Question about enlarging a patteren
 

The block of the day "Puzzles" is just 1/2 square triangles. It calls for 2 7/8 squares. The finished block is 6 inch square. Can I enlarge it by doubling it. I.E. starting with 5 and 7/8 squares. Can I do it with 6 inch squares or even 5 inch. I know it changes the size of my block and the size of the finished product but is there any reason it won't work??? I know someone knows the answer. I suppose it is a silly question and maybe I will just have to "try it"
Thanks

Do you have a link to the finished design? Hard to tell otherwise.

piney

I think this is the link
http://www.quiltpro.com/go.php?id=Bl...ate=2012-11-24

Love, if you use 5 & 7/8" squares you will have HUGE block....about 15" square. Doubling the size of the segments actually almost quadruples the size of the block.

Why not try 3 and 7/8" squares or even just use 4 & 1/2" squares and trim to a common size - such as 3 & 1/2" after you've made them all. That would give you a 9" finished block which wouldn't overwhelm your quilt.

Jan in VA

THANK YOU so much. See in my brain if I doubled it then I would have a 12 in block!!! I was thinking 3 and1/2 was what I would like to do but wondered if it would be OK Somehow doubling seemed like it would be better. You are the best!! Someday if I do think long enough it will sink in!! LOL

The 2 7/8" squares result in HST's that are 2" finished, and the finished block is 6" finished. If you want a 12" block, you need each HST to be 4" finished, so you need to cut the squares at 4 7/8". (Actually you may want to cut them at 5" and trim down.) You are indeed doubling each finished HST size, but you are first subtracting the 7/8" and then adding it back in after doubling.

I think we should give Jan a new name. How about SuperJan? :)

GrandmaK, I'm delighted to have been able to help you "see" the problem, LOL! And I thank you and Peggi for your compliments.:o

Long ago I actually developed a teaching tool for showing this principal in my classes.... by making a 4 patch of rail fence blocks, four different sizes, just by increasing the cuts 1/4"-1/2" at a time. That visual usually produces quite an "aha" moment.:) Guess it shows, I LOVE to teach!:cool:

Jan in VA

here here!! Absolutely.

Now another question. Can I make the 1/2 square triangles the "square way" by putting 2 squares together and sewing on each side of a drawn diagonal line?? I mean the pattern is in the placement isn't it or am I missing something again?? The tip about removing the 7/8th before adding and then add back in was very helpful.

GrandmaK, of course you can make them the square way. I'd still cut the two squares 1" larger than you need, sew on each side of the drawn line, cut apart, press, then square up. They are so much more accurate this way -- being squared up afterwards -- and thus are easier to piece together into the blocks. (Yep, it's a lot of squaring up. Just pick a day and do as many as you can. I once had a project with 464 HSTs that took me a week to square up, but that project then went together in a snap afterwards; I was glad I did the "extra" work!)

Of course there is an even easier way to make a series of HSTs all at one time rather than by the individual squares method. I'll try to get it drawn out for you in a bit.

Jan in VA

Here is the grid method for making HSTs. We had to learn to do this in the days before triangle paper came on the market and I've used it mostly ever since. It's a good technique to familiarize yourself with because you never know when you'll need it at 9pm on Saturday night when all the LQS are closed!

Jan in VA

Start sewing on the dotted diagonal line at the righthand upper corner and pivot at the intersections, just turning your fabric and leaving it in place under the needle. You won't have to cut your thread until you've come back to that same corner and all the lines are sewn!

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I have seen this before but did not understand it. I think I do now. I can hardly contain myself I want to try it. I must finish my grandson's T shirt quilt first and my Grand daughter has some medical issues I need to deal with before I submerge myself in a new project. I will do this. You are so kind.

Thanks Jan... this has helped me also!! I'm going to try it out tomorrow...:-)