Originally Posted by PatriceJ
unless i'm missing something, the instructions at all these links also result in individual prairie points. :? :?:
Well, the end result is that they appear to be individual prairie points, but in fact they are strings of connected prairie points. If you look at the diagram, the initial strip is ironed so that there is a crease running down the center when it is opened up. The cuts are only to the crease. Since the cuts from the top are offset from the cuts at the bottom, the strip is never severed. Before folding, you do have to remove the two ends that aren't wide enough to fold.
I think the confusion may come from the picture. That crease down the middle of the strip is *not* a cutting line. They should have made that a dotted line so it didn't look the same as the cuts you make.
After you fold the first square on top, you fold the next square on the bottom and tuck it into the previous prairie point. The next square would be one folded from the top, and you would tuck that one into the previously folded one from the bottom.
Once all the prairie points are folded and tucked into one another, you have a long line of connected prairie points. The edge is that middle part of the strip which is now a fold. You can baste that edge to make sure you keep your spacing and that nothing unfolds before the edge is secured by the seam that attaches it to the edge of the quilt.
Hope this helps some! :D