I am getting so frustrated. First, I have checked and double checked my measurements, they are ok. I hope I can explain this right and I hope the pics show up in the right order. Im making the quilt I asked about a few days ago. Im trying to add the sides to the triangles ( bottom is 5 1/2 inches, 5 1/2 from middle bottom to point of triangle and 6" on the sides, not an even triangle to start with) It said to cut a rectangle 3 x 6 and cut it corner to corner to get the triangle sides. With me so far? lol My problem is this, when I add the sides to the triangle, I dont know how. If I line up the edges even (at the point of the triangle) when I open it there isnt a seam allowance at the top but there is at the bottom. Heres the pic for that problem. If I line it up leaving a seam allowance, when I open that up I have the 1/4 seam allowance at the top ok but not at the bottom..AAARRGGG!!! I just dont know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions? I dont have a whole lot of material to play with and Im thinking just make some more sides but make them bigger, then cut it down to the right size after? Oh and in the pics, I folded the tails back to show you better what I meant. If I decide to make the sides bigger should I do 4 x 7? I really did not think this would give me any problems, looked easy enough and wanted to get it pieced tonight, ha, that aint happening.

Ok, heres the other one, I left the seam allowance (bottom corner in pic) and when I opened it I have the seam allowance (top corner pic) but not at the other end. I should have rotated these pics, I hope you arent confused cause I know I am!

I *think* that one of the triangles is not big enough. Couldn't tell you which one though.

You need dog ears showing at both ends, that's your seam allowance to make sure the point is in the right place in the finished layout.

You have what looks to be the right seam allowance at one end, and none at the other, so you are missing an entire seam allowance in your measurement.

Cut another square a 1/4 inch bigger, and try again. Maybe do it with some scrap fabric first till you're confident it's right.

Good luck! :-)

It's looking to me like the triangle isn't the right size.
What does your pattern say?
I would start by making a triangle at least 1/4" all the way around, sewing it to the desired pieces and then checking if they measure correctly.
Also, have you emailed the pattern designer?
I know patterns can become misprinted...so maybe they have a correction some place.
Also, use some scraps or your ugliest fabric to test this since you have limited amount for the quilt.
Kirsten

How much do you have cut out?

If not much, then I think I can give you some measurements that would be a lot easier to work with and still give you the effect you want.

The trick to remember is, you can always cut it back to size, you can't add bits on so easy. Let us know how you get on. :-)

What might help -

Draw 1/4 inch seam lines on your triangles.
Then match up the corners at the top and bottom. The edges won't be even. There will be ears sticking out at both ends. Kind of a long one at the pointy end of the narrower triangle.

Then maybe it will make more sense.

I wish I could help, but can't even wrap my brain around the problem. But, i was thinking you need to find some practice material rather than using your good stuff. Find an old shirt you can cut up or something!

Nothing is wrong, be sure that the extra is at the tip ...
I just checked my Victory Quilts (Eleanor Burns) book, where I ran into a number of those blocks ... Signal Lights was one of the blocks ... bride's bouquet was another.
you want it to reach the tip at the bottom, but the top will be longer ...
Is the block you are making actually a "spikey and pete" block of some type? I am not even sure of what the angle is supposed to be ...
but I might offer this tip for your quilting experience. Complete the block the way you started your first sample ... since that seems to be the correct way according to the book ... sew on both sides before you say it wont work ...
If the block isn't the way it is supposed to be, then put it aside in a box for "seed" ... it can be used in another quilt somewhere along the way ...
SOmetimes, when we are working through a pattern, we can't "see" where the instructions are going ... I have struggled many times on a step because I couldn't comprehend that later down the road I would be trimming something ...
If there is no trimming to be done, and you follow the directions and it doesn't come out the way it is advertised, then go ahead and cut the bigger rectangle ... oh, did I mention that the overhang of the center of your block is about a quarter inch at the top?
anyway ... I am not sure that a bigger rectangle (as in longer) won't create a different angle, but until you try, you will never know ... and, again ... do the complete block before you decide it won't work ... oh, wait!
you have limited amount of the fabric for that particular quilt ... then take some other colors from your stash ...
so, don't use your current colors .... go into the stash ... if the bigger rectangle doesn't work, you will have another block for a "surprise" quilt down the road ...
what do you think? Did I help? :shock:

this is what the triangles will look like pinned together - the edges don't match -

HOWEVER, the seam lines do match.

