Another "required" specialty ruler....?
 

I purchased a pattern on sale from Quilt In A Day and I love the pattern. I wanted to use fabric my son gave me from Switzerland. I of course, did not realize they required a specialty ruler to make up this pattern. Has anyone bought and used the Creative Grids Square on Square 6in Trim Tool? It costs 17.95 which is quite a lot for a ruler to me that I may only used for this one project. I won so many rulers and notions someone said I needed that now do nothing but gather dust!
If you have used it, can you recommend it? Also, does anyone know how to get around using it to square up the blocks bit by bit as you put them together? The blocks are square in a square and should finish at 6" and 3". Thanks for any advice about this. I will pay more attention from now on

That's a large part of how Eleanor Burns makes her money. She has a required ruler for everything.

I bet if you study on it a bit, you'll figure out how to trim your squares using the rulers you already have.

Oh, I watched a video using the trim tool and it appears if you don't cut your square over-sized to start with it will not work for the block. Really frustrating!

Try this instead:

http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/C...Calculator.php

Well, that may be helpful if I wasn't so mathematically challenged.....uh, uh. not sure how to follow that. Maybe a practice block would help. Will see if I can find time for that. Thanks for the link. Interesting how people create these things!

I would open the pattern and read it. Then take some scrap fabric and make up a block and see how it goes. Maybe you will not need the ruler. Best of luck!

Yep I agree. I think this is the best solution. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on a really great trick of a notion that I would be so happy to own. A practice block is definitely needed here! Thanks for the all the great input.

Making lots of scrappy quilts. Not using patterns now so I just cut as I please. Seems everything is trying to sell something.

You may find Lessa Siegele's trick helpful. She masks off an area on any ruler using scotch tape to create the 'grid lines shape' that the specialty ruler uses:

https://thequiltshow.com/watch/free-...e-bom-designer

Fast forward to 39:20. This episode is free to watch until July 31st.

(She has lots of good tricks in this episode though, worth watching the whole thing IMO)

Which pattern did you buy?

What a nice show. Thanks for the link, magicmoonmusings!

I found using the pre marked ruler for pattern saves time, frustration and misscuts. I don't mind buying a specialty ruler for one pattern, I'm always glad I do.

I fell into that trap. Now the specialty ruler sits in a drawer collecting dust. I would try using some scraps and see what you can do.

I think I would make a couple of blocks out of scraps and see if that works. It seems there are always rulers that can be used for many different shapes and sizes. Also, I agree with the members that just read the pattern really closely and you possibly can use one of the rules you already have. Good luck and let us know how you do.

This is kind of like revamping an old pattern and selling it with a new name and different instructions for piecing, that are usually not an improvement on the old pattern; case in point, many trips around the world and mosaic memories. I'm sure there is probably something new/different about the pattern besides the name and price.

Jan

I feel I get my money's worth the first time I use a specialty ruler to make a quilt. If I use it again then that's one thing less I have to buy. Feeling bad about buying a new ruler is not on my quilting to do list. I don't have time for that.

I guess it's just a matter of what you want to spend your money on. I don't like designing a quilt around a ruler you're plugging.

Yall have lots of good advice. The real problem is that they give no finished measurements except for the final block. It is hard to figure the measurements when you have a 4 patch for the center, and then 2 more rounds of triangles making the square in a square. I am just hard headed enough to keep on trying till I do figure it out. I have watched the video, stopping it, and making it as large as I can, to see what the measurements are on the ruler. They surely don't want you to see it up close. I just think 18$ for a ruler is really high for a one-time shot which I think is what this would be for me. Thank you all for your advice. I will let you know when I conquer this mountain!! lol!!

It's called Fussy Cut Squared....really original huh? jk! It has fussy cut blocks with square in a square and also a 4 patch in the middle of square in a square. It's really cute.....they used Christmas snowman fabrics. I love the pattern....just wish I could figure it all out! I think I'm almost there now!

I don't think I would buy a ruler and then try to design a pattern to fit the ruler. I like specialty rulers. The cutting goes smoothly, all the pieces fit, and I'm enjoying my quilting time instead of trying to figure out if I lay my basic ruler this way and then flip it this way.........just not my thing. I don't think I've bought a ruler for one pattern that cost more then $20.

You could always just sketch the block out, then paper piece it. I've done this when I didn't like my rotary cutting results before.

is this the ruler? http://www.connectingthreads.com/cft...paign=PPCgpGen

it is more at this link https://www.createforless.com/Quilt-...pid278036.aspx

I looked at the pattern. Based on the dimensions of 12" x 30", I could see that each side block is a 3x3 square. That left a 6 inch square as the center. The lighter side pieces are 3"x6". I took the liberty of drawing the blocks in EQ. Hope these can add some clarity.

Yep this would work but as I said, there are no completed block measurements shown on the pattern....only measurements for the blocks that are then cut diagonally and added to the middle square to make the square in a square. I think its hopeless for me!

yep that's it! Great job. Now, what is the measurement of the first 4 patch block? That's seems to me to be crucial and I can't figure it out. After making 4 different size blocks yesterday I have a 3 1/2" block but do not have 1/4" seam allowances on all four sides, only on two of the sides. I just can't get my head around this one!! I love the pattern. The small blocks finish at 3" and the larger ones at 6". That's about all I can grasp. I am thinking that those dreaded 3/8" or 7/8" sizes are involved.
The instructions are to square up the four patch to the square on the ruler. And I cannot tell at all what the measurement should be. Then you piece the next pieces to that block and I think I am doing that correctly but then it doesn't measure 3 1/2" with a 1/4" seam allowance. arrrgggghh!!!
Barb, do you know the measurements for the finished 4 patch block and then the next size block? Thanks for even trying to do this. You are a real help. Thanks to all who are interested in this. I guess I should bite the bullet, swallow my pride, and order the ruler!!! Just not there yet! I feel like I'm being coerced. I will read the fine print before ordering next time!

No it isn't either of these. It is the Creative Grids Square in a Square 6" Trim Tool. NOT even a ruler per se. I think it would only be used for this particular block. The video says it can also be used for Snail's Trail (is that the name?) or another quilt they have designed that you can order a kit for. I am not interested in those.

I agree. I bought the pattern which was designed using the ruler and no other way apparently. It is a darling pattern and I think others would like it but don't want to buy the tool either. The pattern was only 2.80 and free shipping....and as far as I can remember, never mentioned in the description that it required a specialty ruler. I wouldn't mind buying the ruler if it was actually a ruler, but it is a trim tool for this specific block. I just don't know what else you would use it for so it would lie in the drawer from then on, at least for me. Thanks!

I was looking through my rulers and found both sides of these, were still in the plastic. I remember winning them as a door prize! I am testing them out today and I like them. so far I made a lot of square in a square scrap blocks. Found the curvy log cabin ruler too!

I agree with ragamuffin. If I can make a sample block with the rulers I already own, I don't buy more. All the sample blocks go into a charity quilt later.

This is the cutting as suggested by EQ for the 3 inch and 6 inch blocks. When I am cutting the side triangles, I always oversize and then trim them back down. Hope this helps.

thanks for the cutting instructions

Creative grids is the template mentioned...this is not a EB template.....and I could not find the pattern
"fussy cut squares" in any of EB pattern offerings, is this pattern from another designer? Whatever,I think a template or ruler that you have that can square up a block, or portion of one to the specific measurements in pattern would work. Jmho

I totally agree but since they only say "make this square as directed on the trim tool" there are no measurements given for the blocks. Only the finished size is given which I know is 3" or 6". With a square in a square block you must have the correct first block or it's all off! The problem being the first square has to be a certain size to make this work and that measurement is not given. I have made 4 squares using different size beginning squares and non have equaled 3" with a 1/4" seam allowance. I got a 1/4" on two sides but not the other two...??? I don't have any idea how to explain that. It has me baffled. I plan to use Barb's links and see if this works this afternoon. Also, the pattern is designed by Penny Haren for Cut Loose Press Patterns. It is called Fussy Cut Squared. Had never heard of them till I saw this one. Cute pattern, just bad directions so you will have to buy the tool!! as I've said, bummer to me!

Barb, these are different measurements from the pattern sizes which will make the block over-sized. Perhaps, this will work to the correct size beginning 4 patch block. That's where the measurements are off from the pattern. I can't quite explain it all. Thank you for your time and help with this. I will let you all know when I get a block that will work. The one I made did not end with 1/4" seam allowances. That's why I thought you probably had to use some 1/8th or 1/16th sizes. The tool may be worth not having to figure all that out!! Thanks Barb! You're the best!

I'm presently doing a sq in a sq paper piecing.....pretty easy for me that way..

They didn't give you the measurements because it's all on the ruler.
I know there are lots of rulers that are just a one time thing but a square
in square can be used in different blocks or on it's own to make a quilt or
a border.

That would be perfect too but I don't have the pattern for it.

Yes I would agree with that but this is "tool" (not a ruler) has no measurements on it. I suppose you could measure them and use it for other squares but it is specific to this size square. And I'm not into one time use things. lol!
I think we have kind of lost the idea of this thread. My original question was to ask if anyone had used this Creative Grids 6" trim tool and only one person has even said she had it. Also I needed to vent about having to buy special tools to make things. This tool is specific to this size block and cannot be used to just make square in a square blocks of different sizes. My complaint is that I was not made aware that the pattern required this tool or I would not have bought the pattern. It is not really a ruler.....it is a trim tool and the sizes of the squares on it aren't shown. Of course, if I had the tool I could measure the little square and be sure mine was the proper size and for 18$ I could do that.. Just too tight I guess! haha!!
I am planning to try Barb's EQ7 measurements tomorrow and hopefully can figure it all out. I will let you know if it works. Thanks for all the helpful advice. I love chatting with your guys.....so many perspectives and useful information. Love it!

Seems to me using the ruler makes it easy and no time wasted guessing how to do it.

It helps me to justify buying a specialty ruler by making the quilt more than once. 2 quilts make it half price in my mind, 3 quilts make it one third the price, erc. 😀