Hi gang!!

Reeeeeeeally hope someone can help me out right now. I need to find a place to go online that will help me figure out block sizes when cutting out QSTs.

I am playing with a little project where I had a 16" square and cut it into QST. I want to insert a square of fabric in the middle as I want to use the QSTs and put it on a point. What size am I to cut my center square???

After I cut my 16" square into QSTs, my QST triangles measure approx. 11 2/8" on the short ends, and my long side is approx. 15 7/8"

HEeeeeeeeeelllppppp!!!

I'm not sure what you are trying to do. I'm a little dense. LOL Can you post pics of what you have cut so far?

if i'm understanding you correctly why can't you just lay the triangles out on the cutting mat with an empty space in the center where the square would go.

measure that center square and add the seam allowance and you'd know what size you need.

thats how i've always done it. i'm sure there's a formula out there but the cutting mat is just so easy to use.

Hay Klue, good advice,( Duh Ninnie!! ) LOL

I'm not sure I understand your question, but see if one of these links help. You may have to work backwards. :shock:
http://www.quilterbydesign.com/lesso...triangles.html
http://quiltingpassion.com/triangles.html
http://www.patchpieces.com/quiltsettings.html

I'm not real sure this will help but take a look, you never know!

http://www.karencombs.com/setting_triang.htm

thanks for the links.. I'm going through them now to determine if I can do this.

I think I was rambling too much last night when I was trying to explain what I was doing but, what I'm trying to do is this. I had a square that was 16" square. I QSTed it to make 4 smaller triangles. Those triangles will now be sewn from the bias side of the triangles onto an insert piece of ? size square to fit!

I know it's backwards from the rules, but leave it to me to really snarl something up.

so I started with a square 16", cut into 4 triangles... now I need to determine what size to cut my center insert piece? I ended up cutting a square alot bigger than was needed just so I can prep the center square. I'll have to cut it down to the right size when I am finished doing what I have to do with the center so it will fit the 4 cut triangles on the bias side.

hee hee clear as mud?? LOL

Thanks for the links. If anyone is better at math calculation than me and looking for a little challenge, then please please please share your wisdom with me for the size!! right now my brain has gone mush!

LOL

Cheers

Well I could be wrong, butI think it would be 15 7/8 but you better not trust me! LOL

That's what I was thinking too, but wasn't definite. Thanks so much Ninnie.

Did you do the calculation yourself or through a link? If through a link which one, or how did you come to that calculation? I measured it on the rotary mat last night and got something close to that, but if I knew how to do the calculation for future projects that would be FABULOUS!! Sorry if I am being a pain or it doesn't seem to be getting through.. I'm at work and up to my eyeballs, but also thinking of my project at home where I would prefer to be right now. I have lease renewals coming out of one side of the head and quilting on the other, it's hard to juggle sometimes!!! Not to mention I had to go through some red tape of my own with my bank.. grrrrrrrrrrrrr!! I HATE when they make mistakes and you have to deal with the consequences even though it's not your fault!!!

Find my happy place... find my happy place!!!! LOL

I just figured here on paper , the way I always do.
Go check out my cabin on the new thread and you can escape for awhile!! LOL I would do a practice one and then you can tell if you are off any and by how much, don't let this get you so wired up. I think you can easily concur it by a little trial and error! Start with a 15 1'2 and go from there. and "BREATH!!!"

breeeeeeeathee..... Okay... I'm gonna be okay Ninnie!! :) I just got back from lunch, so I got some extra fuel in my tank and some fresh air in the lungs, so I'm good to go for another 1 1/2 hours til it's the end of the work day! wooo hoo!!

I'll have to check out your cabin!!! I would love to get away for a bit!

Cheers

Try this link...

http://www.waukinvnetcorp.com/myquiltgenie/index.php

One thing that I do to avoid the math (gives me the nightmare willy's like in High School) Is to cut the shapes out of paper first. Then I crease my 1/4 inch seams and glue stick it all together to make sure it is a good fit... :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: No wonder I love you so much! I would never have thought of that in a million years! Glue and I do not get along :oops: :oops: Been known to glue things together that didn't belong that away! Am writing that down in my quilting journal for future reference! :roll: :wink:

If you are trying to do what I think you are trying to do -

HST triangles work out better for that than QST because then you get a straight grain edge on the outside

Maybe you could post a drawing of what you are trying to do?

I sometimes have trouble visualizing what someone is describing - what I'm picturing in my head isn't matching what is in the other person's head -

Aggi, is this the look that you are trying to get, one of these blocks?
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uAI_9RibNE...0/IMG_0164.JPG[/img]

Try this Aggi.

If you are sewing the bias edge of the QST (a short side) to the inner square, the length of the side of the square should be equal to the length of the triangle edge minus .875 plus .5

If you are sewing the straight of grain edge of the QST (the long side) to the inner square, the length of the side of the square should be equal to the length of the triangle edge minus 1.25 plus .5

You take the triangle side length, subtract the triangle seam allowances, and add the square seam allowances. Make sense? The only difference is the angles of the triangle that hit the edge of the square. (there's .25 for a 90º angle and .625 for a 45º angle seam allowances)

I get 10.94 for the side of the center square with the bias edge option which is confirmed by working backwards through the usual formula for setting triangles (Finished Block Size x 1.414 = Finished Diagonal + 1.25 = Size of Square to Cut). Don't know how you get 15.875 when the edge of your QST is only 11.3137...unless I totally misread something along the line. :oops:

What size finished component do you want?

It might be easier to start with that -

Something else that you might do - mark off the sewing line on the long edge of the triangle- is that the side that's to go on the inside square?

Measure the stitching line - I'm guessing it will be somewhere around 14.5 inches -

Cut a square that is the stitching line plus 1/2 inch for the seam allowances.

When you sew the triangles on, there will be "ears" sticking out -

That's exactly what I said. :D Just gave her a way to get the length of the triangle's stitching line by measuring the raw edge.

Amma, your such a mind reader...that is what I do!!! GMTA!
But Andrea, I will tell you...we are suckers for punishment, huh?
I'm sure this way is not as easy as following a pattern, but for some reason, I have to mess and gaum with everything. I can't just take it, AS IS...I have my own ideas for my fabrics.
Maybe if I bought a pattern FIRST, then bought the fabrics for it,...but no...I get what I like, then start doodling designs! :wink:
It will work out for you, eventually, but I understand the quilty, butting in on your work day. Can't just leave our heart at home :D

I'll check out my measurements again. Perhaps I did mis-measured. It's late tonight to go checking it now as I was out with Mum since after work shopping and twacking around. I got a nice Wilton Brownie recipe and decorating book, a pastry and bread recipe book, a pair of capris, a floating shelf for my bathroom and four margarita glasses!!!

I might need to get into the margarita mix when I start making this project.

Thank you all soooooooooooo much!!! I really appreciate all your help! I'll post photos once I get my projects completed. Leave it to me to go backwards!!!

LOL

Cheers
Andrea

You gals crack me up. You're doing this at work? What kind of work do you do? I could never do this on the job. Of course I was a first grade teacher? :lol:

I wish I could help, but I'm mathematically challenged. I need people to tell me how to do every calculation. I'll try to run it by my engineer husband and see if he can come up with a number.