45 degree angle cut?
 

I have a pattern for Pacific Rim quilt from Jinny Beyer and I am starting it again because I screwed up the first time. I am needing help to cut at a 45 degree angle. The direction states "Trim the far left of set at a precise 45 degree angle (which I have done)". This is where I am confused "Cut four strips 3"wide" also at the 45 degree angle, oh I need help PLEASE!

Line up the edge of your 45 degree cut with the 3" mark on your ruler and cut (or mark for cutting) giving you a 3" piece with a 45 degree angle on both sides. Does that help?

This visual might help.

Jan in VA

Jan, your visuals are incredibly clear and precise!! Wish patterns we that clear!!

Pattern writers should just hire Jan to do their illustrations for them.

I agree!! Maybe a side-line, Jan???? On second thought, maybe we want her all for our own!!! LOL

Great, I will give it a go. See the first time I tried this pattern, I do not know where it went wrong so this time I am going to take my time. The visual helps, I do better with visuals then with words; as you can tell with my writing LOL. I will be back again, either with another question or a pic of my work. Thanks again!!

Thank you, thank you <bowing> for the graphics kudos! :o

ALL my patterns are like this. I have many, some of which I've shared here, both in posts and under tutorials. There are others for just blocks as well as whole quilts. Maybe someday I'll try selling them. Here would be a good place to start, I suppose, because you all are so gracious to be receptive of them each time.

But that work is for another time; my current list is full until into May of next year!

Jan in VA

I totally agree! I am a visual learner and so often the written directions just read like "blah, blah, blah" to me. Jan, where do you find your wonderful diagrams?

Jan, you are awesome!! My vote is we keep her for ourselves unless she would like to start her own business.

Jan is very good at this sort of thing. I need pictures and words to assemble anything. Lots of directions are just pictures now days and I am sometimes lost, I need the words also.

I design my own graphics in Microsoft Paint on the computer. I've been using it for many years so find it rather easy, but the original learning curve was the pits for a self learner! I haven't owned a computer quilt design program since the early days of EQ. Paint is somewhat limiting, but it serves my purpose well, for free.

Thanks for asking. :)

Jan in VA

Jan---How about a book?

I'm making my own book call "Jan's advice." I print out almost everything she has to say that I need to hear. Thanks Jan for your generosity in sharing all your great Knowledge. Now I'm going to look for those patterns she was talking about.

Jan, You give the best answers on here for all of us to share. Keep up the good work. Happy Quilting.

Make your 45 degree cut on the left side, then flip that cut so it's on the right side, now make your 3" wide cuts. Have fun!

I agree, Jan is awesome ! Obviously she believes in the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Sweetie !!

I just thought the same thing, Jan in VA has such a logical mind. She immediately recognizes how to graph it out for easier comprehension. She is also generous with her time to actually plot it out. Jan, you are a natural teacher.

Jan: Don't know if anyone has told you lately: thanks for all your explainations/visuals. It helps tremendously especially to those of us on the board who are umm challenged shall we say ? LOL OKay I meant me !LOL

Oh Jan, you are always so helpful. Wish I lived near you

You dear precious friends, you have made me gasp for air and repeatedly wipe my face of tears as I am so overcome by your amazing comments and encouragements. I am truly overwhelmed this evening. So humbled.

Opening this page to read was a gift of blessing as today was a hard day even before I received a shock of a bill which had somehow fallen through the cracks - a $300+ cell phone/internet overdue (in part) bill. In my world right now, $300 may as well be $3000.....it will be met, but with difficulty.

And then you all write these sweet, uplifting things!

And then you suggest I write a book!:o

My mother has insisted for years that I do this! Other friends have urged me to do this. Sometimes I've wanted to, other times I've been sure, "Not me!" Perhaps the subject needs a re-look. But I don't exactly know where to look, how to start, who to contact. And I'd need lots of help. And they wouldn't take MY graphics, probably, but would do much more professional ones. And then those wouldn't be "mine". I go around and around.......

Actually, that reminds me of a mental picture one of my shop employees (who became a dear, dear friend) - said she saw me doing. There at the end, when I was trying to get the shop sold/closed without the public realizing we were going to do so, she told me I had "one foot nailed to the floor and was pumping hard with the other!" (Going around in circles!!:shock:) I've never forgotten that picture, LOL! And have lived it many times since, LOL!

I LOVE teaching. I love helping. And, yes, KISS is my abiding principal most of the time.:D I tell my classes that the little tips and tricks I've come up with are my own, developed because I'm really the laziest quilter around. I know a hundred little ways to keep my bottom in that chair sewing before I have to get up to cut or press or rip or do-it-again.

One of the first for which I'm well known is that sticky note beside the presser foot for an even-all-the-way-down-the-strip 1/4" seam allowance. I've used it for decades! Turned many a class onto it at the Houston International Quilt Festival back in the 90s. Require students in my classes and workshops to bring a pad and rubber band so I can show them how easy it is. I sew my strips together these days with the foot pedal pressed all the way to the floor, going about 75 miles an hour, and the seams are as straight as can be, even seam allowance all the way.

I appreciate and thank you lovely people more than you know and will continue putting my responses out there til somebody tells me to quit!;):)

Jan in VA

I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for sharing it.

Awwww Jan.... Big hug!! ((Jan)) you SHOULD write a book and make lots of money! You've got built-in buyers all collected right here!

Callen, you are so nice. The real saying is "Keep It Simple Stupid". You cleaned it up for everyone. How "sweet" you are!!!

Jan, after reading the instructions I was saying HUH! Then when I saw your illustration it all made sense. Thanks.