01Overview
Westalee Design templates have become a staple in the longarm and domestic machine quilting community, offering quilters a precise and repeatable way to create intricate quilting designs without relying solely on freehand skill. These rulers and templates are made from durable, high-quality plastic that is thick enough to safely guide a ruler foot while remaining clear enough to see your fabric and stitching lines beneath. Designed by professional quilter Kimberly Walus, the line includes a vast range of shapes, from simple straight lines and circles to more complex feathers, arcs, and geometric patterns, allowing quilters of all skill levels to achieve consistent, professional-looking results on their quilting projects.
What sets Westalee Design templates apart is their thoughtful engineering specifically for use with ruler feet on both longarm and sit-down domestic sewing machines. Each template is marked with clear guidelines, measurements, and registration marks that help quilters align their stitching accurately, repeat motifs across a quilt top, and maintain even spacing between design elements. The templates come in multiple sizes within each shape category, such as the popular circles, orbit, wave, and arc sets, giving quilters the flexibility to scale designs up or down depending on the project, whether it's a small table runner or a large bed quilt. This modular system means quilters can mix and match templates to create entirely custom quilting designs tailored to their own aesthetic.
Beyond their functional precision, Westalee Design templates are valued for how they expand creative possibilities while reducing the learning curve typically associated with ruler work quilting. Many templates come with companion instructional guides or are supported by tutorials from Westalee and the broader quilting community, helping newcomers understand how to position the ruler foot, follow the template edges smoothly, and combine multiple templates for layered, textured quilting designs. Whether a quilter is working on edge-to-edge patterns, custom heirloom quilting, or adding decorative stitching to garments and home decor projects, Westalee Design templates provide the reliability and versatility needed to elevate the finished quilt's overall look and craftsmanship.
02What stands out
- Low-shank and high-shank ruler sets available
- 6mm thick durable acrylic construction
- Compatible with longarm and domestic sewing machines
- Non-slip grip strips on template base
- Wide range of geometric and freehand designs
- Includes continuous curve and spiral patterns
- Works with ruler foot attachments for precision quilting
03Specifications
| Material | 6mm acrylic |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Longarm & domestic machines |
| Set Sizes | Available in 2-12 piece sets |
| Edge Height | 6mm raised edge for ruler foot |
| Shape Variety | Over 50 template designs |
04Pros & cons
What we like
- Extremely precise and consistent stitch lines
- Durable acrylic withstands years of repeated use
- Versatile for both longarm and domestic machines
- Wide variety of shapes expands design possibilities
- Non-slip surface improves control during quilting
- Great for beginners learning ruler work
What to watch
- Requires purchase of compatible ruler foot separately
- Higher price point than generic templates
- Learning curve for complex template combinations
- Limited availability in some specialty shapes
- Storage can be challenging with larger sets
The verdict
Westalee Design templates are a staple for quilters seeking professional, repeatable results with ruler work. The acrylic construction is sturdy, the variety of shapes is impressive, and once paired with the proper ruler foot, these templates dramatically improve stitch consistency. They're an investment, but one that pays off in the quality and creativity they unlock for both longarm and domestic machine quilters.
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