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Quilting Gadget Review: 60° Triangle, Creative Grids®

by Terry Crawford

Gadget Review
60° Triangle, by CREATIVE GRIDS
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE GRIDS

      CREATIVE GRIDS is not just another company that makes acrylic rulers. This company, founded by Sheila Waterfield of Leicester, England in 1989, distinguishes itself from others by developing rulers with the non-slip, opaque gripper dots. Creative Grids® rulers are sold around the world and recommended by well-known quilting experts and teachers. Each ruler features embedded gripper dots and easy-to-read black markings. The company carries a large variety of products and offers an online demo, which requires that Macromedia Flash Player be installed.
     This review concentrates on one ruler: The 60° triangle. The ruler, product CGRT60, retails for $15.50 US$ (even though I only paid $14.50 for mine at a local quilt shop) and the package contains one non-slip triangular acrylic ruler, that makes up to (in 1/4″ increments) an 8″ finished size, and step-by-step laminated instructions written by Lynne Edwards. Also included in the package is a cardstock image, actual size, of the triangular ruler that can be cut out and used as a template (even though there is no reference to this in the package).
     Lynne Edwards is an internationally known quilt designer, teacher, and author. Lynne has exhibited many of her own works in galleries, museums, and festivals including the National Crafts Council Gallery in London, Suffolk Craft Society Gallery in East Anglis, and International Quilt Association Festivals in Houston, Chicago, Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. Lynne has published numerous books and articles. She has given demonstrations of Creative Grids® at quilt shows throughout the world. The patterns she has created for Creative Grids® illustrate how amazingly simple these quilt rulers are to use that can yield results!

     MY REVIEW:

  • The Good - The laminate instructions are on one sheet, front and back, and give fairly good directions on cutting both 30° and 60° triangles (the larger triangle instructions are easier to understand). The real benefits of this gadget are in the nice easy-to-read black printed surface and the embedded grippers! Another plus for this acrylic ruler is that the tip is pre-cut off of the template, which makes cutting the triangles a snap, especially if you are cutting from strips!
  • The Bad - On the downside, in my opinion, the instructions could be enhanced to include more about how to put the blocks together into a quilt after they have been sewn. Personally, I feel it leaves the user hanging, especially if you are not a “math person”, able to figure out the angles and how to sew them together yourself.

    •  
         MY CONCLUSION:

  • If thinking about purchasing this specific product (note that I am only reviewing the triangle), be prepared to handle a fair amount of calculations and quilt design yourself.
  • On the other hand, if one is experienced in working with triangles and/or has very good math skills and/or does not mind doing some legwork in learning, it is an excellent gadget!

    •  
         Please feel free to leave your comments, especially if you have used this gadget or if you plan on purchasing it!

    StarQuilting By Design Site Map.
    StarOriginal article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

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    Posted in Gadget/Tool Review, Quilt-Related Resources, Quilting Articles (Terry), Quilting Reviews on May 14th, 2007

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    3 Responses to “Quilting Gadget Review: 60° Triangle, Creative Grids®”

    1. Becca Says:
      May 14th, 2007 at 10:32 am

      Thanks for reviewing this one-I saw it in the LQS ad thought about buying it but was wondering if it would be really helpful. Glad to have the benefit of your testing! :-)

    2. Nina Says:
      May 14th, 2007 at 11:31 am

      Thanks for the review I have the ruler and wa lucky to get 2 free patterns with mine. They are available from the website.
      Nina

    3. Valerie Says:
      May 14th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

      Great review, Terry! The vast majority of my rulers are Creative Grids rulers and I love them. I don’t have this one though, and honestly I don’t know if I’ll be getting it… most of the time my rectangular ruler with the 30 degree and 60 degree lines are enough.

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