in the list it must say what size triangle ruler to use to cut up your strips. Then you join 2 of same for each side.

Hip Hip Hooray!! The simple X block worked. The simple X block has a few more steps in it than the directions with the pattern I have but there was no way I could get the accuracy doing it their way. I can do this! Thank you ladies for all your help.

There is one little problem. The tutorial I found for the simple X block has a finished block of 14x14. My pattern calls for a 12x12. I don't have EQ so I have no idea how to downsize this pattern. I guess what I'll just make up less blocks. I think that will be fine.

Again thank you everyone for your help. You are all so wonderful and talented. I'm so excited to get started. I will post a picture when I'm done.

Just a quick note: If you are making a quilt with half square or quarter square triangles, the June Tailor half square triangle ruler can't be beat. I've just finished making the top of the "Wildflower Rhapsody" quilt that took Best of Show in Texas, and I couldn't have done it without this ruler. Love, love, love it. I bought mine for $15.00 at Walmart. (Also like Bertie's suggestion above using EQ templates. I've used this method but I think this ruler is faster and easier.)

We are here for you!!!!!

Those half square triangles are so hard to cut and fit together a nice short cut is just make squares 1/4" on each side bigger than your finished triangle draw a line on across where you would have cut sew 1/4 in each side of line then cut on line .... don't iron seam open press to one side and but them together......perfect half squares triangles everytime

What a thoughtful jester. Are you able to do foundation piecing with EQ? I just took a class with foundation piecing and found it much easier to do versus paper piecing. Another thing is those half square triangle paper thingys. I haven't used them, but some people swear by them.

Sewhappygal, have you done foundation or paper piecing? With those two methods, your points are spot on and it helps control the bias edge. The first quilt I made, and at the time did not know what a bias edge was and why to keep bias edges in the inside seam. You have come to the right place for help and I'm sure half the battle is our fear of the quilt police opinion. In my humble opinion, "mistakes" give the quilt character and when they are made out of love, well that is all that matters. Can't wait to see your progress and quilt!

I don't have EQ software. I haven't had much practice with foundation or paper piecing but I am open to doing it. Someone here offered to help with that but I haven't hear from her yet.

I've gotten myself in the same situation. Hang in there and keep trying. Jan's info was helpful.

Happy to hear the simple X worked - at 14x14 only 6 blocks will cover as much space as 7 of the 12x12. Also, if you would like to eliminate the center square (I think I checked out the same tutorial) just add the finished center sq size to two of the cross arms and cut as one long strip. Then only cut two short cross arms and sew the quartered square triangles to them. Make sense?

Great idea. I should have seen that. That's what I'm going to do. I'm glad I haven't started cutting yet.