Help with putting triangles together
 

I can't get them to line up properly in the middle ... HELP!!!! I've taken them apart twice ... they are PERFECTLY lined up until I sew them together and then it bunches in the middle

I've sewn in in two rows ... could that be the problem? I'm using a 1/4 inch seam

Here's what it's supposed to look like LOL

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And this is what I am getting when I sew them together

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Thank you

So I just did the pink flower ones, and I'm getting the same thing ... I'm not get "triangles" joining in the middle???

I just zoomed in on your cutwork & I think that might be where the issue lies. With this type of design, you have to be sure to find the repeat in the fabric & line your template up with the exact same place on the repeat every single time. It is insanely difficult to do on a busy fabric, but that's the trick. It's obvious even on the cut pieces in the middle, but where it's really clear is on the outermost design. The leaves should be the same exact leaves in each section to pull off the design. Unfortunately, the only suggestion I have other than re-cutting your fabric is to just add a small bit of applique in the center -- maybe cut out a small leaf or flower from any remnant you have & make it like a broderie perse design.

Here's a tutorial from Jinny Beyer about how to cut the pieces out for this type of design:
https://www.jinnybeyer.com/quilting-...A40E37C3DAFFCD

Bree - thanks for the input, but I'm more concerned that it's all bunchy in the middle - it's like a huge whack of fabric and I don't know how to "unbunch" it ... that's one of the things - the other is ... I'm not getting "triangles" the meet in the middle ... they're more like rectangles ... do I make sense??

It's almost as if I didn't have to have 1/4 inch seam everything would line it ... but as soon as I sew it together it's all bunchy in the middle

I've given up for the night LOL ... I'll see what other ideas pop up in the morning.

Thanks all

If all else fails, applique a small leaf over the center and don't tell anyone it wasn't part of the original plan!

The prints that are coming out like rectangles are due to not cutting repeats. The bunching isn't obvious from the photos. You will have a lot of fabric in the center from all those points, but one thing that's tricky with these designs is that you are working on the bias for every seam. Personally, I struggle a lot with that so I usually end up creating paper foundations to help give it some extra stability while I am sewing -- I have used craft paper on occasion because it is nice & big, but just taping together computer paper works fine. I know other quilters who use either wash-away or tear-away stabilizer & mark their design on those before piecing. Barring that, you can use a huge amount of starch to help keep the fabric from moving or stretching out of shape while you are piecing. Or you can grab a marker & actually draw your 1/4" seam right on your fabrics.

I've totally had that exact problem when piecing together a project for a beta class on iQuilt. I'd swear that I had accurate 1/4" seams. I'd measure them. I still can't completely explain it to this day, but after 4 attempts & way too much wasted fabric, I ended up creating my own foundation & doing it that way. Turned out perfect every time. And after that, I went back to my beloved applique. Way too much frustration for me! Good luck!

With a Stack 'n' Whack you have the same problem. I found it was easier to start the seam at the tip, at the middle points. I put my needle down carefully by hand right in the spot that is the start of the seam, then hold the threads and start sewing. They certainly weren't all perfect, but with all those beautiful kaleidoscopes, it is not so noticeable.

My thoughts, too!!

If they are lined up when you pin them, why don't you try sewing from the center out with two seperate seams. Any excess fabri. Would be pushed out and it be easier to ease in the fabric to actually have them line up on the edge of the quilt.

I have done a few of these. Actually, whenever I see a border print, my mind says "Triangles"! I have had the problem of "D cups" in the middle. I have found that I have to be very careful about stretching the bias edges. I always sew from the point and start 1/4" from the point when I sew. Since you are always holding on to the end as you are sewing, there is a tendency to stretch the point. Then when you sew the two half hexagons together you get a D cup. You might try unsewing each triangle back a few inches - very carefully, trying not to stretch. They maybe take a little wider seam towards the point to take in the extra. I don't think you can "unstretch" what you have already done. Maybe use your triangle template to draw new sewing lines. I understand where you are right now. Been there! Good luck. Ann

I have found the easies way to sew 6 points meeting in center:
Sew your 2 triangles so they meet in center start with outer edge, attach 3 triangle over first 2 again making sure center points are on top of each other.
before sewing this section make sure the center triangle seam is pressed open. Press unit so center triangle seams go to the outside. do second unit the same. after sewing center seam (final seam) press open, points will usually be flat. Usually they match but sometimes not.
good luck

Those center points are my nemesis. The only think I've found that works for me it to take a slightly larger seam allowance as you stitch to that center point. That wouldn't fix your problem as the design would not line up. Someone suggested in another thread to hit the center with a hammer. That does help, but it still won't fix the matching problem. Please post what you did to solve this issue as I'd sure like to learn from your experience.

Glue the pieces exactly where you want them. Then sew in place.

