HOW TO USE A V BLOCK TRIMMER RULER

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If you've read my other posts, you know I'm fairly new to quilting. I made my very first quilt around May of 2018, and have since completed somewhere in the area of 10 quilts. It seems like, with every new pattern I make, I learn a new technique, so when I find something I love, I want to share it. That's why I'm talking today about the Deb Tucker V Block Ruler. (read more)

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WHAT IS A V BLOCK QUILTING TOOL?

I'm positive a v block ruler does more than just what I've used it for so far, but for my project, I needed it to make center triangles and mirror side triangles. Certainly both of these could probably be accomplished just by using my very favorite Omnigrip 6-Inch-by-24-Inch Non-Slip Quilter's Ruler,  but it would take ME a lot longer, and I'd have to spend a lot of time thinking when I'd rather spend that time piecing. 

So when I read the pattern and it suggested the Deb Tucker V Block ruler, I went and checked it out on Amazon and made the purchase. Two days later, I had it in my hot little hands and was ready to start cutting some triangles for this quilt I'm making for a friend who's due in November.

Side note - the pattern did also include a template, so you definitely do not have to buy a ruler in order to make this lovely quilt.

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Since the quilt I'm making is a Twin, I was going to have to cut 110 center triangles and 220 side triangles. No big deal, except that I'd never cut a center triangle or a side triangle in my life, and I really had no idea where to begin. 

Enter the Deb Tucker V Block Trimmer.

According to the description, this ruler would help me make both center triangles and side triangles, and it would do it in 11 different sizes. So if I ever need to make another quilt that has these shapes, chances are, I've got it covered.

To give you an idea of the sizes of triangle the ruler will accommodate, the sizes marked on the ruler go from:

1" finished unit/2" starting strip

all the way to a

6" finished unit/7" starting strip

The strips I started with were 4" for both center and side triangle, so this met my needs without any issue.

Reading the directions that came with the ruler felt a little awkward, and I ended up not doing things exactly like the instructions said, but my end result was the same. Thankfully I had the instructions on the ruler, the instructions with the quilt kit, and even a website to reference, which is here.

There appear to be instructions for making center triangles that had me flipping the fabric after each cut. That makes my brain hurt (thinking of having to realign the material) so instead I flipped the ruler, using the backward side for my second cut. 

No, it's not like the instructions, but yes it got the job done. Just so you know, the video I show you of the way I did it is not like the instructions ask you to do it, so definitely read the instructions and make a decision based on your comfort level.

Here I am cutting the center triangles.

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Notice that I do not fold the material, even though the ruler instructions do tell me to do so. I believe I'd have saved myself some time if I had folded it in half, basically cutting my cutting time in half, but I wasn't comfortable with my ability and didn't want to screw it up. 

I did fold it in half when I made the side triangles, and as far as I can tell I did make the side triangles per the instructions. 

Here I am making the side triangles.

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Using the ruler did save me a lot of time, and these 330 total center and side triangles were done in less than ten minutes. I honestly can't imagine how much time it would have taken if I'd had to cut each of them with my normal quilting ruler, so for me it was worth the money. 

That said, check it out on Amazon here and then decide for yourself. I will say that if you're like me and you have more rulers than space, you might check out this wall mounted ruler holder. It works great, holds a goodly amount of rulers, and doesn't need any floor or shelf space, though I do believe you could set it on the floor or on a shelf if you didn't want to mount it on the wall.

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I hope this helps you out with those center and side triangles, I know it helped me a great deal. 

If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm more than happy to answer, if I can.

Happy Quilting!
Ty