I just bought the Fons and Porter Octagon ruler, 6", and I now need to figure out what size triangle or square to cut to fit it. I bought it at Jo-Ann's and of course they don't carry the triangle ruler that accompanies this ruler. I just re-watched the "triangle bootcamp" episode and that resulted in a HUGE triangle. Each side of this Octagon ruler is 3.75". I would prefer to cut strips and make triangles from that but if I have to cut squares and cut them in 2, that would be ok too. Any suggestions? :shock:

try the Fons & Porter web site.... they probably sell all their rulers there :wink:

I am trying to cut pieces with out having to buy another ruler. I know Fons and Porter sell rulers. I also figured out that because this is an octagon I cannot use a square cut in half, the angles are different.

Graph paper? Without seeing the finished block to visualize what you want, that's my best suggestion.

Can you use the octigon to make a template. Use a regular ruler and measure out the triangle and mark the octagon with a marker or tape where your material needs to stop. cut a strip or strips the depth of the triangle and cut your triangles that way.

I'm sure it would work!

I am definitely math challenged. So when I have situations which you describe, I will draw the finished block on graft paper and then measure to determine the size strip I will need.

If it's an octagon, then you most certainly can use a square cut in half. An (equilateral) octagon ALWAYS has 4 right angles in the corners. Ask Euclid. ;-) Putting a HST on each corner will get you a square - just like a Snowball block.

Are you sure you don't have a HEXAGON ruler (six sides)?
(I just did a quick search and I can't find a F&P octagon ruler.)

You need 2 setting triangles (cut your square TWICE on the diagonal). That will allow you to have the straight of grain on the top and bottom. Starch the fabric well before cutting to minimize any stretching you might get from handling the bias edges. It's still a right angle triangle, but the 90degree angle is placed in the interior, not on the edge.

When you attach this to the upper right and lower left corners, it will make a parallelogram which will allow you sew these blocks together into rows.

Depending on your color choices for these triangles, it will create a secondary pattern of a star around each hexagon.

ooppss!

Ignore that. :roll:

After I posted that, I was cleaning the floor and realized I wrote an answer to another question I'd been figuring out for myself. I've had hexagons and pentagons and penroses floating around in my head for days.

By the time I got back, I couldn't edit it.

The octagon info is correct - in order to make a square, you can use a HST on each of the 4 corners.

For the hexagon, you need equilateral triangles - 60 degrees at each angle, and all 3 sides the same length.

The easiest way to cut those is from a strip. But since they're the same no matter which way you orient them, you need to be careful that the straight of grain edge is always placed next to the top or bottom edge of the hexagon.

Otherwise, you've got bias on the outside edges. A lot of starch of the fabric before it's cut will help contain that.

I usually stack them together with a pin along the straight edge so I can keep track.

My apoligies! I just realized this is a HEXAGON and not an Octagon! I had just seen a tv quilt show about Octagons and I had that on the brain! What I did was trace one side of the ruler and drew lines up from each side until they intersected. I now know I could make my own template but instead I just ordered the pryamid ruler from Fons and Porter. Life is just easier when I use a ruler and not my own template. Sorry about the confusion.

LOL!!! I'm sure my answer was just as confusing as I was also thinking about other shapes.

I saw the F&P ruler at Joann's the other day. Not on sale but couponable.

Good luck with your hexagons.