jillaine

This is incredibly good advice; thank you. Of course, I've cut out my first set of triangles, and grouped them already; I suppose I can return them to straight grain out; I haven't started sewing yet.

Related: I figure I should have spray starched the strips before I cut the triangles to help control those bias edges. Does anyone else do this?

Admission: I guess I *am* doing a Stack & Whack, as I plan to do exactly what you describe. Learning SO much. This is, however, like building the plane while one is flying it... oops!

I'll post progress photos later...

Thanks everyone!

-- Jillaine

jillaine

I was up until at 3am last night (this morning) cutting and with triangles, until I literally fell asleep at the sewing table!

Then this morning, I pieced the hexagons, re-arranging them so that grain was on the outer edge; as it turned out 50% of my first choices were already aligned that way.

Here is a layout of what it would look like IF I was going to do a OBW (yes, I know, one would not normally piece the full hexagon if one were getting rows ready for a OBW, but I'm going to be doing a different design more like a S&W).

I was also curious to see what it would look like if I were going to do a OBW. I am beginning to see the attraction to this design form. It's fun and it also appeals to my nature of not over-designing, but allowing the design to emerge.

Next step: select from these hexagons those that are most "middle eastern" tile-like and incorporate them into my Middle East quilt (http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-111815-1.htm).

jillaine

Oh and by the way, that amount up there is from ONE 3.75" strip of each of the 11.5" sections (the repeat width), width of fabric. I have five more strips to go.

I did not, as you advised, split the length of the fabric in two as I did not want to lose any triangles by doing so.

My triangles ended up being 3.75" in height.

jillaine

I'm sorry (I'm bad at math)-- I have two more strip sets (of six each).

gal288

Looking good Jillaine, from right, 1st block with green & red, you're a real "BB" it took me 10 minutes of looking to find it.

Have you decided on how to set them in the tile form yet?

gaigai

I don't bother even keeping track of the straight of grain, I turn my triangles all directions and choose which I like best. If you aren't pulling and stretching your pieces, they should lie flat regardless. I've never had any problems. And I ave a couple of hexs in each quilt where I've grouped the tris in three groups of two because I liked that design best.

jillaine

Thanks, Peg.
What's a "BB"? (Still learning quilt-ese...)

These are up on my design wall (in a different formation) with some of the other blocks I'm working on for the middle eastern rug/tile design. Will post progress to the Middle East topic. ( http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-111815-1.htm )

-- Jillaine

jillaine

p.s. thanks for everyone's help. Learning a LOT and already have an idea for a future OBW (this time a real OBW).