Sewing triangles together...Help Please
 

I know, I know...you're thinking "What is she talking about, she's made lots of quilts using triangles". Well now that Christmas is over, I decide to expand my horizons and try something I had never tried and now I know why. I am trying to sew eight triangles into a circle( does that make sense). Yes, I know to sew four together and then the other four together and then join them...IT'S NOT HAPPENING. I would say 1 out of 5 looks right and the others either don't line up or don't lay flat. Is there a knack for this? I have the entire quilt cut out and would hate to back bench it, but, for the life of me, sewing those little triangles together has got the best of me.The pattern is from Judy Martins' book Stellar Stars and is called Koyoto Stars.

the problem is that you cut them all out.... look up 'magic squares' on youtube and see how to sew triangles together without having that bias edge to contend with, which is the trouble maker... when i start a quilt now, i locate each of the HSTs in each block, define which colors go together, multiply by the total number of blocks for each color combo and get to work...i make all the HSTs first... and all the triangles are taken care of in that step...each of your diamonds is really 2 HSTs and if you construct them that way, all will be flat and all will go together easier...

you mentioned sewing 4 tog and then the other 4 and setting the two halves together last...this is right, but did you sew 1 to 2, then 3 to 4, and then 2 to 3? or did you sew 1 to 2 to 3 to 4....because....if you did it the second example... they will not lay flat... sew in twos all the way round, then join into 4s...then into an 8... but still the HSTs instead of diamonds will be easier to handle. And be sure when you get all 8 points joined in the center, to turn it wrong side up and pick all the sts out of the seam allowance....it will make the little interior 'flower' that lets the outside lay flatter...

I don't have trouble with the HSTs, they are a piece of cake compared to these things. I will try the 1&2, 3&4 and then sew them together in pairs of twos. Thank you...I will also check out Magic Squares on youtube once DH rolls out of bed. Again thank you.

I made one using your technique, I hope the rest look as good...only 15 more to go. Thank you for your quick response.

Debbie
quilterella

I found that by pressing the seam allowances always to the same side it really came out well. (Either all to the left or all to the right)

I have tried and tried, the only one that laid flat was the first one. # 2 had a bubble in the middle, # 3 lost a couple of points in the centre. What am I doing wrong...I am just about ready to toss this project and write it off as "This one is definitely not for me". It is a beautiful pattern and I would really like to master it ...but...how far do we test our patience? If any of my fellow board members have an easy method to ease my madness, then send it my way...PLEASE!!!!!

let's see if this pinning lesson will help... do the sewing in the order i mentioned before...but...when time to match up the halves, stick a pin straight thru from one side to the other, straight up and down on the seam line and 1/4" away from the edge. NOW, holding that pin straight up and down.....place a pin on each side while not moving the original... then you can remove the 'straight up and down pin' and move to the next seam... and don't forget to unsew the seams inside after getting the whole circle together...it will not lay flat without that...

You could try emailing Judy Martin to find out what her tips are. She's very nice and wants to help people have success with her patterns so you will buy them again!

Do these same suggestions also apply to 60 degree triangles? (I assumed your tri's are 45 degrees since you are using 8 to make your shape...?)
I have just cut a bazillion tris to make a (MY FIRST) OBW. They are gorgeous, but, I'm questioning how they will go together. Though I have read thru the tutorial here on OBW's, I don't remember the exact construction details. Any and all advice/encouragement appreciated.

that's exactly right...you will be sewing 1 to 2, 3 to 2...(really, put both 1 and 3 on top of 2...not 2 to 3.... then repeat with 4 to 5, 6 to 5 and then do the 3-pin method to get them lined up properly... and don't forget to unsew the seams inside to make the 'flattening flower'....

Thanks, deemail!
I'm gonna cheat and sew a couple of sets together before my cutting is done while this is fresh in my mind.