Last week I shared a few of the blocks my students made in the Twirl-A-Tool workshop.  This week I thought I would share a few of the “ah ha” moments and tips they found helpful.

Twirl-A-Tool uses half-square triangles in a couple areas of the block.  One square is cut 5 1/4″ and the other 5″, then cut diagonally once.  You can see how these will be very similar in size.  I had all my half-squares in separate clear zip bags.  Part of the way through piecing a block several understood why I had them separated.  A couple of people had used the wrong size.  Good to have a seam ripper as a friend!

#1 – Label pieces!  Especially when they are similar in size.

A second good use of a seam ripper is to open up seams.  The twirl block has eight seams that come together in the center of the block.  By opening up a couple stitches in the middle, you can manipulate the seams into a spiral.  This will distribute the seam allowances and help the seams lay flatter in the block.

#2 – Manipulate seam allowances to distribute thickness of seams.

Center seam pinwheel

I’m really looking forward to seeing my student’s finished Twirl-A-Tool quilts!  I’ll be sure to share them with you as soon as they share them with me.  (how about that for pressure?!)

in quilting,

Debbie  ~  Wendt Quilting