Jannie

I want to start a Twister Quilt. The pattern is pretty self-explanatory so far. Once you start cutting using the ruler, there will be a lot of bias edges. I know you have to handle them very carefully at this point. I am wondering if there is any thing I can do to help stabalize the edges -- maybe starching the squares first. Will this be worth the extra time or effort? Any other hints will be greatly appreciated.

21quilter

I have made only 1 twister quilt (for a baby) and I was concerned about working with all the bias edges too. I just made sure not to pull on the squares when sewing them together. The bias edges worked beautifully and it was actually an easy and fun quilt to make. Will definitely make another one.

The only suggestion that I have is that I had a print fabric that I used for my borders and then used coordinating fabrics. I did also use the print to make the twister blocks and I wished I would not have done that. It made the quilt look like I had missing teeth in the quilt. I also wished I would have used more fabrics......I think the twister quilts look better with lots of different fabrics.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Handcraftsbyjen

I wouldn't starch the blocks. I'd just use care when handling the blocks.

quilter1430

Don't bother with starch ... the blocks are sewn back together right away, so there's no problem with the bias. It is helpful to find a corner to stand and cut the blocks apart. I think you'll know what I mean when you start cutting. Because you are cutting the entire square out without moving the ruler, I found that I needed to find a corner so I could walk around the block. It's a really fun quilt to make!

Tartan

I starched my material before cutting my squares. I did not have any problems sewing it back together and the bias actually helps to get the new corners matching exactly. I did use pins and tried to not over handle my blocks. One thing I would say, cut and sew one row at a time to keep from mixing the squares up.

Quiltaddict

I did starch my quilt before I used the twister ruler to cut out the squares. It seemed to help.

Rose_P

Starching the fabric before you started would have been worthwhile, but if you do it now you will create problems because making them wet while the bias edges are unstable will almost certainly cause distortion. I haven't worked with the large twister ruler, but for the little one, I haven't found the biases to cause too much trouble.

BKrenning

I starch everything--bias or not--because it makes it easier & more accurate to cut for me. For the twister pattern, if I was using precut squares, I would starch & press it after sewing the squares together rather than each individual square--that would be a pain.

Jim

I have made 12 twister quilters I ALWAYS STARCH them....Just got the newest twister pattern Starry nights...can't wait to start on it

Jannie

Thanks everyone. Good to hear everyone enjoyed making this quilt. Hope I like it enough that I will want to make it again.