I have one also, but have not used it yet. A couple of members in our guild have made several table toppers/wall hangings and I saw a full-size quilt while on retreat in April. It is a really cool concept and the results are awesome and surpising. I have both the small and large templates.

I am sure you will totally enjoy making one.

This really looks interesting. When you buy the package of templates, is there a pattern included or is this something you also need to purchase?

A member of our local quilt group learned this method free from a quilt shop on a vacation. At that time, there was a "ruler"or tool commercially made so she was just given the size with the spots to draw the reference lines. Her DG went to the local hardware store, bought plexiglass and made her one. Course, when she show us, she enlisted him to cute quite a few squares and we each gave her a couple of bucks to cover the cost of the materials, etc. We each added our own little "bumper" on the bottom to keep it from slipping. Very economical to make your own and most hardware stores will even cut them for you and you just draw your lines on. As far as I know, there isn't (or wasn't) a copyrighted pattern at that time. I have the self made pattern and dimensions to make the square templates. As far as waste goes, there is some but maybe I should be saving those for a postage stamp quilt!! Anyway, it seems like it would be tricky when you first see it done or try it, but really it is a very easy way to make a "pinwheel" and I have done several. Fun, fun. Whoo who! I just figured out how to add a photo so below are some from our get-together on making these. They are before and after. (the before one in the middle is not the same as the one that is on the after with me so no, you are not losing your mind!)

The bias edges are not a problem at all. Half squares can be way more challenging than this. Jump in and try just a very small one of say just 5 squares or something.

The quilts shown are so good looking. They remind me of jigsaw puzzle pieces. I may have to get a template and try using up some scraps.

cute toppers. I will have to get me one of these too.

Looks like it could be fun to try.
Your quilt looks great.

The finished top is much smaller... Is there a formula to figure out how big you need to make the initial piece to end up at a certain size?
Gee, I hope that made sense
Sorcha

I have made a table runner and am finishing a large quilt/wall hanging using the small one. I used civil war repro fabrics and some solids and it really is breathtaking! Of course it is a LOT of sewing and cutting and sewing but the results are really fab! I will post a picture when I am done with the quilt top.

PS.. I found that if i take my desired finish size and make the project about 33% bigger before I cut it comes out about?? the desired size. I suggest you try a small doll quilt or hot mat first . That is what I did. I also used layer cakes and cut them into fourths.. gave me more of the same prints.

First time hearing of it but would love to see a demonstration.

I am on my 4th Lil Twister table toppers for xmas gifts. It is fun to do. I use charm packs and then buy enough fabric for the border backing and binding. they look really cute when finished.

Suzy

Approximately up to a 3rd of the fabric is wasted or put into stash for small squares or paper piecing?

We did an exchange of squares of Christmas material, enough to make a small runner. That was fun and it turned out nice.

Have I understood this template correctly? It looks like you make a 4-patch then place the template on the 4-patch and cut out a block which you then sew to another block? Sounds too simple to be true.

No, it isn't a 4-patch, it is just squares sewn together. Look on page 3 of this thread and I have some "before" pics there. Those were 5" squares (charms) except the orangish one. She experimented with a larger size. I mistyped that there "was" and should have said WASN'T templates sold yet. But back you your ?, you sew the sqs. together and then place the template square on the seam lines, cut around and resew back together. Sounds more difficult than is. It is very easy.

I saw this at a demo day at the LQS. It was really neat how that works!

??? Is this template 10" square?

I like the inner border of blue and squares...

I am hoping they have these at the quilt show in Jax this month. Looks like a must have.

The big one is about 8" square. I don't have the small one.

Go to www.country-schoolhouse.com they will show some of the things made with the twister etc. I don' know if they actually show the tool or not as it would be too easy to replicate. the lines on the square are placed a certain way on the fabric to make your cut. It is easy once you know how to do it.

Good Luck
Suzy

Just wondering.I don't make bed size quilts anymore, mostly wall hangings,sofa throws & table runners.Will I need both size rulers, or will the smaller work for me?

The smaller one is just perfect for runners or toppers and even baby quilts.

Suzy

Made the kit for table runner with the Lil' Twister on Saturday after we got to the mountain house. It was easy & fun. Now just have to check out my stash for the backing & quilt

Very nice....love your table runner & the print used.

Made the kit for table runner with the Lil' Twister on Saturday after we got to the mountain house. It was easy & fun. Now just have to check out my stash for the backing & quilt

How did you "quilt" it? Did you just do a meander? I am curretly working on one where I am echo stiching around each twister and it is sooooomuch turning and twisting of tehe quilt to do it --I am using my walking foot as I find I am a perfectionist so do not like the look of the free hand straight stiching--as it is not straight enough!. I am currently doing my quilting on a Bernina QE440 which I love for swing but I want to get something different for quilting. I am actually looking at the HQ Sit Down and am going to the AQS Quilt Show in Des Moines in October and hoping to get a better deal on one there than at my LQS. I have three more of these quilt tops to do yet before Xmas (my teenage neices are getting them for presents) and I want to do some different style of "quilting" them. Any suggestions?

I have this big template and mine is a 8" square. You originally cut and sew together 10" blocks and then you cut the new blocks out of this with this 8" template so the new blocks are 8" square.

This is a different subject but in your picture, you are standing by a long arm and frame. It looks like a nice setup that doesn't look so huge (unless the picture is deceiving!). What kind of long arem is it? Do you like it? I am looking at long arms and trying to gather as mucn information as possible. Thanks for any information you give.

Here is my table topper,not quilted yet. Next time, I'll cut my own squares from fabric I have on hand.My tip is too sew each row as it's cut.I also number the rows on the seam.

I also saw this demonstrated at our big quilt show in PA but didn't buy it and wish I did. What is the size of the tools? It just seemed too expensive for me.

Think smaller is 3".The bigger square is 5 or 6" sq.Bought at the LQS.Going to do a table runner next.

Tried the twister at our sewing guild didn't like all the cutting around the template but the results were great.Templates were too much money for me but if I remember someone said you could a regular 60 deg.ruler.Not sure how......

What is it? I have never heard of the Lil'Twister tool! :thumbup: :XD:

I did see some info on here about making paper/plastic templates.Maybe you can search twister templates?

Forgot to ask if you had a table runner pattern or just made it up? I have the small lil twister,but only have the instructions it came with.

The only place I found the ruler was online at one store. If you do a search here it will come up. I can't remember the name of it. I am waiting for it to come.
Someone made the ruler on this board and a search would find it too. I am just not good with it so I bought one instead.

Magic Pinwheels is the title of the search. greencat did a nice tute!!!! And a beautiful quilt :)

I'm taking a Twister class this week at my LQS. Pre-class "homework" is to have our squares sewn together with a border. I used a Moda charm pack-Isn't Christmas Jolly-and now need to add my border. Having a terrible time trying to decide what color fabric to use for the border.

I'm trying to tell from the before and after pictures posted here just where this initial border ends up in the finished project. And based on that, what color border would be best with the fabric squares I've used. This picture shows my sewn-together-squares sitting on a black piece of fabric. Is this the best color choice for this project? Or what color would you use?

Now if I can add a picture...

Thanks,
Margaret