Thought I was Nuts!
09-13-2012, 09:49 PM
#1
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 65
Thought I was Nuts!
I'm making a table topper, and the pattern says to cut one 8" square and bisect it twice for setting corners. Also cut two 5 5/8 squares and bisect once for 4 triangles. I thought I cut everything right, but the triangles were the same size, so I re-cut the 8" block, and they were still the same size!!
After taking out my trusty calculator and figuring how big they should be, lo and behold THEY ARE THE SAME!!!
Could have knocked me over with a feather. Why didnt' they just tell me to cut two 8"blocks and bisect twice, and I would have have the 8 triangles I needed.
Okay, I'm finished, but thought you might like to know.
After taking out my trusty calculator and figuring how big they should be, lo and behold THEY ARE THE SAME!!!
Could have knocked me over with a feather. Why didnt' they just tell me to cut two 8"blocks and bisect twice, and I would have have the 8 triangles I needed.
Okay, I'm finished, but thought you might like to know.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 09-14-2012 at 03:45 AM.
09-13-2012, 10:28 PM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posts: 2,135
One is a half square triangle the other is a quarter square triangle, I hope this link explains it to you
http://www.eliqg.com/documents/Triangles_Part1.pdf
http://www.eliqg.com/documents/Triangles_Part1.pdf
09-13-2012, 10:33 PM
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,134
It's all a matter of controlling where the bias edges end up and having the straight edges on the OUTSIDE of the quilt (or block).
When you cut the setting triangles (aka QST - quarter square triangles), the two BIAS edges (two shorter sides) of each triangle will end up on the INSIDE of your quilt with the one STRAIGHT edge on the OUTSIDE.
When you cut the corner triangles (aka HST - half square triangles), the one BIAS edge (longest side) of each triangle will be on the INSIDE of your quilt with the two STRAIGHT edges on the OUTSIDE.
Even though the cut triangles might be the same size, each is intended for a different position in the quilt (or block).
Now you know.
It's a good thing.
When you cut the setting triangles (aka QST - quarter square triangles), the two BIAS edges (two shorter sides) of each triangle will end up on the INSIDE of your quilt with the one STRAIGHT edge on the OUTSIDE.
When you cut the corner triangles (aka HST - half square triangles), the one BIAS edge (longest side) of each triangle will be on the INSIDE of your quilt with the two STRAIGHT edges on the OUTSIDE.
Even though the cut triangles might be the same size, each is intended for a different position in the quilt (or block).
Now you know.
It's a good thing.
Last edited by MTS; 09-13-2012 at 10:40 PM.
09-14-2012, 05:01 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,586
Originally Posted by MTS
It's all a matter of controlling where the bias edges end up and having the straight edges on the OUTSIDE of the quilt (or block).
When you cut the setting triangles (aka QST - quarter square triangles), the two BIAS edges (two shorter sides) of each triangle will end up on the INSIDE of your quilt with the one STRAIGHT edge on the OUTSIDE.
When you cut the corner triangles (aka HST - half square triangles), the one BIAS edge (longest side) of each triangle will be on the INSIDE of your quilt with the two STRAIGHT edges on the OUTSIDE.
Even though the cut triangles might be the same size, each is intended for a different position in the quilt (or block).
Now you know.
It's a good thing.
When you cut the setting triangles (aka QST - quarter square triangles), the two BIAS edges (two shorter sides) of each triangle will end up on the INSIDE of your quilt with the one STRAIGHT edge on the OUTSIDE.
When you cut the corner triangles (aka HST - half square triangles), the one BIAS edge (longest side) of each triangle will be on the INSIDE of your quilt with the two STRAIGHT edges on the OUTSIDE.
Even though the cut triangles might be the same size, each is intended for a different position in the quilt (or block).
Now you know.
It's a good thing.
09-15-2012, 12:43 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mechanicsville, IA
Posts: 1,497
This is the bias edge thing is part of the reason for the Nifty Notions Half Square and Quarter Square rulers. They eliminate the need for cutting different size squares because you can cut both of those triangles from the same size strip.
09-15-2012, 09:19 AM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,390
Maybe the attached drawings might help illustrate the difference -
Pretend the lines of the graph paper are the threads of the fabric -
The sizes of the triangles are the same - but the grain lines on the longest edge change
Pretend the lines of the graph paper are the threads of the fabric -
The sizes of the triangles are the same - but the grain lines on the longest edge change
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