With the Modern HST Sampler QAL starting next week, I wanted to share a few tools you might like to have on hand to help you create beautiful and accurate quilt blocks, and especially the HSTs within them.
Minimum requirements
You’re going to need a ruler that measures at least 4.5″ x 12.5″, and that has a 45 degree line marked on it. I don’t think I’ve seen any rulers that don’t have this line, but I wanted to make sure you are aware of this line on them! Why 4.5″ with the line? This is so that you can trim and square up your HSTs once they’re sewn and pressed open – you align the 45 degree line on your seam. Why 12.5″? So you can cut larger fabric pieces, and trim your quilt blocks to 12.5″ square. It’d be easiest if you have a 12.5″ square ruler, but if your ruler isn’t 12.5″ square, you will just need to use your cutting mat markings to help cut fabric and square up blocks.
Make sure you’ve got a pencil or temporary fabric marker on hand to mark fabric for making the HSTs. I personally like the Sewline fabric pen best, as it is so smooth to use on fabric, but I also use a pencil if that’s closest!
You will also need your standard quilting basics like a rotary cutter, neutral thread for piecing (I use Aurifil 50w in 2021 or 2024), pins if you like to use them when sewing, and an iron.
Recommended rulers
I get it, rulers can be expensive, but they are something you use over and over and over again in your quilting. And why should you invest in more of them? Because the smaller the ruler/the closer the size of the ruler to the fabric you’re cutting, the more accurate the cutting or trimming of your fabric and HSTs. This is because you have less ruler to manage and thus less chance of slipping and accidents. There are two that I recommend you have on hand for the Modern HST Sampler QAL.
6.5″ x 6.5″. Square rulers are incredibly versatile! This size will help you accurately cut the smaller pieces needed for your blocks, as well as to trim your HSTs. I use and love the Creative Grids version, as it includes the whole and half inch measurements, has two frosted sides marking a 1/4″ line, and the other two sides have a 1/2 frosted line. The bottom also has textured spots manufactured into the ruler to grip onto your fabric!
12.5″ x 12.5″. The 12.5″ square ruler allows you to accurately cut larger pieces of fabric such as the larger squares of fabric for making HSTs, as well as squaring up the quilt blocks! I have a generic one bought at Spotlight, but almost look forward to the day it breaks and I can get the Creative Grids one… no, seriously!
Rulers available at my sponsors:
Gotham Quilts
The Loopy Ewe
Shabby Fabrics
Fat Quarter Shop
Luxury recommendations
Bloc Loc HST ruler. If you invest in a new ruler for this quilt along, MAKE IT THIS ONE. The Bloc Loc rulers come with a special “channel” cut in the bottom that locks onto your HST seam, trapping it and holding it tight so that it doesn’t slip around while you’re trimming the many HSTs you’ll be making over 2016! After using other rulers to trim my HSTs for years, I finally got one at QuiltCon last February. Life. Changer! I definitely wished I had gotten it earlier! They come in a range of sizes, from 1.5″ (HSTs to finish at 1″) up to 12.5″ – if you have the exact same size as the unfinished size of HST you’re trimming, you can simply trim all 4 sides at once. Otherwise, you just rotate the ruler and HST and trim two at a time. I have the 5.5″ one as that was all the store had left, but a 4.5″ one will cover you for this quilt along.
Available from:
Fat Quarter Shop
Rotating cutting mat. This is one that I don’t actually have myself yet, but is at the very top of my quilty wishlist. In fact, it’s the very first thing I will be buying when I move back to Australia at the end of March! As I am also making 99 tiny 6″ finished blocks for the 1930s Farmer’s Wife quilt, I know how much of a game changer it will be to be able to trim blocks and HSTs by simply rotating the mat instead of both the ruler and the fabric. Several friends have purchased one themselves because of the Farmer’s Wife quilt, so I definitely know how highly useful it is for cutting and trimming.
Available from my sponsors here:
Shabby Fabrics
Fat Quarter Shop
I am very aware that quilting is an expensive activity, so please don’t think that you need to rush out and grab each and every one. None of these recommendations are absolutely, 100% cannot-QAL-without-them tools, but they definitely will make your Modern HST Sampler life 00% easier this year! I have slowly purchased them (or, WILL purchase them, ha!) over the years and I would not be recommending them if I did not absolutely love them and how easy they’ve made my sewing.
What about you? What are your favourite quilty tools to recommend?
Teje says
Hi Alyce! Great post! I’m happy to have the big ruler and the 6.6″ ruler + of course the cutting mat and the cutter. If I were able to purchase something more I would by the hst ruler as you suggest and the rotating cutting mat. I got new cutting mat last summer and was thinking a little bit to cut the old one to have small piece which is easy to roll araound. Now I’m happy I didn’t do that because I have both mats on my table and that big cutting space is really good – I cut mostly on the new mat and arrange on the old one. Looking for the quilt along! x Teje
Bethany Whipps says
The Loc-Bloc ruler (or rulers) is on my quilting wish list for sure. I do have the rotating cutting mat and can confirm that it is the best money you will ever spend if you are trimming small blocks! I love mine. I just cut 200 blocks down to 5″ this week and it was a lifesaver! Looking forward to getting started!
Pip says
Bloc-Loc rulers are the best, I have the 6.5″ HST one which combined with a rotating cutting mat makes quick work of trimming HST blocks of any size. I considered buying some of the smaller Bloc-Loc HST rulers but decided that I could use the money for a rotating cutting mat and still save time and effort.
Lots of spare rotary cutter blades are a must, (buy them on special) it is no fun when your blade is blunt.
Anja @ Anja Quilts says
Thanks for the tips. I just recently got the Creative Grids 6.5 ruler. It’s awesome!
Carla says
Fresh rotary cutter blades. I used to keep using dull ones as they are not cheap, but a new blade is a treat to work with and improves accuracy. I buy them in bulk when on sale.
Krysta says
I can verify that sharp blades are a must. I just changed mine yesterday and and it cuts so much smoother. (We save the old ones to cut paper with, FYI.)
Adequate lighting is nice, And a supply of chocolate. Just in case.
Tina Wright says
Thanks, Alyce! I’m looking forward to this!
I LOVE my Bloc Loc HST ruler. I have the 6.5″ one. With the rotating mat I can just slide that ruler along the seam it’s locked onto and trim the other two sides without disturbing it whatsoever. This is definitely a time/energy saver.
One note on the Bloc Loc- I like to use a 35MM rotary cutter. Maybe I’m just a super-enthusiastic rotary-cutter-user, but I find myself jumping the curb and knicking the edges of my $$$ ruler. The smaller blade keeps me on the straight and narrow.
Susan says
I love my Cut for a Cure 7″ square ruler! It has all the required features, PLUS the lines alternate pink and green so I’m far less likely to line up the wrong size when cutting. I’m so glad to see that you emphasize the trimming and that means the dog ears get cut off. I see so many donated blocks here at my house where people didn’t do that, and then the block isn’t flat or square and corners don’t match. It is SO important to get the right size, and to get rid of that extra fabric!
Hilary says
I adore the Creative Grids rulers! They are the only ones I will buy 😀
Jennie says
I received a rotating mat for Christmas. I love it. I asked for one from Amazon made by Skyhawks, simply because the 2 parts don’t come apart, like the Fiskar and olfa brands. My sewing area is most of the time in chaos and I figured if it didn’t come apart I might not lose half of it.
Janet says
Stopped by Joann’s before the Super Bowl. The Olfa rotating mat is on sale at through February 10 for $32.99. If you sign up to receive text messages (which I did) you receive an additional 20% off your entire purchase.