

Which wedge tool do I need, a nine degree or a ten degree wedge?
Only the Ten Degree will work with the Encore or Platinum Quilt Without Corners books.
Both wedges will work with the designs in the purple Quilts Without Corners. A nine degree wedge uses 40 pieces to make a circle and the ten degree uses 36 pieces. You can see more about the ten degree wedge on the tool page. We do not sell a nine degree wedge.
Are you using the Creative Grid's Ten Degree? >
You'll need this download of conversions. Butterfly body graphic page 31: The butterfly body is a folded technique that results in a slightly dimensional body. The shape you desire requires you to follow the instructions and make sure it is folded in half and inserted when you sew your two halves together. This graphic may help!!
Note the fold, this was missing from the original graphic.
Ironing Tips I do not press my circular quilts until all the wedges are sewn together. Here are some
Pressing tips for circular quilts.
If you have the purple or old blue copy, when I wrote Quilts Without Corners Encore I made an interesting discovery. The ironing instructions from QWC have you press each 1/4 section, where I found it much easier to wait until you had the whole circle sewn BEFORE pressing. When you do press, press the center first and stabilize the opening before ironing the rest of the circle.
Can you miniaturize the Quilt Without Corners designs? Many of the patterns in the Platinum Edition include smaller sizes variations. Making half size versions of typical patterns follows this formula: Subtract 1/2” from the strip width; Divide by 2; then Add 1/2” to the strip width.The problem with doing this for the circular quilts in Quilts Without Corners is the wedge tool. The center "hole" stays the same size, 5 1/2". The wedge always starts at the same point, 2 3/4". This means miniaturizing isn't as straightforward as typical "square" patterns.
To make "half" size versions (28” in diameter, not 25" as you would think) change each strip width as follows:
- Subtract 1/2” from the strip width.
- Divide by 2.
- Add 1/2” to the strip width.
- Then use the 14" line on the wedge tool as though it were the 25 1/4" (full tool).
- To calculate the specific placement lines, use the butterfly pattern on page 7 as an example: the 24" line is placed on the A/H line on first strip set. That is 1 1/4" from the top of the wedge. Divide this by 2 = 5/8". Subtract 5/8" from 14" =13 3/8" for the A/H line placement on the miniature. Strip set 2 would be 2 1/4" / 2= 1 1/8" from 14" = 12 7/8".
For the Butterfly pattern, I prefer a smaller center opening, so I use my Butterfly in the Round pattern. This pattern is simplified and uses a 12 degree wedge with a smaller center opening. See this pattern here.
For the Hopi Sun pattern I simplified some of the details and made a pattern renamed the Summer Solstice. It uses either the 10 degree mini or the regular 10 degree wedge. See this pattern here.
NOTE The Ten Degree MINI tool does not make a 50% reduction. It does make a 25" circle as explained in the first paragraph above. How do I hang my 50” circular quilt? Great question. There are several ways.
- You can make a pocket on the back before adding the binding. Then add a half circle of cardboard to hold the circle edge smooth.
- You can add a bias tube on the back and insert a plastic tubing to hold the edge rigid.
- You can sew on a horizontal rod pocket about 1/3 of the way from the top. Insert a wooden slat in the pocket. Then use pins (used sewing machine needles work great) to hold up the top portion.
How do I make my circle quilt into a square? Framing Template for a 50" circle.
Framing Template for a 70" circle.
Design Grid:
Here's just what you need for planning your next Platinum Quilts Without Corners Project! The download includes 8 pages of designs.
Get out those colored pencils and ENJOY!!
Download Here Platinum Quilts Without Corners LABELS A great helper for organizing your Platinum Quilts Without Corners cutting and strip sets--Labels for all the patterns. Down load now for 9 helpful pages of labels.
Download Butterfly Reborn Download Jazzy Jolt Download Speedy Spiral Download Chained Melody Download Bargello How do I trace the Jazzy Jolt 60 degree lines on my tool? Check out page 38. I know the graphic is small but here's the precise measurements to get those lines in the right spot.
Put a ruler on the 60 degree line. come down 6 3/4 inches towards the wide end and draw a parallel line.
Move the ruler to the other side the 60 degree line and go 2 1/4 inches towards the narrow end draw another parallel line.
Adjust the line if needed to match your seam allowance.
How do I make the 25" Jazzy Jolt? Download this helpful guide in creating a
Mini Jazzy Jolt!
Correction for the Speedy Spiral Tree Skirt on page 20 When making the 60" Speedy Spiral folded edge pieces use the wide end of the Ten Degree Extension (page 63) instead of the 30" line. Your strip width should be 3 1/4" (not the 2 1/2" from the base size).