The Lil’ Twister template is used to create this block. The dimensions of the template shown here (one grid square = ¼”) are 3.5” square. The template can be purchased and a rotary cutter can be used. The template can also be made using quilters template plastic or even card or paper. To avoid wasting fabric from overcuts you can trace around the template and cut the squares with scissors.
Collect
Nine fabrics for the initial nine patch block.
One fabric for the border of the block.
Cut
Nine 5” squares of nine patch fabrics.
One 3” strip of border fabric.
Construct
Sew the nine patch block making sure to butt all corners well.
Attach the border strips to the nine patch block. The borders do not need to be mitred at the corners.
Place the template at each point in the block making sure the crossed lines on the template line up with the joins in your fabrics. Draw around the template. Make sure you draw around every point on the block, including the points along the border edge.
Using sharp and pointy scissors cut out one row of pieces starting at the bottom of your block then arrange them just as they were below your block. This step will avoid confusion.
Twist each piece anticlockwise until each lines up with the previous one. Join these squares with 1/4" seams.
Cut out the next row of squares and line them up as you did before. Then twist them anticlockwise and join them. You will notice that you will have small squares of fabric left on your original block. Be careful with these scraps and try not to cut into them as they can be used later (see Variations).
Once you have all the pieces cut and joined as rows, sew the rows together to form your block.
Variations
The small scrap squares left after cutting around the twister block can be used as squares in the border of a quilt or sewn into a miniature twister block and used as a feature in another block (not a twister block) or at the corner of a quilt.
Measurements you may need to refer to:
A nine patch using 5” cut squares and 3” borders will make a 12.5” finished block and 2.5” left over squares of fabric. The template should be based on a 3.5” square.
A nine patch using 2.5” cut squares and 1.5” borders will make a 5” finished block. The template should be based on a 1.5” square. The cut twister pieces should be joined with less than ¼” seams.
If you are creating templates for other sizes of original squares the length of the ‘diagonal’ line on the template should be just less than the finished width of each square in the original nine patch.
By varying the number of squares in the original block and by experimenting with number and placement of fabrics other shapes can be made for table runners, tray covers or even whole quilts. The scope is endless. Even try using the border fabric for some of the nine patch squares.
Notes and Tips
Small prints work better than large prints.
Put colours and textures together that contrast with those around them.
Cut accurately and try not to cut into the left over scraps.
Keep all scraps.
Helpful Resources
Canton Village Quiltworks has a great little tutorial at http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/2011/01/lil-twister-tutorial.html
Lil’ Twister templates are available from most good quilt shops and online.
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