How to Cut Isosceles Triangle
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,866
Just saying --be careful what angle your ruler gives you. I made several of the kaleidoscope quilts and made the mistake of getting the TriRec ruler. The angle is not correct for those! There is a pattern included with the TriRec that is good for those rulers though. The angle of the triangle/ruler will determine how many "blades" it takes to make the full circle.
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 25,197
Can/Will you post a sketch of what you have in mind.
I learned, the hard way, that the triangle in a square unit has different angles that 30-60-90 and 60-60-60!
Attached is a drawing of the triangle in a square unit with the angles to the nearest thousandth of a degree.
360 divided by 7 equals 51.429 degrees, so the Tri-Recs ruler is not appropriate for a circle evenly divided by 7. The "center angle" of the larger ruler is approximately 53.130 degrees, which multiplied by 7 equals approximately 371.910 degrees.
I learned, the hard way, that the triangle in a square unit has different angles that 30-60-90 and 60-60-60!
Attached is a drawing of the triangle in a square unit with the angles to the nearest thousandth of a degree.
360 divided by 7 equals 51.429 degrees, so the Tri-Recs ruler is not appropriate for a circle evenly divided by 7. The "center angle" of the larger ruler is approximately 53.130 degrees, which multiplied by 7 equals approximately 371.910 degrees.
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 200
When I’ve looked at the cushion again I realised I’ve been over-thinking this.
If I make the cushion 16” the triangles block could be 15”. (Plus an additional narrow border)
There are 5 triangles across the block. Finished width would be 3” each.
There are 4 rows so the triangles will be 3.75” high.
I should be able to draw the triangles.
If I make the cushion 16” the triangles block could be 15”. (Plus an additional narrow border)
There are 5 triangles across the block. Finished width would be 3” each.
There are 4 rows so the triangles will be 3.75” high.
I should be able to draw the triangles.

Fell in love with the Alaska quilt by Edyta Sitar and bought her pattern and Eleanor Burns' Kaleidoscope II pattern to do a practice piece. However, these make a circle, totally different animal than the isosceles used here for your pillow.
Oh! The math!! Everything ends up with the math. But I guess it's the mental challenge of quilting that always keeps us coming back for more.
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 17,889
Quilt in a Day has the ruler made for this. https://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/ruler/702
I used it to make the Pieces of Life quilt several years ago and I never lost a point. There is a video of how to use it at the link.
I used it to make the Pieces of Life quilt several years ago and I never lost a point. There is a video of how to use it at the link.
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 25,197
When I’ve looked at the cushion again I realised I’ve been over-thinking this.
If I make the cushion 16” the triangles block could be 15”. (Plus an additional narrow border)
There are 5 triangles across the block. Finished width would be 3” each.
There are 4 rows so the triangles will be 3.75” high.
I should be able to draw the triangles.
If I make the cushion 16” the triangles block could be 15”. (Plus an additional narrow border)
There are 5 triangles across the block. Finished width would be 3” each.
There are 4 rows so the triangles will be 3.75” high.
I should be able to draw the triangles.

I agree that there are four rows.
It looks to me like there are 6 trees in the top row, 5 in the second row, 6 in the third row, and 5 trees in the bottom row. (If I were making it, I would have 6 trees in the bottom row, and a 5 tree row on the top.)
I think the maker used cording around the edge of the pillow.
I think the ratio that would work would be a width to height ratio of 2:3.
Example, If the base of the triangle is two inches, the height would be 3 inches. (2 x 6 = 12 for the width and 4 x 3 = 12 for the height)
Base - 2.5, Height - 3.75 (2.5 x 6 = 15 for the width, and 4 x 3.75 = 15 for the height)
Base - 3, Height - 4.5 ( 18 for the width, 18 for the height)
You can change the ratio to whatever looks attractive to you.
The triangle-in-a-square tool/ruler (Tri-Recs), the base of the "fat" triangle is equal to the height.
I have attached another drawing for comparison of the triangles, using 3.75 inches for the height.
Remember to add seam allowances! Dimensions do not include seam allowances.
Last edited by bearisgray; 09-16-2019 at 08:29 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post


