This post is about a shortcut for making my New Wave Quilt. The original tutorial is here. An expanded version of the pattern (with more sizes) is also available in my shop.
I saw this ruler at JoAnn the other day and thought it might be a good substitute for the translucent plastic template I have been using for the New Wave Pattern. (It looks like you can also buy one here.)
This ruler is sold as a tool for making Darlene Zimmerman's "Fat Cats" pattern (which comes with the ruler) but I found that it works just as well for New Wave!
Use the ruler just as you would your translucent plastic template, lining up the 1.5" and 10.5" marks on the ruler with the edges of your 9" fabric strips.
The angle of the ruler is slightly different than the New Wave template, which may result in slightly taller waves and a quilt that may end up a little bit taller. However I found that I was able to easily cut up to 3 wedges from a 9" x 18" strip, as the pattern directs.
If you're using this ruler instead of a the pattern template, you may also want to cut your sashing pieces at least 11" long to compensate for the fact that the slightly sharper angle results in a slightly longer side.
I hope this is helpful to some of you. I know that I always prefer to use a ruler over a template!
nice!! i always like to use rulers too! ;-)
Posted by: jaybird | May 25, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Looking for a coupon to Joann's...
Posted by: Live a Colorful Life | May 25, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Cool. There's nothing like having the right tool for the job!
Posted by: wishes, true and kind | May 25, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Hooray! This just made new wave 10x easier! Off to buy ruler and indulge in more fabric.
Posted by: megan | May 25, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Nice. Do you think a Dresden Plate ruler would work as well?
Posted by: sarah | May 25, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Thanks for the idea! I absolutely love your New Wave pattern. I just finished making one and can't wait to make another. I would love for you to come see my version of your awesome pattern.
http://tlcstitches.blogspot.com/2010/05/blogger-quilt-festival.html
Posted by: Trisha | May 25, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Nice! I like it when a tool meant for one thing works for others, too.
Posted by: PioneerValleyGirl | May 25, 2010 at 01:33 PM
Nice tip! I've used a dresden plate ruler for mine and it had the effect of making skinnier shorter waves, which worked perfectly since I was making a baby quilt. Of course, now I want to go get the fat cat ruler and make another one!
Posted by: Megan | May 25, 2010 at 01:45 PM
How cool is that! I got the new pattern from your shop the day it came out, and I even have the fabric!! (the greens that you showed us)I may have to get that ruler. I, too, prefer rulers to templates.
Thanks Elizabeth.
Linda
Posted by: Linda | May 25, 2010 at 02:44 PM
Great idea. And thanks for the info on the size changes. I might have thought I had done something wrong!
Posted by: Leslie Schmidt | May 25, 2010 at 09:41 PM
I have a similar ruler, not the Fat Cat, that I will use when I get around to making my New Wave quilt. It's a good thing that I haven't started yet. Thanks for the suggestion!
Posted by: Nancy | May 25, 2010 at 10:33 PM
A couple of good points have been brought up:
1. Any wedge ruler will do the job but, depending on the size and angle of the ruler, your finished quilt may be sized a little differently and you may need to make alterations to the length of your sashing pieces.
2. I talked about "Fat Cats" since it seemed to be readily available at JoAnn, but any large wedge ruler should work. The Fat Cats ruler is really just a large 30 degree wedge. A large 30 degree triangle ruler would also work.
3. A smaller wedge ruler (like for a conventional Dresden Plate) would be perfect for a smaller version. In fact, Happy Zombie made an awesome version that you can see here: http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/?p=404
Posted by: Elizabeth Hartman | May 25, 2010 at 10:43 PM
i love using rulers over templates because i always seem to cut the templates slimmer and slimmer for some reason.
thanks for the explain.
http://patchworkposse.com
Posted by: becky | May 25, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Great idea! I'll do that for the second quilt.
Posted by: Jeannie | May 26, 2010 at 06:29 PM
How funny! I made the New Wave quilt as soon as you brought out the pattern, loved it and wanted to make another but found the paper template hard to use. I ended up buying the fat cat ruler too! I took the template to a quilt show and lined it up to each and every wedge ruler I could find and found that the Fat Cats and the Tumber rulers were the closest in size. I haven't actually used it yet but it is on my todo list. It is one of the nicest quilts I have seen, quick, easy not to large and great for gifting in any type of fabric. Thanks for your wonderful inspiration.
Posted by: Suzanne Cappello | May 28, 2010 at 11:58 PM
I traced the template out on template plastic and then took it to the local auto glass company and had them make a quarter inch plexiglass template that is the perfect size for $8.00.
Posted by: Theresa | June 03, 2010 at 03:06 PM
Great idea!
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 03, 2010 at 07:25 PM