Tumbler quilt, what's the easiest way to make it?
 

I'm thinking of making a tumbler quilt but don't have a template. What would be a good size template for a queen size quilt and is there an easy way to make the quilt. It's a lot of pieces to cut. Suggestions, tutorials, cuttiing info, assembly info?

I looked a bit but couldn't find a tutorial. No paper piecing for me.

Look for a tutorial at Missouri star quilt company's website. They have one for this quilt block. Have fun. I will be doing one myself next month with my guild.

Look on YouTube at Missouri quilting company. I believe Jenny has a video there. My DH made me templates out of plexiglass. He cut squares to fit a 5 inch and a 10 inch.

Here is the tutorial from Jenny from Missouri Star Quilt. I've made a few little ones for charity. Good luck to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRHOebrCAZo

The summer 2013 issue of Quilting Quickly has a pattern & template for the lg & sm tumbler. This is the Miss. Star pattern. The pattern follows the tutorial like Block mag. does.

If you belong to a Guild or if you have a friend with an Accuquilt Go or any other cutting machine you may be able to borrow or use it to cut them out. A friend of mine is making a DWR for her daughter she & I got together and we cut out enough for a King in a few hours - she ironed the fabric with starch and I cut until she finished ironing then she did the cutting. (It was my machine, and I already had the die so she brought the fabric and snacks.) We did the same thing when she was cutting out 5 inch squares.

Do you plan to make a scrappy version of a tumbler or a planned color scheme? It's a fairly easy quilt. The instructions on MSQC are easy to follow and remember. Here is the website http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com
Just put: tumbler in the search box and it will show you several.

I have the Go and can cut the tumbler blocks for a queen size in minutes. It's so easy to sew together in rows then join the rows. I cut the end tumblers in half to make a straight edge after the quilt top is finished.

The Go is great - the longest part is deciding what fabric to use and to get it ready. When you can cut up to 6 layers at one time it goes so fast.

I do the same with a Studio cutter, and it takes no time to cut them out. There are different sizes of dies for them.

I cut out my fabrics on my Accuquilt cutter, too, but I haven't gotten around to sewing them together. :o

If you know someone who has a die cutter, maybe ask them nicely, or I'd be willing to help you out as well!

A die cutter or templates are great if you plan to use pre-cuts or are relying on a scrap bag, but if you are using fat quarters or yardage, you'll be most efficient and have the least waste if you cut strips the width of fabric, height of desired tumbler. You can cut your tumbler pieces out using a regular ruler and marking the desired angle on the ruler either with tape or a marker -- no waste at all except for a small piece at the beginning of your strip.

QuiltersCache has a template for a 3" tumbler. A note at the bottom indicates that 272 tumblers of this size made a quilt sized 38" X 49" if that helps.

http://www.quilterscache.com/T/TumblersBlock.html

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*** I did mine with a 3" on top by 5" on the bottom - made template myself.
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*** Then sewed together in a rows.
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*** Easy to make
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With 5 inches across the top what did you decrease the bottom to form the shape. The 10 inch perhaps an inch on each side. Maybe I'll check photoshop and see if they has a tumble shape for the proportions I was thinking about 3/4 of an inch on each side. My DH makes most of my templates out of plexiglass for me. He has always been a encourager for my sewing and quilting.

Nancy's Notions has templates for many sizes of tumbler pieces. You might try her catalog;.

I use the large Creative Grids Tumbler ruler. Tumbler blocks chain piece quickly. I would use Best Press too. Cut layers of fabric and no waste! Easy and quick!

Sandy

That quilt is darling but there looks like a lot of waste in the white fabric.
Sandy

Marti Michell"s Tumbler template is amazing. It is easy and idiot-proof. (trust me). It has notched points so the blocks line up clearly and easily. The seam intersections are perfect. It is marked so your finished blocks can be from 2 inches to 5 1/2 inches. The template costs about $14.

I have made 5 tumbler quilts now. They are fun, quick and easy. Missouri Star has a tutorial and one of the magazines does also. Enjoy. Nancy

The 5" one also in fall 2013 issue cuz I have that one.

Sometimes your LQS will have the Go cutter and let you use it if you buy fabric from them.

I saw a really cute one today--it used a large tumbler (like would fit in a 10" layer cake block) and about every 2-4 rows of those (it varied) there were 2-3 rows of tumblers that fit in a 5" charm square--not sure how that works at the sides, but think it was just cut off straight. Really liked the variety.

I watched that show. Also, all of Nancy's videos of her shows are free to watch on her website.

Thanks to all for the information. I don't have a cutting machine or know anyone who has one. No quilt shop nearby either but got some good suggestions here for templates and cutting with a ruler. I have a collection of purples that I want to use for it. It's going to be for me :)

I am making a tumbler quilt now using the 5 inch tumbler template from MSQC. If making a queen size, may want to go with the 10 inch template. Mine is made out of scrappy 5 inch squares.I just sew tumblers together to make a row and then sew the rows together.[ATTACH=CONFIG]522681[/ATTACH]