I have this ruler and have made several blocks for a guild demo. The ruler makes it easier as I have made this pattern before without a special ruler. In fact I have both sizes of the ruler. The mini is great for scraps. The little waste is not something I fret over. I also like the Positively Pineapple book and ruler. It was my first pineapple block other then paper piecing which was too tedious for me for this pattern. I like to try all the different ways to make a block. One way may have me saying never again and then another way will have me saying this is easy and fun.