Izy:
I checked out the block on quilters cache. That shows a good picture
of what I was trying to explain in my long drawn out explanation, although It would probably be faster to recut from the the original
grid of blocks, you would have all the waste that is cut off the corners,
you would line it up exactly as the picture shows but with all the squares
connected for the whole top, as I had mentioned should you want to
frame it to look like the webshot picture you would either have all
your outer blocks one color, or put the border on in cut strips as I
mentioned before.
I can't stress enough if the template is going to fit the grid and recut
to the new size the diagonal lines on the template must match the
finished size of the original square that was pieced for the initial top.
I made sure that the squares that I put next to each other had contrast
to make the pinwheels stand out. It is easy enough to sew together,
it is just that recutting the 2nd shape can be a bit tedious.
The size I have assembled will be a twin size when I finished and I used
120 7'inch squares (that is what our group exchanged) and put a 4" inch
border around the outside before I cut the second grid. So those 4
patches are then bordered with the muslin, that would go with my 30's
squares.
If it would help, I could figure out the template size for you, if you like
and let me also know what the finished size square that you want to
use. I can send the dimensions for the template square as I don't have
a scanner for my computer to e-mail an attachment, then you could
set the angle with the measurements that I send to you. I would be
happy to help you all out that way. With the finished dimensions of
the recut top, you would be able to figure out how many initial squares
you would need to make the completed top. If you want you can
send me the size that you would want to make and I can calculate
that for you also.
With this method, when I have cut out the template squares, I numbered a safety pin with a tag on the piece on the far left of the
quilt with the row number and added the pieces to keep them in order
and put the pin in the upper left corner of the square to keep them in
order, so as to avoid confusion when repiecing them together, and the
pin hole would show which corner to put wrong side up on the right side
of the previous square and worked horizontally across the quilt to resew
the recut squares together, after you get the first couple rows connected
to each other it is a bit easier to see which way the twisted 4 patch needs
to be, but it is easy to get them twisted around, so I found that to be
the easiest way to keep them in order if you need to take a brake from
recutting and the note on the safety pin keeps them in order. I stack
the row and turn upside down so the first square is the first to come off
the pin. And after cutting the four surrounding squares the only leftover
is a small square that can either be used in an additional border trim
or for another quilt project, and if stiffened it will keep the stretch in
check as those edges would be on the bias. Not much waste at all.
With my size they came out to be around 3 1/2 inch square of reusable
fabric, and if it was pieced to a piece that was on grain it should hold
the bias from distorting too much.
Hope this helps, sorry so long, original designer of this method is
Martha Thompson.
Have fun! Let me know if I can help. Sorry so long of an explanation,
always trying to stretch my fabric as far as I can, I don't throw anything
away, I like all the free extra quilts I can get along with other things.