Foxflower

Has anyone used the Smart Plate Ruler for making kaleidoscope quilts? If so, did you like it? Pros and cons? Would a regular 45 degree triangle ruler be better, harder, etc? I want to make a kaleidoscope quilt that has both the triangle and kite shapes. If I use the smart plate ruler will I have to cut my blocks down from pinwheels, or is that just one option? Help, I don't know what to buy!

Oh and by the by, what angle diamond ruler does one need for the storm at sea block?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Arleners

I had never heard of this ruler before so I googled it. Found this blog that demoed the ruler use. It looks like it could be fun. I don't think it would work for a one block wonder, but for a regular kaleidoscope, it looks like it would make it easier.

http://pickledish.blogspot.com/2010/...uler-demo.html

In my opinion, you can find a speciality ruler for just about anything. With math skills (and paper pieceing sometimes) you can make anything with just one or two straight rulers. It just depends on how much money you want to spend on toys, and how much you want to think. If you enjoy drafting and working stuff out, skip the ruler and do it the old fashioned way.

Trust me, my sewing room is full of rulers. I waffle between making things easy and facing a challange.

For Storm at Sea, I bought the Fast2cut templates. The quilt I made from that came out great!

tutslady

I just bought this ruler in both sizes at the Knoxsville quilt festival this year. They work great. I am like Arlene, I have lots of special rulers and I like it that way. Makes it a lot easier than using my brain.

gramarraine

I like rulers. It makes it much easier to cut accurately. I would never quilt if I had to cut without my rulers.

Foxflower

Thank you arleners and tutslady! I'll probably buy the ruler--I found them on clearance on Createforless.com. Arleners, thanks for the link, I favorited it for reference. Just in case you are curious, anybody, this is the quilt I want to make except I won't be using those beautiful Kaffe Fassett prints (one of the best uses I've seen of his wild prints).....http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenjohn...ope_quiltalong.

blondeslave

I'm a financial analyst but love my specialty rulers. I think the math part of my brain deserts me when I leave the office. When I try to do block math my head starts to spin.

Foxflower

LOL, yup, block math can be difficult. I recently need to change a block just a tad. Thought I had it right but ended up making about 6 trial blocks before I really got it right. All those 1/8 inches and such...Yikes!