Hello Ladies (and gents)
I'm having a problem and asking for help.....I'm trying to make a quilt without a pattern except for in my head and down on scratch paper..... what i'm trying to do is make squares 9", one will be a patterned piece of material and the other ones on each side of that will be a 9" but will be 4 triangles of two different colors, sorta like making a frame around the printed fabric.so like the top row in my quilt would be a 9" patterned piece, 9" 4 triangles, 9" patterned piece, 9" 4 triangles so I end up with 6 - 9"squares then just the opposite in the next row......but my delima is -- when I cut my fabric for the 4 triangles -- I cut two pieces 9" each sew them to cut into 4 triangles and then sew them..and my square comes out much bigger than 9"....so the QUESTION is - what size do I cut those two pieces of material to cut them in triangles and then sew them together to come up with a 9" square.... appreciate all and any help......thank you so much wow I hope someone understands me.... LOL

Add 3/4" to your 9 inch square before cutting into triangles and see if that works...............

If I understand what you're asking, why not make half square triangles (HST) and cut them down to 9". If you're doing a square in a square and adding triangles, I have a ruler for that. Just draw out your pattern and add your seam allowances. I'm sorry, just not sure what you want.

Me either. :shock:

I would say that would make it that much BIGGER, because I just practieced with a 6" square - sewed them together, cut it into 4 triangles and sewed them together and finished with a 7 1/4" square..... hummm maybe I have to take 1 1/4 " off from 6" so make it 4 3/4" then by adding 1 1/4" would give me 6"???? but now to do that to make a 9", take 1 1/4" off from 9"??? what do you think?

Is this what you're talking about?

If so, the triangle blocks are called hourglass blocks. You need 1 10 1/4" square of each color for each pair of triangle blocks. Draw an "X" from corner to corner on the back of each square. Place squares right-sides-together and sew along 1 of the diagonals 1/4" from each side. Carefully cut apart on the diagonal line. You should have 2 half square triangles. Press and square these triangles to 9 7/8" each. Place right-sides-together again, lining up the diagonal seam. Color A should be on top of Color B on the one side of the seam and vice-versa on the other side of the seam. Sew 1/4" from each side of the other diagonal line you drew. Cut apart on the diagonal line. Press and square each to 9 1/2". Will finish at 9" in your quilt.

Here's a tutorial I found for making hourglass blocks: http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com...ss-blocks.html

Thank you all very much....think i've got it now....will post a picture when I have the quilt top done.... :)