Hand piecing half square triangles
#1
Hand piecing half square triangles
Hello everyone!
I'm about to embark on my second ever quilting project! (first - you can see in my avatar - was a hand-sewn twin-sized that I pieced using cardboard templates - as shown to me by my mother in law).
So I'm now looking for my next project to hand piece half square triangles. I have found this blog - http://whynotsew.blogspot.com/2012/0...g-block-1.html - which seems to be quite helpful but does anyone else have any other tips and hints? I'd like to do a simple pinwheeel design like the one show on the attached picture.
My immediate thought (as a dressmaker and not a quilter) is whether or not a backstitch might be more effective than a running stitch? Is that just not the way it is done?
Thank you so much!
I'm about to embark on my second ever quilting project! (first - you can see in my avatar - was a hand-sewn twin-sized that I pieced using cardboard templates - as shown to me by my mother in law).
So I'm now looking for my next project to hand piece half square triangles. I have found this blog - http://whynotsew.blogspot.com/2012/0...g-block-1.html - which seems to be quite helpful but does anyone else have any other tips and hints? I'd like to do a simple pinwheeel design like the one show on the attached picture.
My immediate thought (as a dressmaker and not a quilter) is whether or not a backstitch might be more effective than a running stitch? Is that just not the way it is done?
Thank you so much!
#2
If you like to do hand piecing you might check out Linda Franz and her inklingo program
http://www.lindafranz.com/blog/
They can be machine sewn also, but it opens up a whole world of difficult to hand piece shapes done easier.
http://www.jinnybeyer.com/quilting-w...E9A175B1B3D150
Jinny Beyer has always hand pieced and she has made the most intricate quilts that you can imagine. Her whole site is good, this is just one of the tips pages.
Welcome to quilting!
There are usually dozens of ways to do everything we do, try then all
http://www.lindafranz.com/blog/
They can be machine sewn also, but it opens up a whole world of difficult to hand piece shapes done easier.
http://www.jinnybeyer.com/quilting-w...E9A175B1B3D150
Jinny Beyer has always hand pieced and she has made the most intricate quilts that you can imagine. Her whole site is good, this is just one of the tips pages.
Welcome to quilting!
There are usually dozens of ways to do everything we do, try then all
Last edited by KalamaQuilts; 05-18-2013 at 08:25 AM.
#3
The websites that Kalamaquilts are great resources.
When I hand piece, I do one back stitch whenever I pull the thread through. I find that hand piecing is more accurate for me, and more relaxing.
Janet
When I hand piece, I do one back stitch whenever I pull the thread through. I find that hand piecing is more accurate for me, and more relaxing.
Janet
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,659
1) I trace around the template
2) I cut 1/4 inch around the 'drawing' using a ruler and rotary cutter - I like even seam allowances
3) I do not stitch into the seam allowances.
4) I do a backstitch every 4-5 stitches -
5) When sewing a bias seam, I pull the thread 'snug', then I 'stretch' the four or five stitches a bit - I like to think that may minimize stitches popping when the item is used - because bias is stretchy.
I know this isn't a speedy way of doing things - but it's great for doing 'in front of the TV'
Jinny Beyer's book is very good!
2) I cut 1/4 inch around the 'drawing' using a ruler and rotary cutter - I like even seam allowances
3) I do not stitch into the seam allowances.
4) I do a backstitch every 4-5 stitches -
5) When sewing a bias seam, I pull the thread 'snug', then I 'stretch' the four or five stitches a bit - I like to think that may minimize stitches popping when the item is used - because bias is stretchy.
I know this isn't a speedy way of doing things - but it's great for doing 'in front of the TV'
Jinny Beyer's book is very good!
Last edited by bearisgray; 05-18-2013 at 08:41 AM.
#5
Thanks all! So helpful. Really good tips. Especially the one not to stitch into the seam allowances (which is one of the tips on Jinny Beyer's site, including backstitching at intersections). Otherwise I would have sewn them down not knowing how to deal with them. I LOVED sewing the first quilt a little each night on the sofa. So calming. So I'm very excited about this.
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,659
Do you know how to make a quilter's knot?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVzDkAbziLw
This is a way to make them consistently - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVzDkAbziLw
This is a way to make them consistently - -
#8
Wow that is beautiful bearisgray. Did you do it using paper piecing? I just found out about the quilter's knot yesterday from a blog I read! Perhaps I should have known about that prior to doing my last project! Oh well......
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