Bring beautiful, sweeping arcs and continuous curves to your quilting projects with the Creative Grids® Machine Quilting Tool Smiley. Designed in collaboration with renowned machine quilting expert Angela Walters, the Smiley ruler is guaranteed to put a grin on your face by taking the frustration out of stitching curved designs. This highly versatile template features two differently sized arcs on a single tool, giving you endless creative possibilities. Machined from premium 1/4-inch thick acrylic and backed with the exclusive Creative Grids non-slip grip, this tool provides the stability and precision needed to quilt perfectly pointed arcs, continuous curves, and overlapping cables without ever marking your fabric.
Key Features
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Dual-Arc Design: Features two distinctly sized arcs on one ruler, allowing you to easily scale your curved designs, echo patterns, and fit motifs into differently sized blocks.
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Precision Needle Stops: Strategically placed needle stops on both ends of the ruler ensure you stop precisely at the 1/4-inch mark for flawlessly pointed arcs every single time.
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Exclusive Non-Slip Grip: The patented Creative Grids grip coating on the back holds the tool securely in place when downward pressure is applied, preventing slipped stitches and ruined motifs.
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High-Visibility Markings: Clear black and white dashed guidelines are printed directly on the acrylic, making it incredibly easy to align your ruler on light fabrics, dark fabrics, and busy prints.
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Premium Acrylic Construction: Cut from thick, high-quality 1/4-inch clear acrylic, ensuring safe use alongside longarm hopping feet and high-shank domestic ruler feet.
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No-Mark Efficiency: Designed to let you use your block seams and previously stitched lines as reference points, eliminating the tedious need for chalk or disappearing ink.
Why Customers Love This Tool
Customers love the Smiley ruler because it effortlessly solves one of the most challenging aspects of free-motion quilting: creating smooth, perfectly pointed arcs. Trying to free-hand continuous curves or cables often results in wobbly lines and uneven points, but the Smiley’s built-in needle stops take out all the guesswork. Quilters rave about how the two different arc sizes make it the perfect all-in-one tool for borders, sashing, and filling large blocks. Plus, the non-slip grip significantly reduces hand and shoulder fatigue, making marathon quilting sessions far more enjoyable.
Perfect For
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Arc & Cable Quilters: Ideal for anyone looking to stitch overlapping cables, curved echoes, and continuous curve designs.
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Domestic Machine Quilters: The 3-inch by 7-1/2-inch size is incredibly maneuverable under the harp space of standard high-shank home sewing machines.
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Longarm Quilters: The sturdy 1/4-inch acrylic profile glides perfectly along longarm hopping feet without the risk of slipping under the needle.
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Free-Motion Beginners: The easy-to-read markings and needle stops make this an excellent introductory ruler for learning curved ruler work.
Included Accessories
Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a specific presser foot to use the Smiley ruler? Yes. You must use a specialized 1/4-inch ruler foot designed for your specific sewing machine brand or longarm. Standard presser feet (like darning or walking feet) are not tall enough and can allow the ruler to slip dangerously under the needle.
How do the needle stops work? The needle stops are small, intentional cutouts at the ends of the arcs. They allow your ruler foot to rest perfectly in the notch, stopping the needle exactly 1/4-inch from the point. This lets you pivot cleanly and start your next arc without overshooting your mark.
Can I use this ruler on a low-shank sewing machine? This 1/4-inch thick ruler is primarily designed for longarm machines and high-shank domestic machines. If you have a low-shank machine, you must ensure you have proper clearance behind the presser foot so the thicker acrylic does not hit the machine's ankle.
Will the non-slip grip damage my fabric? Not at all. The signature Creative Grids grip is a textured, translucent coating that lightly grabs the fabric only when downward pressure is applied. It will not snag, pull, or leave residue on your quilt top.
