Crazy Eight pattern question
 

I am so frustrated. I took the Crazy Eight Strip Teaser table topper class today and the teacher incorrectly marked the "cut" lines on my ruler. Of course, I didn't realize this until ALL my triangles were cut and it came time to sew them together because they would not match correctly. We tried several ways to get them to work. I trimmed them more after we found the mistake thinking "no problem they will just be smaller", but that didn't help and made them worse. I finally gave up and made new strip sets and only cut the triangles from one set....after we fixed the error on the ruler. However, I was still leary to proceed. Class ended and I came home disappointed because after hours of sewing I have nothing to show for it.

I REALLY want to finish this as it as done in blue and green batiks and the triangles I made are really pretty.

Sooooo my question is can anyone who has used this pattern explain the correct way to mark the "cut" lines on the ruler? I have re-read the entire pattern and studied the picture showing ruler marks but I can't tell if I use a 12 1/2" side and non-12 1/2" side or the two non 12 1/2" sides. I KNOW it's not both 12 1/2" sides as that is where the screwup was. If you can pm me a pic that would be great, too as I am a visual learner.

Sorry to be long-winded but I had to get this off my chest. Oh, and good thing I bought extra fabric.

Thanks,
Becky

I haven't done this pattern yet but it looks like strip sets cut into equilateral triangles which is 4 60 degree triangles. If you have one of the Stack 'n' Whack/One Block Wonder hexagon rulers--that is the size you need. If you're trying to use a regular square ruler by using the lines on it--you use 60 degrees and 120 degrees or flip the ruler over.

Ooops! It won't let me fix my post. I think your triangles are 90 degrees which is the corner of any square ruler. The little triangles appear to be half the height of the larger ones.

Oh, I just have to say how sorry I was to hear of your disappointment with that class. Seems to me you should have had a teacher offer to make that up to you (not just as that's ok, they'll just be smaller.) If it was her mistake in marking the ruler for you, she should have made that right by you.

What a bummer for this to happen!

Here are pics of my ruler markings for the Strip Teaser. Hope this helps.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]341033[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]341034[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]341035[/ATTACH]

I made one about a year ago and had no problems, if you still need help send me a private message and I would be happy to get my pattern out and help you.

Thanks Gail. The picture really helps. Now maybe I can finish the project.

if you cut everything the same, then just sew it and be done..they will all end up the same!

Jacquie,

Unfortunately, that was not the case because of the way the triangles were cut. They did not match up when you tried to sew them together. Trust me, we tried everything to get them to match. At least I know what to do now and can finish my project.

Becky

I agree. I made a mistake in having a student cut fabric and bought her more. It wasn't much fabric, but I felt terrible and wanted to make it right.

Sorry that this happened to you and I understand your frustration after a whole day of sewing.

That said, I rarely let a teacher touch my materials but if I do, I double, triple. quadruple check what they've done. Some teachers are more careful than others.

that is a lot of wasted fabric. i hope the "teacher" gave you some money back! good luck.

I made this same pattern, but it was called a Strata Star. Since I'm mathematically challenged, my husband helped me mark the triangles on my 12" square. And I STILL made a mistake. When you are measuring, be sure to measure from the BOTTOM of the strip - there will be uncut fabric at the top of your triangle. I had to buy more fabric to finish my smaller triangles and cut my large ones down to the correct size, then all went together. But if hubby was not a machinist and total math whiz, I don't think I ever would have been able to finish - the directions for cutting were not at all clear. He measured down the side of my square, laid down masking tape to create the triangle, then very carefully cut across my ruler with the rotary to make sure the tape line was straight. And added an arrow so that I knew which side of the tape was the correct one to use. Good luck! Once you get the triangles cut, you're pretty much home free if all your seams match up!

I don't blame you for being disappointed. If the teacher marked the cut lines incorrectly, I would ask her to replace the fabric so you can cut the pieces right.