Ok, My last quilt top was a challenge to say the least....
I spent all day Saturday (last weekend) getting my "scant" 1/4" seam perfected...I think I am ok now!!!
But....I cut out a quilt that has squares where you need to put a diagonal line down them and then sew 1/4" seams from this line...on each side then cut along the marked line.
My problem is how do I do this if I have put my Seam Guide (Sticky tape) along my face plate of my machine and not have my triangles and seams go wonky?
Am I going to have to take this off and start over, get a new face plate???
Help!
All suggestions are welcome...and how come I can't just slice the squares into half triangles and then sew the seams...?
Kirsten

Sewing the square is an easier way to do it, because you don't have a biased edge that can stretch. If you don't have a 1/4 inch foot for your machine, simply draw your line from corner to corner, then draw another line on each side, exactly 1/4 inch from the first. Sew down those lines, and voila! :-)

i do the same thing as the previous post -

i have a ruler from fons and porter that you place on the square and you draw the line down both side and then just cut them apart.

You can try cutting one of your squares in half diagonally and sewing the seam. Check to see if it comes out the right size. Just be very careful you do not stretch the bias sides of your triangles :D

I'd forget about that method completely and get some Thangles. They make it so easy, and your triangles will be perfect!

I love my 1/4 foot... Before I got it though, I had a magnetic tape to put onto face plate... but of course masking tape works just as well.

As far as getting your tape off, have you tried fingernail polish remover? It works for lots of things.

Masking tape is a better choice for many purposes since it doesn't damage the surface it is on. For example, it's great for putting up party decorations without peeling off the wall paint when removed. I've used it on my fabric for straight lines instead of penciling like when quilting diagonally across the squares.

I also draw lines on mine. You can take the tape off with alcohol also.

i do like the others and draw the lines but i also cut my fabric bigger then it says. If pattern calls for 2 7/8 i cut it either 3 or 3 1/2 sew it and then square it up to 2.5. I always cut it bigger then called for.

I do like Zennia does, I always cut a little bigger then square it up. Also if you do take your tape off of your machine and clean it up, next time use blue masking tape it doesn't make the mess some tapes does. I haven't had my full cup of coffee yet this morning :wink: but why do you need to take your seam guide off? You aren't using it for this project, just ignore it, or did you build the tape thickness up to high?

http://www.bitsnpiecesworkshop.com/p...aresBlocks.php

I tried this out and it works if you have any questions i'm sure Rhonda will answer them.

Oh and it's simple as pie

that method is easy but it has a lot of wasted fabric. i think it would be fine for a few small half squares but if you're doing an entire quilt top with a lot of half squares you'd throw away as much fabric as you kept.

Didn't think of that since I'm still into squares and rectangles. lol I haven't grown up yet still scared. lol :roll:

Thanks for the tips and help!
I am planning on starting the piecing tonight!
Kirsten

It is easy to make a pattern on your fabric. If you only need 4 half sq triangles say 2 1/2 in size. Cut a rectangle of two fabrics right sides togather that is 3 in by 6 inchs. Draw a line at the 3 in middle then draw lines corner to corner from that line. \l/ . Sew 1/4 in from each side of angled lines. Cut on all drawn lines then square up to 2 1/2 inchs. They will come out perfect every time. For each size larger add 2 inchs.
I have tried many different methods including buying already marked patterns but that is a waste of money when it is so simple just to draw on the fabric.
There is a ruler that makes squaring up the triangles easy too.
Quilt in a Day has it. You just lay the line on the triangle before opening and cut two cuts and it is squared up. Fast easy and perfect every time.

http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...ons/angler.htm

This is the website for the Angler2. It is what I use to make my HST. You don't even have to mark the square; just line it up and sew.

When I do a lot of the HSTs of the same color I use strips and sew the strips together.Then open the and iron. Use your template to place the corners on the seams and cut out moving up the strip til you get to the end. Then sew the other two sides together and do it again.

You can butt up the tip of the square to the one below and then this leaves just enough to go back on the second time around and cut one out of the fabric that ends up left behind on the first time cutting. It is really about like using Thangles but without buying anything. You can get really close to the last one you cut and your waste will be minimal.

The one reneebobby mentions is probably for scrappy stuff where you use a lot of differant fabrics which is what I show because that is what I do the most and it is simpler to show someone who has never done it my way before.

The angler is fine for making one at a time but you usually need many more than that.

