Whirlygiggle with No Trimming

Okay, I just saw Jodi's post about the Whirlygiggle. I was playing with the template yesterday and had the same dilemma. I must say, I was a bit upset. I wanted the template to use with charm squares, because I didn't want to trim the charm squares. Had I wanted to trim, I would have gotten the Omnigrid Windmill Template. Which is a perfectly FINE template! I just figured that we buy these charm squares because they are precut. I'd prefer to not do a lot more cutting to them - especially not cut off only half an inch. Cutting in half or another shape is a whole other story.

So, I decided to try to figure out what I could come up, and I figured out a way to use the Whirlygiggle template AND NOT TRIM!

**Edited to add: This works when you're using Jodi's template and 5" charm squares (which was my goal). It doesn't seem to work with other sizes.

Here's what you do:

For your white fabric (or fabric that is not the giggle fabric), cut a piece that is one inch bigger on one side than the original whirlygiggle piece. For instance, I was using charm squares that are 5x5, so I cut a piece of white fabric 5x6.





Now, you want to cut that piece of fabric. So, put your ruler next to the edge of the rectangle 1/2 inch (I can't think of good way to explain that, hopefully the picture helps). Then put the template next to the ruler and cut.





You can see how the giggle fabric is smaller than the white fabric.



Here's a better picture.



Sew the giggle fabric to the white fabric.



As you can see, after it is sewn, the squares are the same size.



Here is the sewing layout.





And here is the finished square! No trimming needed for a lazy time oriented gal like me!



Here's one I did yesterday with 4 blocks. Just to test this theory out further. The finished blocks are 9".



How fun, and how quick! Now, I might just need to convince Jodi to make another template so I don't have to use my ruler for that half inch. (Further evidence of my laziness.)

Michelle at greetingarts has the original block tutorial on her site. Thank you so much, Michelle, for the idea for this wonderful block - in all of its variations.


Also, since I did this post so quick, I might go back and edit it. I hate when I have typos and things not explained well.