sammygirlqt

I want to make a baby quilt using the small twister tool (3 1/2"). Has anyone changed the size slightly? I am wondering if I could cut the blocks with a marked 4" square? I have sewed 5" squares together in rows 7 across x 9 down and will add a 4" border. Is there any way to figure out what your finished twister block size will be from these squares?

To finish off the quilt, I will add another white border, then a 2" finish border from the charm squares and finally another white border. I am using California Girl fabric and it is so beautiful and I am really excited to put this all together. I will hardly sleep tonight thinking about it.

Tartan

Try it out and see. Put your 4 inch Twister square on the 5 inch square on the back of the pieced top and trace around a few of the squares with a chalk marker. If the squares look too close for cutting, you haven't damaged the front of your fabric. I made myself a tiny twister ruler (way to small to rotary cut around) and ended up tracing the Twister shapes onto my pieced top and using my scissors to cut the marked blocks. It wasn't ideal but "where there's a will, there's a way."

sammygirlqt

Thanks Tartan, I just tried your suggestion and it worked! By my drawings one side is 1/8" short. Now I am sure they would have made it 4" if it would work wouldn't they. Sometimes I just question things too much...should just go with the tool. Thanks for your help.

pinkberrykay

these are really fun to use and just recently a bunch of new patterns came out. Our own handcraftsbyjen has published a few patterns and has more to come out thru the . The 5" and 10" twisters are much easier to use. Take it slow and make sure when you use a rotary cutter you are keeping your rotary straight and not angled into the square~ask me how I know

PaperPrincess

The twister is fun, but does use a fair bit of fabric! You will need to cut 5" squares, I don't think 4" will make it. If your starting piece is 9 X7 squares, you position the ruler at the block intersections, so you will wind up with 8 X6 twister blocks. Since the ruler is 3.5" it will finish at 3". You will get 8X3" by 6 x3" or 24" X 18" finished size plus whatever borders you add.
I think that's why they came out with the mini twister tool. You sew together the pieces left over from the first cut and cut mini squares.

Handcraftsbyjen

They came out with the Primitive Pinwheels size and the Itty Bitty Primitive Pinwheel size so that you can have more versatility in your Twister designs. Not to mention that the smaller sizes don't use as much fabric. There is waste with all of the sizes, however, you can use the next size down ruler to use your waste.

sammygirlqt

Thanks for your suggestions and help. I think my leftover scraps will be about 2 1/2" so what size twister ruler would I use. I have just made my own template. Has anyone made a tiny one? If so, where do you put your lines or can you add a picture of it? I love this fabric so much that I am not going to waste one inch. Now off to cut some twister squares.

Handcraftsbyjen

Itty Bitty Primitive Pinwheel tool uses 2 1/2" squares sewn together.

Quiltaddict

I don't think you could use a 4 inch ruler if you use 5 inch squares of fabric. I have made it using the 3.5 inch ruler and there is just barely enough room to cut as you always end up cutting just a smidge beyond the ruler. If your quilt is sewn with 5 inch squares and is 7 across by 9 down and you use the 3.5 inch ruler you will get a 21 inch by 27 inch when they are sewn back together. Figure out your borders and you can determine your finished size.

21quilter

Just have to tell handcraftsbyjen that I love her twister bunny! Too cute! And you are so creative. Great job!