Rulerwork Quilting

Excerpt from Rulerwork Quilting Idea Book: 59 Outline Designs to Fill with Free-Motion Quilting, Tips for Longarm and Domestic Machines. 

Have you seen a breathtaking modern quilt with beautiful straight-line quilting in triangle and diamond formations and wondered how the quilter achieved such clean results? Or gazed admiringly at a traditional quilt with evenly spaced scallop or orange-peel designs quilted along the border? Or studied a quilt with undulating circles and wondered how any quilter developed such impressive free-motion skills?

I’ll let you in on a secret. These quilters don’t have super powers. Instead, they most likely used quilting rulers to achieve uniform shapes. With the advent of domestic ruler feet, everyone can join in on the fun! When you combine rulerwork skills with free-motion quilting, you can create truly spectacular designs that offer magnificent texture and enhance your quilt top.

All photos by Amanda Murphy.

BERNINA Ruler Work Kit for Sit-Down Machines

BERNINA Ruler Work Kit for Frame Models

Squiggle rulers and S-curve rulers from BERNINA, EverSewn, and Quilter’s Groove

Spirograph style-rulers and echo guides from Westalee Design (by Sew Steady)

When you combine rulerwork skills with free-motion quilting, you can create truly spectacular designs that offer magnificent texture and enhance your quilt top.

Detail of Starstruck by Amanda Murphy, which contrasts free-motion feathers with straight-line rulerwork

Detail of Sewing Room Sampler by Amanda Murphy, which makes extensive use of both rulers and free-motion

The circles on this wholecloth quilt by Amanda Murphy are easily executed with rulers.

Detail of Sewing Garden by Amanda Murphy, which features rulerwork filled with a lot of free-motion quilting, creating secondary designs.

In creating a book that showcases a visual “toolbox” of designs, I wanted to create a source of inspiration to keep by my machine. Hopefully you will want to, too! I hope that this book opens your eyes to new possibilities and helps you move your quilting to the next level.

Happy quilting!

—Amanda

For more quilting ideas, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media.

Website: amandamurphydesign.com

Facebook: /amandamurphyfabric

(Follow Amanda’s quilting journey and ask quilting questions in her Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/free.motion.quilting.idea.book.)

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Twitter: @amandarmurphy