Worldly Lil Twister Quilt Tutorial

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Have you ever made a quilt using the Lil’ Twister template? It is so much fun and perfect for a baby quilt, I have a tutorial to share with you today and it has continued to be one of my most popular posts!

Worldly lit twister appliqued baby quilt

Updated: this originally was posted October 31, 2011

Worldly Lil’ Twister Quilt Tutorial

40 inches x 45 inches

This tutorial will show you how to easily make an Trip Around the World using my Worldly Lil’ Twister Quilt Tutorial.

There is now a PDF of this tutorial that you can download, keep reading.

Download a PDF of this tutorial – if you already subscribe to my newsletter you can just sign in to my resource library and you’ll find it.

Last month I shared a tutorial for a mini Trip Around the World quilt and also a tutorial showing you how to use the X Block Basix template. This tutorial uses the Lil’ Twister template.

Many times I try and keep quilts that I know I have done a tutorial or pattern on in case I want to update a post and take new photos. Below you see little Sadie, obviously, we didn’t have her back in 2011 and it was fun to pull out this baby quilt for some new photos.

Last week I said I was taking little Sadie in for a puppy cut but the groomer only does a close shave so we decided to just keep her hair long for now. We then talked to another groomer who does a puppy cut and Sadie is scheduled to get it in about 6 weeks! She looked so much younger with short hair.

Sadie the dog on baby quilt

This Lil’ Twister quilt is called Worldly Twister. I used fabrics with blues, pinks and greens in them and it would make a perfect baby quilt.

Tutorial

Fabrics:

  • Six Fat Quarters assorted colors
  • 1½ yard white print
  • 1½ yard border print
  • Backing – 1½ yard
  • Scraps of dark pink and green for applique
  • Heat n Bond lite

I used 4 different blues, a light and dark pink and a green plus the white dot background. You probably won’t be able to find the same fabrics but the collection was from Me & My Sister Designs and many of their collections are in colors similar to this.

Cut the following 5-inch squares:

  • A – Blue print – 12
  • B – Blue print – 9
  • C – Darker blue print – 10
  • D – White – 24
  • E – Light pink – 12
  • F – Green – 12
  • G – Dark Pink – 12
  • H – Blue for the border – 8
Fat quarters for the baby quilt

Use a ¼” seam allowance – sew your 5″ squares together using the diagram below.

Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial placement diagram

I find it best if I lay the whole quilt out before I start piecing the rows together.

Sew all of the 5-inch blocks together.

Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial sewn rowss

Add the white print border:

  • Cut 2 – 3″ x 55 ½” strips for the long borders and 2 – 3″ x 50½” for the short borders.
Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial with borders

Lil’ Twister Template

Now it is time to pull out your Lil Twister template. The template size is 3 ½” x 3 ½” and designed to work with 5″ squares.

Follow the directions that are included with the Lil Twister template. You can see how I laid the template on the seams. You start cutting the first square with part of the border.

Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial template

This photo will also show you how to use the Lil Twister template.

Worldy Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial cutting

Shrinkage – I cut and pieced my blocks so you could see the size before using the Lil Twister template and then after being cut and pieced back together.

The original size was 46″ x 56″ before cutting with the Lil Twister template. The finished size now was 31″ x 36″ inches, as you can see there is a lot of shrinkage.

Lil' Twister baby quilt comparing size of quilt before cutting blocks

Your finished twister quilt will be about 2/3 of the size of the original.

Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial blocks

Measure your quilt top before cutting your blue print border, adjust if necessary.

Always measure the quilt before cutting the borders as your measurements might be a little different – measure both sides and also measure through the center to find the approximate measurement.

  • Cut 2 – 5″ x 31 ½” for the top and bottom
  • Cut 2 – 5″ x 45″ for the sides
Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial borders

Applique: I have a template below that you can download as part of the PDF.

