Quilter's Slidelock Pros and Cons

The Quilter's Slidelock is a tool that helps you cut fabric for quilting, sewing and crafting more accurately AND more safely. 

If you are a follower of our quilting tutorials, you may have seen me using my favorite quilting tool for cutting fabric - The Quilter's Slidelock. 

I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this quilting tool.  I don't know how I managed to quilt without it before!  Therefore, I decided to give you a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of the quilter’s slidelock.

WHAT IS THE QUILTER'S SLIDELOCK?

The Quilter's Slidelock ruler is not precisely a ruler since it doesn't have measurements.  However, it's a non-slip straight-edge cutting tool that solves one of the biggest problems a quilter faces - the ruler slipping and sliding while cutting fabric.  It's a very brilliant tool that allows you to cut fabric for quilting, sewing and crafting more accurately and safely.

All you have to do is place the Quilter's Slidelock on the fabric and apply slight pressure to the middle of the handle which engages bumpers that hold the fabric in place, preventing it from shifting during rotary cutting.

This video and written tutorial will discuss the pros and cons of the quilter's slidelock.  If you want to see a demonstration of the Quilter's Slidelock, check out our Quilter's Slidelock Demonstration and Review page where we show how to use the slidelock to cut fabric strips.

Where can you purchase the quilter's Slidelock

The Quilter's Slidelock is patented and manufactured by Sew Be It Quilts, which is 100% made in America from parts sourced from American companies.  You will find convenient links to buy this product at the end of this article.

let’s start with the ADVANTAGES OF A QUILTER'S SLIDELOCK (THE PROS):

• First on my list is the accuracy of fabric cutting

  The quilter’s slidelock is easy to use and eliminates problems with the straight edge slipping or sliding while cutting fabric. The rubber bumpers grip the fabric firmly in place when the Slidelock is activated, resulting in fast, accurate rotary cutting.

  Picture of the Rubber Bumpers

• Next, it easily slides across the fabric

  When not activated, the Quilter’s Slidelock easily slides over the fabric when you want it to.  This makes it easy to flatten and straighten fabric before cutting.

• Another advantage is no accidental finger cutting

  The wooden handle keeps fingers away from the acrylic base and away from the blade of the rotary cutter, ensuring fingers and hand safety.

• I like the thicker base

  The base of the Slidelock is thicker (1/4” inch) than conventional quilting rulers, which  allows the rotary cutter to glide along the edge of the Slidelock easily.  No blade-jumping.

• The Slidelock needs less pressure to use than conventional rulers

  Only a slight amount of continuous hand pressure needs to be applied to the center handle in order to activate the slidelock.  This makes it a useful tool for individuals with arthritis, carpal tunnel, and other hand or shoulder conditions.

• It’s amazing how many fabric layers it will hold

  It can hold securely up to 10 layers of fabric at a time firmly fastening them in place.  With a sharp rotary cutter, you can cut the 10 layers of fabric all at once.

• The seventh advantage is how the pressure is distributed evenly

  The wooden handle distributes pressure evenly across the ruler and fabric so you don’t have to move or spider your hand across the ruler when cutting long strips of fabric resulting in perfectly cut strips every time.

• The new models have a yellowish acrylic base which is an advantage

  Regardless of the color, print or types of fabric used, when the Quilter’s Slidelock is placed on the fabric, the yellowish acrylic base makes it easy to see the edge of the slidelock.

• The last advantage is it comes in two sizes

  The two sizes are 14” and 24”, so it’s perfect for cutting fabric from selvage to selvage and handy for cutting smaller pieces of fabric including scrap fabric.

Now for the Disadvantages of the Quilter's Slidelock
(THE CONS)

• The Quilter’s Slidelock has no ruler markings

  The Quilter’s Slidelock acrylic base does not have ruler markings.  But once you learn how to use the slidelock,  you’ll find you won’t need measurements on the base.

• Another disadvantage is it is a bit pricey

  The price is a little steep, but it is definitely worth the money because it eliminates the frustration of the ruler sliding out of position when cutting fabric. Hence, no fabric waste!

MORE HANDY QUILTING TOOLS

Trim-Lock Quilt Block Trimming Tool

Kwik Klip Basting Tool