It's very helpful to put a dot at the ends of the seam lines.

man, did I get that one mixed up, eh?
If you get the wrong triangle on the wrong side, would that make a difference?

I think what gets really confusing is that at the tip, there looks like there is so much overhang when you open it up.
One of the blocks in that Victory quilt, if you trim too soon, it gets really bad ... I think it was the Sky rocket block ... anyway, that graph that Bearisgray uploaded sure takes a lot of questions out of the operation, eh?

this is what it would like opened up

sorry - will try attaching it this time

I always avoided half square triangles because if I cut my pieces the size in the instructions I always ended up with one triangle smaller than the other. An experienced quilter gave me a good tip. Always cut your square a half inch larger than the directions say, then cut your square on the diagonal, sew your triangles together and then press. Using a square ruler line up ruler's diagonal line with your block's diagonal seam and cut the block the size you need. A little bit of extra time but worth it. May in Jersey

I really prefer to cut around a ruler or a template also. It does add just a smidgen of fabric that is "not there" when cutting a square or rectangle on the diagonal.

second side added - note circles for joining clues

opened up - even with graph paper, this ended up a little wonky - but maybe this will give you clues -

marking the seam lines does help - especially at first

notice all the ears - this is when they disappear when you square up the unit

Yes, it does matter which way the rectangles are cut.

The directions do show that they need to be cut in two different directions.

also - using the directions given in the pattern - sew with a scant quarter inch seam - I would suggest about a 3/16"

Your unfinished unit should be about 5-1/4 inches

It will "finish" to about 4-3/4 inches

Your four patches will have the same dimensions

The measurements given in that pattern should work - but they sure aren't the ones I would have used. :?

I appreciate all the tips everyone, especially the visual aids...its easier for me to wrap my mind around something when I can actually see it. I think this will help me alot, I hope this will help. I just walked away from it last night I was getting to the point where I wanted to trash the whole thing, and I still might! I have all my material cut which is the sad thing. I really cant go to my stash and get more, there isnt anymore that will work. I will work on it later and try your tips and let you know how it goes. You ladies are great!! :)

This is a neat looking unit, but it can be quite frustrating - it just doesn't LOOK right when one is putting the pieces together.

Just step back - take a deep breath - it will go together okay.

I think we are so used to lining up the pieces that it is unnatural to offset the triangles. Have been there and have done that.

I would suggest that you start with a scrap set (same size as you have now) and just play with the alignment. Pin two sides together and then finger press them open. Do this to both sides. You will see if they fit or not and you can definitely tell which side has too much overhang. At that point, you'll know which direction to adjust.

Good luck and don't give up. Just think, you'll soon be an expert at this.

Ahhhhh..... the little light bulb over my head went off looking at the triangles with the grid. That makes it so much easier!

I realize I should have put this in at the beginning.

I drew the seam allowances in.

The amount of line BETWEEN the circles should be the same.

Maybe this will help show why this works like it does.

notice that the edges don't match

the amount of line between the circle should match, though

I have a handy ruler for these 60º things...sure help alot with the quilt I did.....LOL

When I first saw this unit, I also thought it was an equilateral triangle flanked by 30-60-90 degree triangles.

It isn't.

The angles are - approximately - on the skinny triangle: 26.57, 63.43 and 90 degrees

The angles on the bigger triangle are - approximately: the base angles are 63.44, 63.44, and the top angle is 53.12 degrees

The easiest way to draft this is by drawing a square, then putting in the triangle lines and adding seam allowances to the triangles.

At one time this was available - don't know if it is anymore or not -
BiRangle Ruler by Mary Hickey.

maybe this drawing will help -

The Peaky and Spike triangles will make a square unit when sewn together. The height and base lengths finish the same.

The 30-60-90 triangles with a 60-60-60 triangle make a rectangle when sewn together. The height to base ratio is exactly square root of 3 to 2 - in numbers that is approximately 1.75 to 2

Listen to Bearisgray. I had asked for instructions on a block recently and she wrote them out and even sent me a sample block in the mail. What a wonderful person.