2 questions that have been driving me crazy...
 

First question is math related...

when making half square triangles... for say a 3 1/2 inch square when sewn together but BEFORE pieced into the quilt... what are the different cuts?
1. ... if you put two squares together and sew directly down the middle going diagonally?
2. ... if you put two squares together, draw a line down the center (going diagonally) and stitch 1/4 inch on either side of the line
3. ... if you do the tube method placing 2 strips together and sewing 1/4 inch seam on either side and then cut with the omnigrid ruler

The half square triangle needs to be 3 1/2 inches when done. My guesses are:
1. 3 1/2 inches
2. 3 7/8 inches (add 3/8 of an inch)
3. NO IDEA...

I would like to try the omnigrid ruler


Next question. I have a Babylock quilter's choice and I want to drop the stitch length to zero to lock stitches in but I can only get it down to .2 inches. What am I doing wrong? What do I do?

THANKS for your responses.

if you had a 0 setting, you'd be going in and out of the same hole-------won't be tight

"if you had a 0 setting, you'd be going in and out of the same hole-------won't be tight"


Never thought of it like that. Phew.... One question down and one to go. Thanks

1. You could use 3 1/2" but I'd want to add a bit because the thread does take up a bit of space. I'd probably add an 1/8".
2. You need to add 7/8" to the finished size, so 3/8" to the unfinished size would work. Again, some of us prefer to add an extra 1/8" and then trim down, but that's personal preference.
3. I have no idea - sorry!

Does your Babylock have a locking stitch? My Janome does and that makes it easy but if it didn't I'd use the smallest setting.

1 is probably correct but you'll only get one HST from two squares that way.
2 is correct.
3 I have no idea.

.2 should be short enough to lock the stitches without making a little knot on the back of your quilt.

I think #3 is likely 2 3/4" strips. But that's based on math, not practice, as I don't have an omnigrid ruler. The math I used - for a 3" finished triangle, the finished distance from center to point of one triangle is 3/4 of the finished size - so 2 1/4". Then add seam allowances on each side of the strip, and you need two 2 3/4" strips.

I agree with all of the above answers. I have my own methods for all of them however. For a half-square triangle, the rule is add 7/8" to the finished size so for your 3" finished (3.5" unfinished), it would be 2 squares cut at 4 7/8" sewn a scant 1/4" from the diagonal and cut on the diagonal. I always go ahead & round up so I would cut my squares at 5" and then trim all my HST's after they are cut & pressed. You get 2 HST's from every pair of squares.

I do not like the jelly roll/tube method for HST's. There is way too much chance of stretching them out and fabric is too expensive to waste. I also don't like the magic square/blooming pineapple for the same reason.

I have tried reducing my stitch length at the end of seams but it just doesn't work for me. I guess I'm just too old school. A couple stitches forward/back then forward to start and back then forward to end has been working for me on any machine I've ever used for 40 years. My new machine even has a button that does just that so whomever engineered that nifty little feature must have learned the same way--LOL! I hate burying the ends so a true lock stitch is the only way for me when quilting. It's a lot harder to find those little knots and easier to ignore than thread tails and stitching coming loose.

My BabyLock Quilters Plus has a icon that is a round circle with a solid circle in the middle, its right above my start button on the front of the machine.
If I press that when I start, it will take a few locking stiches and then continue to sew. When I get to the spot I want to stop I again press the button and it will take a few locking stitches. Hope that helps.

Thanks raingirl. My machine does not have that button and does not have anything in the glossary for a locking stitch. Man would that have made my life easier.

It does have a reverse stitch like bkrenning said so I will definitely try that. I really don't have the patience bury the stitches either.

Borntoquilt,

Question 1: I do mine using your method #2: cut 2 squares 4 3/8 (3 1/2 + 7/8). Draw diagonal line from corner to corner. Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line. Cut on the line. Press open. Voila: 2 hst 3 1/2 inches.

Question 2: Is your Babylock computerized? On my Babylock Espire, on the screen with various quilting stitches on it, some have a dot at the top of the stitch picture, some have a line at the top. The ones with the dot at the top will stitch in place when you push the reverse button. The ones with the line at the top will backstitch when you press the reverse button. Does that make sense? PM me if I can explain it better for you.

Hope this helps, without being too complicated.