Quick answer
Choose the Sew Square 4 if you mostly square up 4" x 4" units from patterns like Posh Holiday, Wonderful Curves Sampler, or Mini Wonderful Curves. Choose the Sew Square 6 if your patterns call for 6" square-up steps, such as Mini Rings, Mini Picnic, or Chic Country. If you sew across multiple Sew Kind of Wonderful patterns, owning both saves time because each ruler is marked for its specific square-up sizes.
Mini Wonderful Curves
What each ruler is designed to do
The Sew Square 4 is a 4" x 4" clear acrylic ruler with black lines and marks. Its unique marks are made for squaring up 4" x 4" units from multiple Sew Kind of Wonderful patterns, including the Posh Holiday Series, Wonderful Curves Sampler Book, Floral Felicity Sampler Book, Mini Wonderful Curves Book, Starry Night, Happy Together, and Cool Cars. The Sew Square 6 is a 6" x 6" clear acrylic ruler with the same style of black lines and marks. It includes reference lines for Mini Rings square-up lines (Sample 13, page 3), Mini Picnic square-up lines (Sample 10, page 3), Mini Country square-up points (Sample 13 or 14, page 3), and Chic Country & Country Revival square-up points (Sample 14, page 3).
Pattern compatibility: match the ruler to your project
The most reliable way to choose is to check the square-up step in your pattern. If your pattern says to square up to 4", the Sew Square 4 has the marks you need. If it says to square up to 6", the Sew Square 6 has the matching reference lines. For example, Country Revival (Paper) is a 44" x 44" quilt that uses fat quarters and background fabric, and the Chic Country video tutorial also works for Country Revival. The Sew Square 6 includes Chic Country & Country Revival square-up points, so it is the direct match for that pattern. If you are working from a pattern that is not listed, check the finished unit size before buying; neither ruler substitutes for the other because the marks are placed for specific dimensions.
Size, storage, and handling trade-offs
A 4" ruler is lighter and easier to rotate when you are squaring up many small units. It takes up less space on a cutting mat and in a project bag, which matters if you sew in a small area or take classes. A 6" ruler covers more fabric, so it can square up larger units without repositioning, but it is heavier and needs more clearance around the mat. Neither ruler is large enough for full quilt blocking; they are designed for unit square-up steps, not for squaring a whole quilt. If you need to square up larger blocks, you would need a different ruler size that is not part of this comparison.
Cost and combo options
At catalog prices, the Sew Square 4 is USD 9.23 (compared to USD 13.00) and the Sew Square 6 is USD 11.70 (compared to USD 18.00). If you already know you want to make Posh Penelope, the Posh Penelope Combo at USD 36.96 (compared to USD 56.00) includes the Posh Penelope pattern and is a way to get started on that stash-buster quilt. The combo does not include either Sew Square ruler, so you would still choose the ruler size based on the pattern's square-up step. If you sew several Sew Kind of Wonderful patterns, buying both rulers separately may be more useful than choosing one, because the marks are pattern-specific.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Sew Square 4: smaller, lighter, pattern-specific: The 4" x 4" size is easier to rotate and store, and its marks match 4" square-up steps in patterns like Posh Holiday and Mini Wonderful Curves. It cannot square up 6" units because it does not have those reference lines. Best if your patterns consistently call for 4" square-up steps.
- Sew Square 6: larger coverage, different pattern set: The 6" x 6" size covers more fabric per placement and includes marks for Mini Rings, Mini Picnic, Mini Country, Chic Country, and Country Revival. It is heavier and takes more mat space than the 4" ruler. Best if your patterns call for 6" square-up steps or you are making Country Revival.
- Buying both vs. choosing one: Because the marks are pattern-specific, one ruler does not replace the other. If you sew a range of Sew Kind of Wonderful patterns, owning both avoids workarounds. If you stick to one pattern family, one ruler may be enough. Check your pattern's square-up step before buying; match the ruler to that number.
Product facts
- Sew Square 4: Sew Square 4 is a 4" x 4" clear acrylic ruler with easy to use black lines and marks. It has unique marks for squaring-up 4" x 4" units from multiple Sew Kind of Wonderful patterns, including Posh Holiday Series, Wonderful Curves Sampler Book, Floral Felicity Sampler Book, Mini Wonderful Curves Book, Starry Night, Happy Together, and Cool Cars. If your pattern lists a 4" square-up step, this ruler has the exact marks you need without guessing.
- Sew Square 6: Sew Square 6 is a 6" x 6" clear acrylic ruler with easy to use black lines and marks. It includes reference lines for Mini Rings square-up lines (Sample 13, page 3), Mini Picnic square-up lines (Sample 10, page 3), Mini Country square-up points (Sample 13 or 14, page 3), and Chic Country & Country Revival square-up points (Sample 14, page 3). If your pattern calls for 6" square-up steps, this ruler provides the specific reference lines for those projects.
- Country Revival (Paper): Country Revival (Paper) is a 44" x 44" quilt pattern that uses (8) fat quarters assorted prints (teal), 1-1/3 yards background fabric (white), 1-1/2 yards setting fabric (gray), 3 yards backing, and 1/2 yard binding. A Quick Curve Ruler Chic Country video tutorial is available and also works for Country Revival. If you are making Country Revival, the Sew Square 6 includes the matching Chic Country & Country Revival square-up points, so it is the direct ruler match for that pattern.
Which ruler is right for you?
Best for
- Quilters making patterns with 4" x 4" square-up steps, such as Posh Holiday Series, Wonderful Curves Sampler, Floral Felicity Sampler, Mini Wonderful Curves, Starry Night, Happy Together, or Cool Cars
- Sewists who want a lighter, smaller ruler for small quilt blocks and limited cutting space
- Quilters making patterns with 6" square-up steps, such as Mini Rings, Mini Picnic, Mini Country, Chic Country, or Country Revival (use Sew Square 6)
Not for
- Squaring up units larger than 4" or 6" respectively; these rulers are sized for their specific square-up steps
- Quilters who need a single ruler to cover both 4" and 6" pattern steps; the marks are pattern-specific, so you would need both sizes
- Anyone looking for a ruler to square up a full quilt; these are unit square-up tools, not large-format quilting rulers