  • Cut out 5 flowers and centers from the scraps of dark pink and green after applying Heat n Bond to the fabric.
  • Place a flower in the center blue pinwheel and in each of the blue pinwheels in the corners. Applique in your favorite method.
  • I did a raw-edge free-motion applique.

I forgot to take a closeup of the free-motion applique that I did before I quilted the baby quilt. My old Singer sewing machine only does a straight stitch. There are new sewing machines that are designed for quilters that are straight stitch only machines also. If you have one it is still possible to add applique using this method.

Lil Twister baby quilt with applique flower closeup


Layer your quilt top, batting and backing – quilt as desired. I used my vintage 15-91 Singer sewing machine with a darning foot on it. You are able to drop the feed dogs on most sewing machines so you can free-motion quilt. Always turn the stitch length to zero also.

Lil Twister baby quilt quilting it on a vintage Singer sewing machine 15-91

Bind your quilt. I used 5 – 2½” strips and sewed it to the quilt by machine. I have a machine binding tutorial to show you how I sew binding on my quilts.

Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial border quilting

This would make a beautiful gift for a baby shower!

Worldly Lil Twister quilt tutorial

If you like videos, be sure and watch this video from the Quarter Shop showing you how to use the template.

I hope you have enjoyed this Worldly  Lil Twister Quilt Tutorial.

Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial bench

Here are a couple of other Lil Twister tutorials.

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Twister Baby Quilt Tutorial
Connie with her dogs

About Connie

Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.

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23 Comments

  1. Monta Reina says:

    This is absolutely beautiful. Wish you would up date and give us the ability to make into a throw, twin, queen and even a king. You should get an outstanding award, you do with me on this quilt…thank you for sharing you knowledge and all your hard work…I know this took some time…again, thank you…and from my home to yours, wishing you a safe, healthy and HAPPY forth coming New Year 2023.
    Monta Reina
    From Down Trinity Bay Texas Way…

  2. I made a wreath twister quilt for Christmas a few years back. The person that received it said she didn’t have room to hang it and she gave it to her sister. The little squares that was left over I made into a tiny twister wreath for her to hang on the fridge. Think I will go to my baby stash and make your baby quilt. It so pretty and I love the flowers on it.

  3. WOW! I love this Twister quilt. I had never seen the before sewn squares and the after Twister transformation. It is like night and day. Sadie sure has to wait a long time for her trim. Kind of like my having to wait three or four months for a hair appointment. Crazy!
    Twister Quilting Bliss…<3

    1. Thanks Sherry, it is a fun quilt to make! The new groomer is booked solid…..which reminds me….I’d better book an appointment for my hair!

  4. That is so pretty, Connie. I love your fabric choices for it and the addition of the flowers was brilliant.

  5. Hi Connie! Sadie is so cute and I think she looks beautiful with fur and not cut totally. Thank you for this great tutorial! I have the ruler but never used it yet. x Teje

  6. Great quilt! I made a twister quilt about two years ago and remember I was so surprised at how much it “shrunk”

    1. They are really fun to make but it is amazing how much they “shrink”.

  7. LOVE the quilt Connie. I really like the applique addition you’ve added.

    Ok, I’ll be nice, but I do have to ask, what kind of a groomer only does one cut style.?! That’s just nuts. I’m glad you didn’t let that one do it and found another. Is that other groomer that good that it takes 6 weeks to get an appointment, or was that just scheduling conflicts between all of you?

  8. Very nice tutorial Connie. Thank you so much. The quilt is very cute but I would never make it because of the waste of fabric. I’m too frugal I guess.

    1. Thanks Lu, there is some waste but it sure makes a beautiful quilt!

  9. twisters are fun but take a long time! have you seen the itty bitty one?

    1. I have Bea! I have made several of the itty bitty ones.

  10. I love it. This would definitely be a wonderful baby quilt. The applique flowers add just the right sparkle.

    1. Thanks Darlene! A puppy cut for Sadie would mean about half of her hair would get cut off. I can’t wait until next month when she gets it!