle Rulers Week here at Handi Quilter! Circles make such awesome quilting designs that are perfect for all sorts of quilts. Let’s learn some tips for successful quilting with circle rulers!

Today’s blog by Mary Beth Krapil, Handi Quilter National Educator,  shares useful tips for quilting with circle rulers. Mary Beth has been quilting for 45+ years and longarming for 20+ years. As a 15+ year HQ educator, she loves to share her knowledge and experience by teaching all over the world and (lucky us!) writing here on the Handi Quilter blog. See what quilting adventures Mary Beth is up to by following her on Instagram @mbkrapil. Or on Facebook.

Circles!

Circles are one shape that is a bit unforgiving. When a circle is not perfectly round, the eye picks it out immediately. It is hard to draw a perfect circle. It’s even harder to quilt a perfect circle freehand. So circle rulers come to our rescue! They make it easy and fun to quilt circles with precision and consistency.

Rulers!

Handi Quilter offers 2 sets of rulers to use for stitching those perfect circles.

Photo of circle rulers sets offered by Handi Quilter
Solid circle set and solid half circle set from Handi Quilter

The Circle Ruler set includes 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 inch sizes (in diameter). They feature etched lines to make it easy to consistently align the circle template on your quilt. The Half-circle set is a set of four with 5, 7, 9, and 11 inch diameter sizes, along with etched lines for easy alignment.

Quilting!

All the usual rules for ruler quilting apply when using circles. If you need a refresher, you can take a look at this blog post.  There are a few other things you will want to keep in mind when using circle rulers.

Helpful tips

1. It’s a little more challenging to keep the hopping foot snugged up against the ruler when you are using circles or curves vs straight lines. A bit more concentration and care is really all it takes. So practice is, (as always), the key. The first time you try a circle ruler you will veer off into space.

picture of a circle ruler with a stitching line part way around that veers away from ruler.
Oops! need to concentrate at keeping the foot against the ruler!

Everyone does it! Just practice and concentrate and in no time you’ll be making perfect circles.

2. Keep your fingers spread out on the ruler and about 3/8 inch from the edge. You want to control the edge of any ruler where your needle is stitching.  See the photos below and notice my finger placement.

3. If you need to reposition your hand, use your other hand to steady the ruler so it does not shift. Even the slightest movement of the ruler can cause a bobble.

4. Use Handi Grip to assist in keeping the ruler from moving. Handi Grip is applied to your rulers and templates to provide a light friction to the ruler surface that is in contact with the fabric. This friction gives the quilter better control and reduces the chances of rulers slipping.

Photo of Handi Grip package. Useful when working with circle rulers
Handi Grip. Useful when working with circle rulers.

5. Try to stitch as continuously as possible when using circle rulers. Follow the tip below to be able to quilt all the way around a circle without stopping.

Quilting tip when using circle templates:

When quilting around a circle ruler, where you start your stitching matters. It is never fun to stop quilting and then have your ruler slip a little when repositioning your hand. We don’t like bobbles!

If I start at the 3 o’clock position     (Note how my fingers are spread to hold the entire ruler.)

photo of a longarm machine positioned against a circle ruler at the 3 o'clock position

And stitch clockwise

photo of longarm machine against a circle ruler at the 6-7 o'clock position

By the time I get to 6 or 7 o’clock I run into my wrist, forcing me to stop and move my hand.

 

If I quilt counter clock-wise, I can make it to about 8 o’clock before I am forced to stop.

photo of a longarm machine against a circle ruler at about the 8 o'clock position.

 

 

Get all the way around

In order to get all the way around a circle ruler without stopping to reposition your hand, follow these suggestions:

1. Start at the bottom of the circle (the point closest to the belly bar) 6 o’clock.

photo of longarm machine positioned against a circle ruler at 6 o'clock

 

2. Hold the ruler with your left hand to the right of the needle

photo of left hand holding circle ruler

 

3. Your body will be off to the right side of the machine (not directly in front of the machine).

4. Stitch clock-wise around the circle.

photo of left hand holding circle ruler

5. As you stitch, move your body to the left and gently and gradually walk your fingers so  your body ends up in front of the machine and your left hand is in a position to allow you to complete stitching the circle without stopping.

photo of left hand holding circle ruler

photo of left hand holding circle ruler

photo of left hand holding circle ruler

Back to the start point at 6 o’clock!

photo of left hand holding circle ruler

 

Quilter General’s Warning: (kinda like the surgeon general, but for quilters)

Moving your body and your hand on a ruler as you are stitching is an advanced technique. Be sure you are comfortable with using rulers, especially circle rulers before you try this technique.  Never take a chance on breaking the #1 rule when it comes to quilting!

Quilter’s Golden Rule:

Do NOT quilt over body parts.

I know you will LOVE quilting with circle rulers. It will take your skills and beautiful quilts up several notches! Give it a try.

Handi Quilter Watch and Learn show

Be sure to tune in to the HQ Watch and Learn that premiers on July 23, 2024. You’ll find it on our Facebook page or our YouTube channel. You can also stream on demand anytime after the premier. Kristina and Kim will share tons of information about quilting with circle rulers.

Quilt Every Day.

by Mary Beth Krapil

 

Written by

July 20th, 2024

This is Circle Rulers Week here at Handi Quilter! Circles make such awesome quilting designs that are perfect for all sorts of quilts. Let’s learn some tips for successful quilting […]

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