I love rulers and I have enough of them to prove it. In fact, I like rulers so much that that is how Rita's Racques came to be. I could never find them when I needed them so my husband, Dennis, got busy and designed our original Ruler Rack.
But I am not here today to tell you about our racks but to talk about rulers. I thought I would show you what I think should be the essential rulers a quilter needs.
Personally, I like the Omnigrid Rulers as I have a vision problem and I can see the yellow and black lines better. I also like Quilter's Select rulers because of the film on the back that gives a bit more grip on my fabric. Creative Grid rulers have the extra 1/2" on and I like their markings which I find helpful.
There are many brands that work well. For me, though these are the basic sizes that I think a quilter needs. It's the size that is most important
#1- 6 " x 24" This size ruler is essential to quilting. Most bolts are 44″wide, In order to cut strips accurately the fabric is folded in half. I it important to fold correctly. Watch the video for folding. This ruler is handy for cutting strips along the whole width. I liked this video for directions on cutting. This ruler is perfect for cutting strips. It also has markings for 30, 45, and 60-degree cuts which comes in very handy. This ruler is really all that you need. The others just help a lot.
Quilter Square Rulers
As I said before I like the film on the back of these. The perfect size for me is their 12" x 3" ruler. Works great for smaller pieces.
There are hundreds of different sizes and shapes and all of them have their use but these two ruler sizes will get you through most anything.
While these two rulers are all you need many others to solve a cutting problem easier. I love those special rulers as they make my life easier but truthfully the 6"x 24" and a small ruler is all you really need.
I have quite a few Ruler Racks placed around my studio. I have a large one for my long arm rulers and then two others for my specialty rulers. Here is a picture of the area near my cutting table filled with the rulers I use most.
Walk into my studio and you may find fabric and notions lying around a bit, but not my rulers, each of them has its own spot.
This week I find myself working on five projects at once. I keep going from one to the next.
I made a mug rug for a friend and liked them so much found 10 more friends that really needed them.
I fell in love with a pattern I want for my table so I picked out the fabric and started to cut it out
I have finished the thread art portion of my granddaughter's quilt and am now appliquéing it. This lets me have a little hand sewing time in front of the TV. (I will have pictures in the next few weeks)
My niece is having a baby and I realized I needed to get a quilt for her. I did get it pieced and it's now on the longarm waiting for me to finish.
I don't knit much but I love knitted washcloths. I got two of them done this week!
That is it for this week. I give you my Irish goodbye.
Rita
Recipe of the Week:
Back in the 90's, I owned Gallagher's Cafe, Quilt Shop & Retreat House. Our customers were always asking for our recipes so we published "Sharing Our Best" with many of those favorite recipes. That book sold out quickly. To this day, I still receive requests for those recipes. So, I have decided to publish one each week with my "Tips".
Cheeseburger Soup was a favorite at Gallagher's. It is perfect for cold weather. Because of the cheese, it does burn easily. Honest, it's definitely worth standing over the pot to make sure it doesn't burn.
Cheeseburger Soup
1 lb ground beef 3 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. chopped onion 4 c. chopped potatoes
3/4 c. diced carrots 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. chopped celery 8 oz. American cheese
1 tsp dried basil 1 1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. parsley 1/4 c. sour cream
4 T. butter
In 3-quart saucepan, brown beef; drain off fat. Add onions, carrots, celery basil, and parsley; saute' until tender (10 minutes). Add broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 - 12 minutes. Add flour and cook about 2 minutes. Add cheese and milk Cook until cheese is melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.
Note: Keep on very low heat after the cheese has been added. It really does burn easily.
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” ― Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Screenplay