Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Tools Tuesday . . . . .

So for this Tuesday I just grabbed the ruler that was on top of my research stack.  

It's the Starmaker 8, designed by Kaye Wood.

I bought this ruler at least 5 years ago, at the Paducah AQS Quilt show, after seeing a demonstration by Kaye Wood herself.  I was very new to quilting and I must have been impressed by something this ruler could make, but I don't remember now what it was!


So I went to www.kayewood.com to see if I could figure out what to do with this ruler.  I had high expectations because the ruler has markings for dresden plate fans, a 4 and 8 piece wedge (I have no idea what that means!), and Kaleidoscope.  Plus it's called the Starmaker so I figured it would be used to make some sort of star.

Here is what the website said about the Starmaker 8,

 "The Starmaker® 8 will make perfect 8-pointed stars, that's what the 8 means. But, it is also a master template for many quilt patterns such as fans & wedges, Dresden Plates, diamonds, chevrons, stars and Seminole. It also has 3 different angles, identified by the numbers 4, 8 and 16."

Sounds pretty good to me, however, this is the only instructions I could find on the site that were free, and I found them lacking.


There were patterns, books and a DVD available for purchase from the website that would use this ruler.  I didn't see anything that appealed to me or motivated me to part with any more of my money.

So unless someone leaves a comment telling me what a wonderful tool the Starmaker 8 is, it's not going back into my tools drawer.


Added later


Thanks so much for all the helpful comments on the Kaye Wood Starmaker 8 ruler.


I found a video on Youtube that used the Starmaker 8 ruler that explained how to make a topless triangle and using that piece how to make a wall hanging - click here

I also found information that the ruler could be used to make flying geese and a kaleidoscope block, but could not find any information on how to do so.


I don't see any reason for me to ever use this ruler in the future so it's not going back into my tools drawer.  


I'll try to pick a ruler next week where I actually make something, the purpose of these Tuesday posts is for me to learn something new and share it with you, not tell you about my poor purchase decisions.  But I do feel better knowing I'm not the only person who owns the Starmaker 8 but has no idea how to use it.  That must be some demo, to talk so many of us into buying it!


12 comments:

  1. It turns out that I have a Starmaker 8 also - I never noticed the name. I use mine for cutting right angles, especially when cutting a single square patch.

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  2. Thelma, I am enjoying your Tuesday Tool feature. Good to see what others use and find invaluable in their day to day quilting, but also good to know I am not alone in the "caught up in the moment" purchases and then find myself wondering how in the world to use something, and what the heck am I keeping this for. Quilting, like so much else in life has it's tools and gadgets that seem to run a very short life span. Sorry I can't help you with this ruler...don't have one

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  3. Go to YouTube and watch some of the how too's there are some for the starmaker 8.

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  4. I follow quite a few quilting blogs and just wanted to say I never tire of seeing your red and white quilt on your background. It always puts a smile on my face. I am also enjoying your Tuesday tool feature. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Try YouTube they have a video for everything.

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  6. Absolutely loving Tools Tuesday. Such a practical idea for a quilting blog. I hope more quilters jump on this bandwagon as independent reviews like this are very helpful. Thank-you.

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  7. I'm like you and can't see the difference in this fancy tool or a 45-degree angle plain one I have to do 8-point stars, etc. I'm a gadget gal, but this isn't something I'm probably missing in my tools. Thanks for the review. XOXO

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  8. Sorry Thelma...never heard of it before. Hopefully someone has more info to share!

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  9. Good luck in getting some feedback on the advantages of this tool!

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  10. Starmaker... doesn't that sound like the title of a cheesy movie about an unscrupulous talent-agent who lures young women into doing "whatever" with promises that he'll make them a movie star?

    Never heard of the ruler though I have heard of Kaye Wood. I agree with the others who suggest there just has to be a You Tube video for it... though if she's also selling videos and books, maybe not. (Just did a YouTube search and found a video that uses the Starmaker 8 to make a Kaleidoscope block. Uh... Note to Kaye: Using a block with a volcano center... bad idea.)

    Hey, Thelma, if I send you all the "mystery tools" in my drawer, will you test them for me? Then maybe you can tell me why I bought them. :)

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  11. Hi.....I have some of those mystery tools too.....seemed like a good idea at the time LOL...On Kaye Woods site she has a long video demonstrating the Starmaker tools...I found it under the More Details on the Starmaker 8 on her products site.....hope this helps. Karen

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  12. I'm glad I am not the only one that bought that and can't remember why. I finally put it in a garage sale and sold it. I hope it's new owner figured out what to do with it!

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