Twister Measurement Question
 

Okay, my sister decided she likes the Twister design for a pair of quilts for her soon-to-be-grandson twins. We've also picked fabrics (blue, green, purple batiks with cream borders-- YUMMY). Now, for size, I want to make 45x60" quilts. I've purchased the 5" lil twister tool, so I will be cutting 5" squares (resulting in, I believe, 4.5" squares once all sewn together-- I"M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT). If I've calculated correctly, I need a 9x12 square design (there will be 2.5" border all the way around from an originating 3" strip). Here's how I got there:

45" wide. Subtract 5" for the 2.5" borders on each side. Balance: 40" divided by 4.5" finished squares = (rounded up) 9 squares across.

60" long. Subtract 5" for the 2.5" borders on each side. Balance: 55" divided by 4.5" finished squares = (rounded down) 12 squares down.

Is this accurate? I.e., can someone check my math or my assumptions?

Thanks!

-- Jillaine

One more question: I think I'm going to have a total of 12 different colors. Any suggestions for mixing these up over the 108 different squares (9x12)?

I followed your math and your end result will be 43x56 1/2. Not sure what pattern you are going to use but if you use 9 of each color it should give you an even number of each color.

I hope someone with more experience with this will check your measurements for you. I have only made table runners with this but you sew the squares together then cut bias squares from the whole piece and I think this will make your quilt smaller than you are planning. Can anyone else recheck this?

I just finisher a table runner with the twister and used charm packs of 5 inch squares. A finished square is 3 1/4 in. I did not have a pattern, just sewed my 5 inch squares together, added a 3 inch boarder all around, cut with the twister, resewed them together, added binding. The sqares finished at 3 1/4". 10 charms across finished at 35". I am going to try to post before and after pics for you.

before-----5"charms and 3"boarder

after- it is only 35" long Hope this answeres your question

with your measurements, that's only 27x36' before boarders

super cute and measurements throw me. I do have the mini and the 5' twisters, looking forward to using them soon!

When you are using charms, they are 5",then you sew them, then they are 4 1/2",then you cut them again with a twist, again making them smaller, then you reset, making them smaller again. That's why they are so much smaller, and of course there is some waste.

I think you're going to need 192 squares, set 12x16, plus the 3" border. With this tool, you will "shrink" the size of the squares twice--first when you sew them into the grid, then again when you cut with the tool. Also, there is some wastage in the cutting process. Canton Village Quilt Works has an online tutorial which recommends you cut the leftovers into 1.75" square and use them as another border.

Here is how I calculated.

For each 5" square you start with, you will get a 3.25 finished square in the lil twister pattern.

You want about a 45 x 60 finished size. Let's just assume that the border will be 3" unfinished, so subtract 5" from your desired finished size to estimate the size of your grid of squares. In the pattern shown on the web, the border is attached and cut along with the squares, then reassembled. If you want an uncut border all around the quilt, that won't really change the calculations, but it will slightly change the size of the quilt.

The closest to 40 of finished 3.25" blocks is 12, which would be 39". The closest to 55" of finished blocks is 17, which would be 55.25". 16 blocks would be 52" That means you use either 204 or 192 blocks in the grid originally. in addition, those borders, which started at 2.5 finished, are also going to shrink. I'd use the 16.

Wow, are you thoroughly confused now? LOL. I am sure it is going to be pretty when it is completed.

There is a no waste method for the twister pattern also. I saw it on this board and printed it out. Aha! Found it: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112343-1.htm I haven't tried it yet but organization is definitely the key--even more sew than the sew/cut/re-sew method.

love this twister., using charm packs