trouble twisting.
 

I found it really hard to cut around the twister tool, I have the standard 45mm olfa cutter... just seems the corners and sides depending on the angle of the cut are not square. What am I doing wrong?

Do you have a 28mm rotary cutter?? When I am having difficulty cutting something like hexagons, I down size to a smaller cutter.

I agree with ManiacQuilter2. Use a 28mm olfa cutter. I use mine when cutting odd shape templates. Works great for me

I use a smaller cutter and walk around the table. I like making them.

I have a large turntable cutting mat, and use a 45MM cutter. It makes it really easy to cut all 4 sides. If you don't have a turntable, then position your cutting mat at the corner of a table or kitchen island so you can walk around to more easily cut all 4 sides. After you cut your squares, you can always take a minute and square them up if they were cut incorrectly.

If I remember correctly, the Twister tool has rubber "feet" on the bottom of it. This is great to keep the ruler from slipping, however, it makes it almost impossible to use the 28 mm rotary cutter (the blade isn't tall enough). I normally use a 28 mm as opposed to the 45 mm. Moving around the table is the way I do it also.

Linda in Missouri

I have a turntable cutting mat that I use and found that I can zip right along with my cutting. Got my mat at Walmart for $25.00 and haven't regretted the purchase at all. Use it all the time.

I tried to use the 28mm cutter, but as Linda pointed out it is too short because of the thick feet on the template. Next time I'm going to remove or at least cut down the rubber nonskid feet on the template.

Be careful The feet are there to allow for the extra bulk of the seam. If you remove the feet, the template will rock on the seam where the 4 blocks are joined together, and could pivot when you are trying to cut all 4 sides ruining your cut.

I made two twisters, a Valentine and Christmas Wreath. Both times I found it difficult to cut with a rotary cutter. I finally drew around the template and cut them out by hand, a longer process but I was so happy with the results.

I use a rotating mat with a 45mm cutter. I found a acrylic template on sale a long time ago at JoAnn's and is the exact wedge of the Twister before the Twister ruler was popular. It's much faster to just cut the wedges and then sew blocks then sew blocks and then cut, for me anyway.

I picked the rubber things off and put sand paper on mine. I also make my cuts that I am comfortable with then I take my 12 1/2 inch ruler and put it up against the twister, then I move twister and make my last cut.

Also if using smaller twisters you need the small cutter is what my local quilt shop said. I only have the two that use 10 and 5 inch squares so I use my 45 with no problem.

great advise!!!!!!

Ladies, here is the way I solved the problem when I made my twisters.
If you are right handed, cut the right side-then the top. Ok, now turn your rotary cutter 180 in your hand. In other words, if the screw is facing the right when you cut, just turn it so it faces the left. You can easily cut the left side and the bottom of the block by holding your cutter this way.

After watching someone else become contorted cutting a twister, I also opted for this method.

love my turntable cutting mats, saves lots of running around a table

I also have a turn table mat that I picked up at JAF. It's great for trimming around blocks, and cutting, but I can see that cutting a Twister might be tedious, since you would have to turn the entire quilt as you cut out the pinwheels.

I start cutting on the bottom left. My first cut is down the right side all the way through the bottom edge. I then cut across the top edge of the ruler all the way through the left edge. After moving that piece away slightly, I proceed to cut each one across that row. Next turn each piece around so you can cut the other two sides just like you'd be squaring up a piece. I have my ruler marked with the side I consider the top of the unit and always keep it up when cutting both times. Works slick for me.

I use my 45mm cutter and have made a TON of table toppers..not a big quilt yet...love them and don't have any issues cutting...I only cut a row at a time before I sew them together so I don't lose track of what goes where...

If you use your 45mm cutter and can't get the corners cut without going too far, stop just short of the corner. Then, use your scissors to snip just the corners.

I don't know what a Twister tool is. Can someone explain? Thanks

Google it - you will see lots of images...here's one website for your reference

http://country-schoolhouse.com/twister_tool.htm

The method that works for me is to cut 2 or 3 of the sides then use another ruler, butt it up against the twister and pull the twister away and cut against the side of the 2nd ruler. I'm sorry if I make it sound complicated or labor intensive: it really isn't. I find it inconvenient to walk around the table- I'm just klutzy and find I mess it up more but that's just me. I also have the Nancy's Notions twister tool and really like that. Good luck. Don't give up. The twister looks so complicated to non quilters but we know different! Let us know how you're doing.

Wow.. looks like soo much trouble after reading all these comments.. lol..
Ill have to dig mine out .. Ill be using the revolving cutting mat so hopefully all the above wont be an issue.
Thanks for the heads up. .

I have two revolving cutting mats but they aren't that big--they would not turn an entire wall hanging in order to cut each square. I have only used the small twister. I use a 45 rotary cutter but the next time I believe I will draw around each block and use scissors to cut them. I have one block that I cut into the seam and am not happy with that.

I use a turning mat, the 28 mm cutter and I removed the feet and put on a flatter feet (Tru Grips by the Grace Co.) works so much better and the material doesn't move. Good luck. The Twister is awesome.