Thread: Tutorial for first time triangles

Originally Posted by cjsews

The best advice I can give is to oversize your squares. Draw a diagonal line from point to point. Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line. After you cut these apart and press, then trim them to the size needed. Make sure you use a ruler with a 45 degree line that is lined up on your seam. It seems that no matter how carefully I cut and sew my blocks never come out perfect. That is why most quilters will over size and trim down. If your pattern said to cut squats at 3 7/8, cut them 4 inches. That little bit can make a huge difference and save you a lot of frustration

I agree. This is the way I make my HST. Just make sure you 45 degree line is accurate, that you stitch straight on the line. I usually after cut them apart (you will get two HST from the two squares) starch and press them open. Next is to trim and they should be perfect HST. So many quilts you can make with these triangles. Popular pattern is the Chevron.

Originally Posted by cjsews

The best advice I can give is to oversize your squares. Draw a diagonal line from point to point. Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line. After you cut these apart and press, then trim them to the size needed. Make sure you use a ruler with a 45 degree line that is lined up on your seam. It seems that no matter how carefully I cut and sew my blocks never come out perfect. That is why most quilters will over size and trim down. If your pattern said to cut squats at 3 7/8, cut them 4 inches. That little bit can make a huge difference and save you a lot of frustration

I do almost the same thing. I start with larger squares than called for, and draw the sewing lines too, because that makes sure my sewing is straight, and in the right place. I use hard lead pencil on the wrong side.

I use the disk...Triangulations (computer disk). It has hundreds of sizes of triangles, flying geese and other things (I don't have the disk in front of me).

What you do is find out what the finished square/triangle needs to be. You find the page on the disk, print out the pages you need, then sew directly onto the pages. Each and every page you make more than 1 hst square.

When you do it you take 2 pieces of rectangular fabric (face/face), lay the paper on top of this, sew on the lines they tell you to, then cut where it tells you to. You will end up with perfect triangles each and every time.

Originally Posted by gingerd

I use the disk...Triangulations (computer disk). It has hundreds of sizes of triangles, flying geese and other things (I don't have the disk in front of me).

What you do is find out what the finished square/triangle needs to be. You find the page on the disk, print out the pages you need, then sew directly onto the pages. Each and every page you make more than 1 hst square.

When you do it you take 2 pieces of rectangular fabric (face/face), lay the paper on top of this, sew on the lines they tell you to, then cut where it tells you to. You will end up with perfect triangles each and every time.

This is my go-to solution too for any HST's that are made. Triangulations has saved my sanity many a time.

Morganfam7, I looked for a video of the method I use, and this one is the closest. It's a Fons and Porter video, so there is a plug for their products. I don't use the F&P ruler used in the video, instead I mark a line along the diagonal center and sew a quarter of an inch away from it on each side. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-nme6km8h8

Here's a tutorial from here that is similar, but produces many more blocks. The theory is the same, but multiplied. This shows the marking method I use.

Fast way to do 8 at a time half square triangles (HST) with straight of grain edges!

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