Jamie

I was reading a quilting magaize...and there was this amazing windmill quilt...ive never done this type of pattern...Now here is where I need help..the points need to come to point and touch...I apparently am not that good at making points...some pointers would be wonderful..it has to be sewn tip to tip right? Help please lol

Cookn

Without knowing the pattern, it's hard to say how it needs to be sewn. If they are triangles I've never seen any that you sew all the way to the tip. All that I've ever done require a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around even in the tips. If you are sewing all seams all the way it will never work out.

Jamie

It's all triangles...but it doesn't give any specific direction on how to sew them together, other than to make a square out of them...usualy you sew everything with a 1/4 in seam allowance...but there are patterns that you don't so that it makes crisp points...I'm just not farmiliar with making points this thin and sharp.

Rhonda

Jamie if you sew a half squre triangle block -you'll see one below and them sew two blocks together. If you have the corners of your square so the seam is in the evenly in the middle of tht two fabrics you will get a point that is 1/4" from the edge after you sew the two together.

Just make sure your seam comes out in the middle at each corner and make sure you are using a 1/4" seam allowance and your points will fall in place.

I use this nearly everyday in what I do. I use more half square triangles than anything else.

Hope this helps!

Rhonda

Also Jamie I tend to be a perfectionist because I sell my stuff and want it to be the best I can make it. I will pull a seam apart and redo it 5 times til it is something I can live with. But I still have points sometimes that disappear or are too fat at the end or too short of the place they are supposed to be.

I have learned to fix what I can and find that moment when I have done all I can and I have got to the point where I can live with it and let it go even when it isn't what I want it to be.

So don't sweat it if it doesn't come to a perfect point. Noone is perfect!! As long as the design is clear and I also can sew quilting stitches over it when I quilt it down and it isn't noticable anymore if it is off a little.

Have a good time with it!! :D :D

Sharon M

Rhonda, I also have trouble with points sometimes :( and I really try to be careful. When you are puting 2 of the squares together do you start sewing where the points meet and then away from them? I have tried pinning and not pinning .... have more luck more often when not pinning. I am careful when cutting and have a 1/4 inch foot for my machine, I square them up after the triangles are sewn together so I can only assume my problem is when I sew the squares together, so maybe that is where I need pointers :?: :!: Thank you , teacher Rhonda :D :D

Rose Marie

Sewing is the key, Make sure you have your seam allowances at 1/4 in and sew your seams so they go just to the tip of the point or even a little above but dont sew over the point. >l

littlehud

Make sure you cut accurately and have a 1/4 inch seam. Mine always seen a little bulky in the center of the windmill, but ironing every seam helps. My points are not always perfect. That adds personality to my quilt. LOL

Rhonda

When you go to sew two blocks together I always tack the corners together but I bend back one corner so I can make sure the seams match on the inside. Then I tack on the side that your seam will go through. I had a student that tacked on the top and then couldn't figure out how to open the seam to iron it. I always open my seams to iron because open seams are less bulky than ironing to the dark. That is more important in minis than in a reg. size quilt.

When sewing together two sets of half square triangle blocks I tack in the center where the seams meet and then I tack at the end where the corners meet. I rarely use pins for this because I feel the pins don't hold it as firmly as tacking and everytime I choose to cheat and sew without tacking or use pins instead -about 75% of the time I have to take it back out and then I am kicking myself for trying to hurry the process.
I HATE to take out seams of any size!!!

This attention to detail really pays off most of the time. I will still have a problem if the corner of the block wasn't right to begin with. If my poin tis off I go back and take the corner apart and look to see if the seam is even in the middle or if one side or the other is bigger than it should be. I will trim it gently and try again. Sometimes if your seam is not right you can just sew along the seam and make a tighter seam Sew on the inside to make the corner more even.

I just did this yesterday. I had one that I had two blocks sewn together and was putting two sets together. The problem was that one of the two blocks in one set was sitting at an angle instead of being square with the block. I ran another seam along the existing seam and came in about an 1/8" or less to make the block strtaighten up and be squared off against the other block. It's kinda like sewing a tuck into a blouse - you start at the original seam and then angle your newer seam in.

If this doesn't make sense I can show you pictures I think I diagramed this for something I did.

Sorry to be so wordy!!

Rhonda

I start from a differant perspective than most people. I don't sew triangles together. I cut out Half Square "Blocks" with my cut down method. IF you keep the corner of your template on the seams you will end up with a squared square and your seams will be even automatically.
Clickon the cut down method in my ignature below and check out how I make HSTs

Then I sew from tip to stern on everything. I never start anywhere but the edge.