If you're doing lots of the same, these guides may help:
http://qi.yarnslave.com/Blocks/TrianglePapers/

those paper guides are very cool

First you take a pencil and draw a line from the top left corner of your square and draw a line to the bottom right corner of your square. Then you sew 1/4 inch on both sides of the line you just made. Now, cut your square on the pencil line. Now you have perfect triangle squares!!! :)

this ruler is great! it's worth every penny! it really speeds up the process!

if you're planning to make your square and cut it in half diagonally, remember that you need to add seam allowances where the stitching will go. in other words, it won't work. you either need to use the drawn line method, which already takes the seam allowance into account, or cut triangles which have been made larger by taking the seam allowances into account from the get-go.

as for staying 1/4' away from the drawn line, just practice a little bit. you just need confidence.

I use the Fons and Porter 1/2 in ruler on occasion. The long one works well with the big squares to make 8 at a time. That way you dont need to judge 1/4 inch for each side of a drawn line since you just sew on the lines.

The WonderCut ruler is the best thing I've found to make a lot of half square triangles fast. Sew two strips of fabric together and then cut along the ruler. You have perfect HSTs.

http://www.wondercutruler.com/

Some say it's pricey I say getting frustrated and wasting fabric is way pricer. :wink:

i agree with you bella - i absolutely hate wasting fabric.

i have that ruler too and use it quite often.

I do this, also.

I like to think I am an accurate sewer, but this still works better for me.
I do waste a little fabric, but my squares made with the triangles are nice and consistenet after trimming.

The trimming is a good TV project!

these triangles are done best with that aqua tool we all use.
Fons and porter have one too.
just put your two squares together and run that line down both side, sew on the lines and wala, done, with no fretting with bias edges.
Do get the right finished block size you want you have to ad 7/8" to the block size.
Right girls?

simple quilter

Well, Kirsten, you certainly can sew the seam on the long edge of the triangle after cutting the square in half diagonally. However, then you are sewing a bias seam which easily stretches. I have had the most luck with a few other techniques: Cutting the square a bit larger, doing the diagonal line with stitching 1/4 inch on either side as you describe, cutting between the stitching, opening to the square, pressing carefully (usually to the darker side), and trimming the resulting squares to size. I also really like using paper like "Thangles" or whatever brand has the squares with the stitching lines printed - usually comes in sheets that can be cut to as many squares as you need. With either of these methods, one pins the darker and lighter pairs of fabrics to the paper on which you stitch.I run my stitching just inside the printed line to be sure the square is at least big enough and not skimpy - the 1/4 inch is not as important as the size of the square when finished! Then cut between the stitching which gives about 1/4 inch seam allowances. Again, although the paper pattern is very accurate, I check the resulting squares and trim them if necessary.
kendzis :D

I found this prior post really helpfull. Scroll down to Rose Marie's instructions:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/10247.page

Here's a link to A Quilt in a Day instructions:

http://www.quiltinaday.com/RulerInst...ulerInsWEB.pdf

I believe the blue tape is called PAINTER'S tape. It doesn't leave sticky residue on fabric.

there's half square triangle interfacing on the market you might want to check it out. i've never used the product but if i had a quilt with tons of triangles i would certainly look into using it.

here's a link

http://tadatriangles.com/default.aspx

Again,
Thanks for the help!
I did it the way the directions called for.
I made squares, marked the diagonal and then sewed 1/4 on each side then cut.
The top is done and put together, waiting on borders.
Thanks again!!!
K

http://www.patchwork-and-quilting.co...triangles.html This is very helpful . Annie

Wow, thanks Annie - what a brilliant site! I love that grid piecing method - will definitely try that the next time I want lots of HSTs!

K x

Very well written.

I found her tip to add ONE WHOLE INCH to the finished size to be especially helpful - that's near the end of the tutorial.

It would be so much simpler to draw grids that way.

I always had skimpy finished squares when I added only the 7/8 inch to the finished size when I used the "draw a diagonal line on a square" method.

I needed this help , too . Just was glad to pass it along ! You are very welcome . Annie

K--I know you have yours done, but here's another option I would like to give. There is a product called Triangles on a Roll and comes in 11 sizes. I think it is like Tada but it tears off like thangles. It is pretty thin so is pretty easy to tear off. They also have grids for other triangles. Here is a link:

http://www.trianglesonaroll.com/halfsquare.aspx

It certainly appears to be more than one road to Rome.

try using the blue painting tape as it it easier to rip off when finished and doesn't seem to be as sticky

I am not a very accurate piecer, which is why I mostly do applique. But the method where you cut your squares a tad bigger and then sew your 1/4" seams is the way I do it. I also discovered the hour glass block last summer when working on the round robin. That was fun to do and I managed to do it fairly well if I say so myself! So I guess an old dog CAN learn new tricks! :lol: :lol: