Help with Thousands Pyramids Quilt
 

HELP.....I have myself so confused and need someone to unconfuse me. I want to make a Thousand Pyramids quilt. The instructions say to cut my fabric into 3 inch strips and them cut my triangles from the 3 inch strips. I have "GO" die #55009 which is described as a half square-3 inch finished triangle. Would I be able to use this die to cut my triangles? If so, would the only difference to the actual quilt be that the overall size would be larger than expected? Would it increase both the length and the width of the finished quilt? I know I should be able to take a ruler and a piece of paper and figure this out but I've been trying and just get more and more confused. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give me in this matter.

Wrong triangle. Not HST. I think it uses the the 60 degree template or cut.

Thank you a million. I will get a 60 degree template tomorrow. And, a good nights sleep tonight since you resolved my problem and I can stop thinking about it!

Attached is a comparison of the triangle in a square trianglem, an equilateral triangle. and a half square triangle with the same base.

Just a word of caution; with a thousand pyramid quilt, you are dealing with a *lot* of bias edges. I highly recommend heavily starching your fabric before cutting into strips, to help stabilize those bias edges. This will make for more accurate cutting and also more accurate piecing.

I'm going to have to find a pic of this pattern. Sounds interesting.

here is a google image search of the quilt https://www.google.com/search?q=Thou...w=1020&bih=638

Just to add that if you are opposed to starch, as some of us are, it is entirely possible to make this pattern without using it. It is not critical to the construction process.

What IS critical, is to make sure the straight of grain side of the triangle is always the base. That way, when they are sewn into strips and the ends are squared off, there are no longer any exposed bias edges.

re you using the Fons and porter pattern. It called for the F&P Pyramid ruler. I have that ruler and have used it a few times. Works good.

This is a GREAT tip!

Bearisgray,

I had to log-in to tell you that I am VERY impressed with your diagram. I need to save it for future reference.

Thank you, Quilter68 who is now 71

I think the only triangles to use for this quilt would be equilateral or isosceles. The half square would not work.

Here's an easy tutorial, showing you can adapt your pyramid to any size you would like.

http://debraspincicdesignstudio.blog...al-part-1.html

This may be a silly question, but if you are cutting that many triangles, could you iron the fabric onto some water soluable stabilizer or very lightweight iron on interfacing to prevent the stretching?

This looks like a good way to get light and dark adjoining. I got over 100 of these triangles from a cousin in law and decided to separate them in to light and dark and then I made them into large triangle pieces and put a large background color triangle alternately with the pieced triangles. This went a lot faster than cutting al lot more pyramid pieces.

They don't stretch if you don't man handle them...even without starch, I swear. Only two edges are off grain and it's not truly bias since it's not a 45º angle cut. Once they're sewn back in to strips, there's no bias to worry about. Stabilizer or interfacing is going to unnecessarily add to the bulk of the seams where the six points meet.

I have made this without the starching and as stated just keep that base on s/o/g..........have fun...great way to thin out stash and end of with an old fashioned quilt.........love 'em......

I love the pattern and that is on my bucket list. Let us see which pattern you decide to use as there are several.

I've made this pattern without starching or backing and really enjoyed it - you'll have a lot of fun laying out your darks and lights to make triangles appear all over the quilt.