Welcome to the Quilting Board!
OK I have not been quilting for a few months and my brain is getting fried with a mental block. If I am creating a square that I want to measure 2 inches finished, and I want it to consist of a light and dark half square triangle, why am I adding 3/8 inch to each square cut. To me it seems like if I have 1/4 inch seam I should add 1/4 inch. Now I understood this before but now I am just coming up blank so please help. Thank you
Create something beautiful from scraps.
Here's a tutorial: http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...uaretria_2.htm
and it's 7/8" that you need to add.
Because the inside seams are cut on an angle, which requires a smidgen less than the 1/2" you'd need if you were cutting, say, two rectangles from the square.
Last edited by MTS; 10-04-2012 at 04:36 AM.
Fons and Porter also have a ruler that they have demonstrated on their show where you can use strips like jelly rolls and make half square triangle units.
I usually add 1" instead of the 7/8 and trim down. I find it easier then messing around with 1/8" measurements and never have a HST come up short that way. As to why... I don't bother to strain the brain cells trying to figure out why. It works and that is why I do it. I always thought it had something to do with the pythagorean theorem but I could be wrong.
this is my method alsoOriginally Posted by feline fanatic
Nancy in western NY
before you speak THINK
T – is it True? H – is it Helpful? I – is it Inspiring? N – is it Necessary? K – is it Kind?
Or just use Thangles. http://thangles.com/
I cut mine larger also and trim them down. Much less brain power involved!
I am going to try this, pieces are always neater when cut larger and trimmed down. If I follow instructions on the pattern I seem to go with those. It is a little confusing to cut different than what is in the directions. Maybe it would be less so if I would rewrite the instructions for cutting. I'm planning on making a Card Trick next and will try the make larger and cut down on it.
Another Phyllis
This life is the only one you get - enjoy it before you lose it.
Here's a visual to further explain the reason why you use 3/8" instead of 1/2" (which was the original question):
Please excuse my pathetic Paint skills - the drawing is not to scale.
I totally agree about cutting larger and trimming down.
But I think it's always helpful to know the reason(s) why.
Last edited by MTS; 10-04-2012 at 05:56 AM.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
