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Rotary Cutting - An Introduction to Rotary Cutting Tools for Quilters

By Janet Wickell, About.com

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Choosing Rotary Rulers

A few of the hundreds of rotary rulers designed to help quilters.

© Janet Wickell

Rotary Rulers

You'll use acrylic, see-through rulers to align the fabric and hold it firmly against the mat. Choose rotary rulers that are marked with very thin lines. It's much easier to align the edge of your fabric accurately under a narrow line than it is to guess where it's at under a broader marking.

There are hundreds of kinds of rotary rulers. Start with the basics and add to your collection as you discover which rulers work best for your needs.

Basic Rotary Rulers

  • A 6" x 24" rotary ruler is a must and enables you to make nearly any type of cut. It should be marked with 30-, 45-, and 60-degree lines, with dimensions in 1/8" increments.

  • A 6.5" x 6.5" square ruler is perfect for aligning and cutting squares and triangle squares. Dimensions are duplicated along two adjoining sides, with a diagonal guideline running through them. Rules should be in 1/8" increments.

  • A 12.5" x 12.5" square ruler helps you make sure blocks are square, but you'll find lots of other uses for it.

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