Speed piecing rules needed
 

I really like the patterns from Quilters Cache, but the directions are for a single block. I want to speed piece hs and qs triangles when I make multiple blocks. I know there has to be a rule somewhere on how much to add when you are sewing a 1/4" line on either side of the diagonal, but all I can find is the standard rules (+7/8" for hst, and +1-1/4" for qst). Help, anybody?

I wish this site had the ability to search on an "exact term" as I imagine the info is here somewhere. But all the search will do is separate terms and I get too many hits.

Not sure I understand your question??? When I do HST's, I add 1" to the desired finished size. For QST's, I'd probably do 1.5". As to 'rules' for speed piecing???? Just cut as many of the fabric pieces as you need, line/stack everything up and keep feeding into your machine...thus 'chain' piecing. When done with all of those, clip the threads between each pieced block and do your pressing or whatever in the same fashion. Match up your next set of seams and follow the same process.

Also, I believe, if use the 'advanced search' function at the top of the screen you can do a search on 'exact term'.

Good luck.

Eleanor Burns of Quilt In A Day does this method a lot. even sells preprinted foundations for them I think. also sold as Thangles elsewhere.

Is this what you are talking about?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...y-t226170.html
Scroll down....

Jan in VA

Chain sewing (or stitching) is feeding fabric squares through one after another as you describe. The dimensions you give is to work one square at a time -- I want to speed piece where you mark the squares and basically sew a zig zag line, then cut apart. Adding 7/8" (or in your case 1") doesn't work -- that is only if you are working with one square at a time. And, no, the advanced search doesn't allow exact term. I wish it did.

I don't know if this image will show up very well as I hand drew it. This is working with width of fabric. There has a be a rule as to how wide to make the strip to get a certain size hst.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]424873[/ATTACH]

Put your keywords within quotation marks and they will not be separated. You can also combine keywords with operators (AND, OR, etc). They are called Boolean Searches.

Thank you. I was hoping to find the measurements for working with strips instead of large squares. I guess since no one knows what I'm talking about I'll practice on scrap fabric and make a chart of the inches to add. Can't believe no one has actually done this way before.

I know what you're talking about, I just haven't done it so here are my thoughts, whether you want them or not. :o

With Thangles, the sewn line goes to the corner on one side and ½" short of the corner on the other (not the cutting line as you have it drawn). The lines are not sewn zig-zag with Thangles, but it might work your way. The measurements they use are to add a ½" to the finished measurement you want. IOW, a 2½" strip will give you 2" HSTs. It might be worth a try...

This may help you see it more clearly than I described...
http://www.sews.com/quilting/thangles/thangles.html

My personal guess would be that it would not save any time because you will lose both time and accuracy on the pivot points, but that's just my personal guess. I do know people say Thangles don't really save any time.

Maybe this is what you are looking for. A simple google search brought this.
http://www.quilt.com/HowTo/SpeedPiecingDirections.html

I can't edit my post without getting everything underlined. Anyway, just wanted
to say that with this method of speed piecing there is no extra allowance.
I prefer the method where you cut big squares then trim. You can even
sew 8 at a time. I guess it would also qualify as speed piecing.

you can also purchase paper on the roll to help, or get a cd which allows you to print out a full page templates for making various sizes of HSTs. I use the "printout" cd since it allows me to print out as many pages as I need and gives me a full range of sizes to pick from. Brenda Henning does the cd that I use. In this kind, you cut two rectangles of fabric about 8.5 x 11 inches, lay them right sides together then stitch in one continuous seam over the whole page on the line indicated. Cut on the cutting line and you get a bunch of HSTs of the same two fabrics.

Perhaps grid piecing/sewing of triangles?
Here is a site that might give you some clues.

http://www.patchwork-and-quilting.co...triangles.html

I think Belfrybat is talking about Sharon Schamber's way of making HST's:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL41EF4B468C4B4910

I have spent HOURS trying to make her method work, and could never "cut" them evenly. Everything up to the cutting part made sense to me, which is why I tried it. I don't know where I went wrong, but went back to drawing a line down the center of 2 squares right sides together and sewing on each side of the line, then cutting. I get the best HST's this way.

I am so curious to find out if this is the method you were referring to.

I needed to make hundreds of HST for a quilt. I used the grid method. I bought disposable cutting boards, ( thin but sturdy plastic) and my DH made a template to use for this. It had the grid drawn on it with small notches where the corners intersected and small holes where they intersected in the center of the grid. I could put this grid on the lighter fabric and mark all of the intersections. I then removed the grid and using a straight edge drew in the remaining lines. Here is a link to the grid method. http://www.patchwork-and-quilting.co...triangles.html

I have Thangles and some light weight fabric with the grid printed on it for all sizes.
But I still prefer to make them larger and sq up with the Quilt In A Day triangle square up ruler that you only make one cut to square up.
Also make them 8 at a time with a simple formula: 6 in squares make 2 1/2 in hst, then add 2 in to squares for each size up 8 in squares make 3 1/2 in hst. Draw an x then sew on both sides of line one forth in. Cut in half both ways them on lines to make 8 hst.

When doing HSTs I always add an inch instead of 7/8 - then if my 1/4" isn't exact, I can trim them down to the right size, it sure has helped me have more accurate blocks. Even Eleanor Burns adds a bit extra and trims down and you're not wasting a whole lot of fabric. I'm not sure but check MSQC, I think Jenny has an easy way to make HSTs by placing 2 fabrics together RST sewing 1/4" all the way around, cutting across in each direction and there you go. It might be worth looking at some of her tutorials for easier ways to cut fabrics for quilts.

look at Missouri quilt for their tutorials. She just irons the fold and you sew on the side of it, Easier than to have to draw lines,

IMHO when one sews all four sides of the square as Jenny Doan does on the MSQC tutorial, the resulting cut leaves you with the four outside edges of the HST on the bias. I would prefer to use another technique to have those four outside edges on the straight of grain.

However, if you "stabilize" your starting squares in advance with fabric finish or spray starch her technique would be fine for a few HSTs.

When I pretend I am visiting with Mary Ellen Hopkins and doing mindless sewing to relax, I'll always work on the straight of grain. Many of my scrap quilts are designed when the plastic box is full of misc. HSTs calling my name.

Sew along piecefully :-)

Ran across this method the other day. Plan to give it a try on my next quilt which requires a lot of HSTs.

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2013/01/ha...s-8-at-a-time/

No matter what method you decide to use, the number one rule is to make sure your bobbin is full. It's amazing how big a pile of unstitched pieces can build up on the back side of the machine or the floor before you notice the mistake. Ask me how I know...

I just looked at this and I'm going to try this real soon.
Thanks for the link

I just looked at this and I'm going to try this real soon.
Thanks for the link

Thank you all for your responses. I have no idea what "Thangles" is, but will look it up. Since I'm working with strips, none of the grid/ square fabric ideas will work for this project, but I'll keep the ideas for other ones. It's frustrating that I can make flying geese with little or no trimming, but have yet to master a simple hst without having to trim. Practice, practice, practice!!!

you mean chain piecing. you might try the tutes for MISSOURI STAR QUILT COMPANY. Just go to the website and check it out.