How to machine Quilt with the Petunia Ruler from Creative Grids

Today I want to show you the Petunia Ruler from Creative Grids. This ruler was designed by Angela Walters and at first glance it might not look like much. The shape is a little wavy, and you might be wondering how it could possibly turn into flowers or circles. But once you start quilting with it, you will see just how many different things it can do.

The very first thing to notice is the half circle cutout in the center. You can use it to stitch a half circle, then flip the ruler around to create a full circle. The little legs on the side are there to help keep your presser foot lined up with the etched horizontal reference lines. That way your stitching will stay neat and even without having to draw extra marks across your quilt.

When I start stitching with the Petunia, the magic really begins. Even though the ruler itself does not look like a flower, the stitches bloom into petals. The size of those petals depends on which etched line you choose to line up with your seam or border. On my practice panel, I played with a few different options until the spacing looked just right. One pass of the ruler creates a simple flower shape. Two or three passes build out more dimension and turn it into a lush floral border. I even like to take a Sharpie and draw extra guidelines directly on the ruler so I can add echoes that are not already marked. Later I can wipe those lines away with rubbing alcohol.

Now let’s talk about corners, because that is where many quilters get nervous. You do not have to quilt your corners in one continuous pass. There are only four corners in a quilt and it is perfectly fine to stop, break your threads, and start again. I used the half circle cutout to add a fun little design right in the miter. That gave me an intentional look instead of trying to force the border to fit. The Petunia makes it easy to handle corners without stress.

Of course, this ruler is not only for borders. You can use it in blocks too. If you rotate the ruler, you can make full circles or stitch out sweet little daisies. I like to sketch the design on paper first with Drawing Wheels, because it helps me see how the spacing of my ruler foot will affect the final look. It is a low pressure way to play before you stitch on a quilt.

Here is the video where I walk you through all of these steps and show you exactly how the Petunia Ruler works:

The Petunia Ruler from Creative Grids is available in the Quilted Joy shop. Pick one up and give it a try. Practice on a printed panel or go right to your next quilt. Then share what you create in the Quilted Joy Clubhouse so we can all see the beautiful flowers and borders you make with it!