I am surprised noone has asked the OP if she is failing to offset her triangles when she sews them together. The closeup pic of the center of your unit, where all the points come together, you have a lot of chop on the middle triangle point on both sides. This to me indicates that when you sew your three triangles together for the two halves of your center unit you are not off setting the 1/4". Here is a blog I just found that has a close up pic of how the triangle units should be offset.
http://www.mommybydaycrafterbynight....ng-making.html

You will know you have done it correctly when you look at your half unit and there is a nice seam allowance of 1/4" from the top point of your middle triangle. Again, the above blog, while a slight different degree triangle shows beautifully how there is a seam allowance from the tip of the center triangle. Then when you go to sew the two units together, do as onebyone suggests with glue. I will often start sewing from the center as well. This way I can put my needle exactly down where it needs to be. Sew to edge, remove, flip and sew from the center to the other edge.

I redid them twice ... and this is the end result ... I'm not taking them apart again, because the fabric is starting to fray.

What is happening is that I don't have "points" in my triangles when I am sewing them together. At this point, I wasn't trying to line up the print on the fabric - yes, the lines were lining up as I wanted them to, but I didn't really care about the leaves / pattern - I was just trying something out. I did NOT expect to have as many problems as I did with joining 6 triangles together in the middle.

I did the swirl the seam, but it's still NOT nice triangle points in the middle, they are cut off.

This is what I can't figure out how to do. I will watch / read the link that feline fanatic just posted and see if that solves my dilemma

For this one, it's a practice / trial and error, so I'm done with it!

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your pieces may not be cut exact. but you could try pressing the center seam open. sometimes that helps them lay flat better. Also check your seam allowances. You might be off some and that will make things not fit.
On mine, i ended up doing like the quilt shop owner, i put a hexagon in the center. appliqued it.

Marion, I am sure once you offset your triangles they will not be chopped points in the middle. Here is a pic of a 60 degree triangle quilt I did a while back. While I assembled this as rows, the principal is still the same. Note how all the triangles meet as a nice point when they all come together to form a hexigon.

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Feline Fanatic - COME TO MY HOUSE lol

YES, I am assembling them as rows ... OMG what a gorgeous quilt! I will try again next weekend!

Thanks so much everyone for the tips / suggestions and help!

you're getting a ruffly edge because the sides of the triangles are cut on the bias and they stretch. Everytime you sew and take out, you are inadvertently stretching those sides. Starching and pressing the piece before sewing could help w/ that.

In the meantime, sew w/ the larger piece on the bottom (baggy bottoms on the bottom) and some of that extra will be eased in and it will look fine.

One of the other things that I did when putting my triangles together for this design was to line up any design that was in the "points" of the triangles so that they matched when sewn. You have some "lines" at your points and I would have put one triangle on top of the other then pinned or glued to match those lines along the edge you will be sewing. They should then line up with each other when you open the triangles up after sewing. Remember to line those "design lines" up at 1/4" in from the edge since that is where you will be sewing the triangles. Cutting those triangles so that any horizontial lines are in exactly the same spot on the ruler you use is very important also. If they are not all the same, they will not give you that great design swirling around in the centers. Good luck with your next go at this. Once you "get it", you will be able to sew these together with no problem.

edited: I hope some of what I wrote makes sense but sometimes it turns out to sound like gibberish because I know what I want to say but it may not sound clear to another person who is reading it. Sorry if that what this is!!!

Hi Marion, have you ever tried using SCHOOL GLUE to baste the seams together before you sew them? Use just the smidgiest of smidgens of glue to just hold them in place so the feed dogs won't pull the lower fabric through faster than the top piece.

Also you can try using a leader and sew from the center out. Those small points can be tricky but I think the glue is the best bet to hold them in the right place as you sew.

Love these runners you are creating!
peace

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but I noticed that when I cut triangles for hexagons, if I use a template that has the apex of the triangle cut off, I end up with excess fabric in the center of the hexagon. So I always cut the triangles with a sharp point at the top. This minimizes the pucker for me. When you use a ruler that has a flat top, there is more fabric at the top to bunch up.

Hmmmm... when I do that I end up with a gaping hole in the center.

I hint I read the other day but have not tried. Sew to within a 1/4" of the centre on the first set of seams press as an open seam or rotate all seams in same direction before you sew across the last full length of centre. Press centre with thumb to flatten. I have seen ladies with a hammer flattening centre. If still bunch try carefully taking out some thickness with scissors. If not lined up put appliqué on a flat centre.
Hope these ideas help. Undoing the seams you may have stretched them by now so check size etc before resewing. Good luck.

I read the blog that feline fanatic posted and am going to try that this weekend ... there were some helpful hints that I'm hoping will work.

As for the two that I have already done ... non-quilters will not notice the middle (I've shown them to a bunch of people at work, and not ONE person noticed LOL) ... so as long as I give them to a non-quilter, they will be appreciated!

On the first kaleidoscope top I did I had quite a few problems with stretching, puckers, etc. the next one worked much better. I think it was an experience thing for me. When I really concentrated on both accurate cutting and consistent seam width I was able to get it to look like it was supposed to.
I love the look of these quilts and have plans to do several more eventually.

Feline fanatic, do you have a full photo of this quilt. It is absolutely delightful. Love it.
GAMMAGINNY

It is posted here:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t258728.html

Feline, that is a gorgeous quilt. Looks so perfect.