I have a question about the 'twister' ruler
 

:) Hi everybody..Hey! I have a question. I bought a pattern to make the 'twister' pattern quilt. my question is: can I make it without having to buy yet another specialty ruler...or do I have to only use that ruler? Don't know much about it. Thought maybe someone here would know. Thanks, gang.

I don't call it a ruler as much as a tool/template. The item you use to cut out the squares has feet so it fits over the seams. And it has lines on it so you line it up with jeans and get the angles you need. There are three different sizes of tools and you don't have to buy all three - just get the one you want.

I measured the twister template/ruler I have. It's 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". If you come back from each corner by 3/4", then make diagonal lines from those points you will have the markings for the twister. For something like the twister If you really want that pattern to turn out right, it has 4 non slip grips that also help to elevate it slightly. For the larger template I don't know what the dimensions would be. Probably the same but no math whiz here. I would spring for the template.

This is confusing.

You could print out a picture of the ruler to size and measure the lines on template plastic. I do this for a lot of specialty rulers that aren't too complicated. If I like the blocks after I make them I'll buy the ruler for next time. I have two sizes of the Twister ruler and it is worth buying for the time it saves.

Sorry that my explanation wasn't clear. Unfortunately I can't find a picture of the Twister tool - it is a square piece of acrylic with what appears to be lines that are angled. When you make a twister quilt you first sew together the fabric squares - then using the twister tool cut the fabric apart by placing the tool on the seams and cutting out the squares. The tool has little balls at each corner so the tool sits flat and doesn't rock when you cut. You can see a tutorial on it at the MSQC - The Amazing Twister Tool – Quilting Made Easy.

You might want to check out some videos on how to use it. Jenny Doan @ MSQC has a really good one and there are others on Youtube, also.

There are lots of youtube videos, here's one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNxICsLAOrE
There have been several posts on this board about making your own ruler, if you do a search you should be able to find them. They provide the angle.
I have the actual tool. Compared with other tools, it's pretty inexpensive, also, because you are placing it over intersecting seams on your starting piece the feet raise it up a bit and keep it from rocking. This makes it a bit safer & more accurate (for me, anyway).
A couple of comments. There is a fair amount of waste. Don't cut too far ahead of yourself, it's easy to get the pieces mixed up. I found a large rotating mat was very helpful.

I have three sizes of the Twister Ruler and well worth the money. Have made a king size quilt using the largest one. Easy but time consuming . Love doing it

I have two of them...haven't used them in about 4 yrs...hmm, I don't remember little feet on them...will have to get them off pegboard and look..... I do remember as paper princess pointed out....waste and a bit confusing at first....I guess I wasn't thrilled with the finished product...I sold it at guild garage sale and may do that with templates at my own...just to thin out.......

I made my own template (so long ago I forget the 'how) out of a template sheet I got at Staples. It's clear enough that I just drew the lines on it with a Sharpie
http://www.staples.com/Visi-GRID-Qui...product_291894

You would have to have a square up ruler the size of your unfinished block. Then mark a line of where you want the square to line up and trim. I too agree with you about these rulers you can only use only on one particular pattern. But they are cute quilts.

You probably don't "have to" buy the ruler, or template, but it sure makes it easier and you'll probably make fewer mistakes.

if you decide to mark a regular plastic quilting ruler of the right size, and mark it, you could use come "invisigrip" or similar non-slip product on the side which will be on your fabric. The cuts you make with the Twister Tool don't leave much room for over cutting -- you'll be damaging the next row of blocks you need for your project. Think that's why the tool comes with the attached feet to keep it from slipping.

Look for the old pattern (book, I think) called Barn Dance. It has directions for doing this by making your own template.

This site shows how to make a template for the twister pattern.
http://yarn-or-fabric.weebly.com/how...-template.html
I researched it but ended up purchasing the June Tailor template with multiple sizes of squares.
Good luck!

[QUOTE=RugosaB;7160210]I made my own template. It's clear enough that I just drew the lines on it with a Sharpie QUOTE]

We made those about 7 or 8 years ago. The teacher gave us a plastic template that she had created. Most of them were for 7 inch squares, but she made a special one for me for 6 inch squares because I had hundreds of six inch squares cut, so why cut more of something else?
We placed the template on the squares with the lines matching the seam lines, drew a line around that, and cut them out with scissors. There was no waste. The little squares left from the centers went into the borders.
If you could find the correct size you want, and the correct place to draw the lines, you could make your own.

I've made two wall hangings with the twister template and the one thing I learned was to cut closely around the template as it is easy to cut into another square.

I made a set of the rulers. The hardware store cut some acrylic scraps into various sizes for me. I then drew the lines on with a permanent pen. On the back I applied strips of 3M Transpore tape (from pharmacy bandage center). Now I have multiple sizes.