Side Triangles
 

Is there a reason that you can't just cut a regular block in half to make side triangles for an on point quilt?
Will this not work?

Thanks, Watson

Puts bias on the outside which can cause distortion.

You would be missing the seam allowance, and the outside of the quilt would be on the bias, which may result in edges that won't stay square.

Bonnie Hunter has a cool chart

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...nt-quilts.html

Krisb,
Thanks for the link to the that chart. That's one worth saving for future reference.

Right...missing the seam allowance. Of course.

Thanks,

Watson

It would be too small and you'd have to chop off points on adjacent blocks in order to square the quilt.

The reason I ask is that I have fabric left but it's not in a big enough piece to cut the way they say in those directions where you cut a large square and then cut it diagonally into 4 side triangles so I was wondering what size each triangle ended up if the finished size of the blocks was 9"...anyone know?
I'd like to use up these pieces of fabric for side triangles if possible.

Thanks, Watson

Yes, take finished size of block, add 7/8" cut diagonal. This should fit the side triangle areas, and add 1 3/4" and cut diagonal twice for corner. I would cut these out of scrap fabric to make sure of fit. I usually add a bit to these sizes and trim down to fit. And yes you will have bias but if you handle the edges carefully and control the stretch, the quilt will ok.

Or, make your own pattern. Draw finished size of block, cut diagonal, add seam allowance to the 1/2 or triangle. And cut individual side triangles using the pattern.

Draw one out of paper so you can measure the triangle. You can use your fabric with squares cut in half once, just starch the dickens out of it. Make the fabric as stiff as card stock. Then once your triangles are on the quilt sew a stay stitch around the perimeter until you can your outer border sewn on or it is quilted.

If you are just short of your fabric you still have options. You can sew strips to the bottom of your triangles to enlarge them. Edited to add, this will give the effect of a narrow inner border that your blocks are floating out into. I've seen pics of this technique and it looked good but I can't remember if the quilt was sashed or not. It may look odd with sashing.

Another option is to save your fabric for the binding or a narrow border and use a different fabric for your setting triangles.

It seems to me if you don't have enough fabric for the larger square cut twice, I suspect you will still be short for making the triangles with the bias edge on the outside.