Do you stay stitch your triangle pieces??? I purchased a pattern (by Jan Douglas) where the instructions call for stay-stitching all the triangle pieces. The only time I've used stay-stitching was for curves in clothing construction. Just wondering if this is as unusual to others as it seems to me.

I've never done it.

I have never stay stitched any thing for quilting. I just try to be careful when piecing the bias edges.

That is very unusual. I have never stay-stitched triangles. If they need to be absolutely accurate, I heavily spray starch the fabric before cutting. Starch stabilizes fabric so it doesn't distort during handling.

I would think stay-stitching would actually distort triangles if you are stay-stitching on the bias edge!

I never have.

I think so too cause you'd actually be stitching along that edge twice. Twice the stitching, twice the opportunity for stretching. I've become a big fan of starch for triangles.

Nope. I'd starch them instead though.

Never heard of it before.

No I don't

Ditto!

I've never done it on triangles.

Never.

I have. My avatar quilt was the first on point I did and it was in the pattern for the setting triangles. Helped a lot. I don't do it anymore because I have learned how to handle bias just fine.

I haven't stay stitched bias edges. I used to spray starch but now use Best Press instead as it is easier to use.

ali

i starch them to death.

This probably isnt the same thing but... I made a quilt one time that was set on point, where you have the triangles all around the outside edge. Before I sent it off to be quilted, I stitched all around the outside edge.

Starching/Best Press is what I do to. Can't imagine stay stitching triangles.

no i dont but maybe on a large triangle that would be on the edge and not being quilted right away

ive never done it either and i've made tons of triangles...never heard of it, but it probably helps with the stretching of the bias edge.

the only time you might really need to stay stitch is for the borders. So they don't stretch when quilting them.

Starch, starch and more starch :lol:

not necessary if you carefully stack them, pin if necessary and sew SLOW. and watch the beginning and ends of the stitching line.

I took a rotary cutting class where the instructor talked about triangles. She was pointing out that - depending on where in a block the triangles are placed - you should avoid cutting one of the edges on the bias.

Kinda went over my head, but it seems that the stay stitching is trying to achieve what she told us to do without having to be overly concerned about the cutting of the pieces.

I don"t think so - just be really careful not to stretch edges.

No :-)

Never have. Not much on the starching either, but I am careful with the bias edges. When possible, I use the HST method that starts from an oversized square and I cut mine down. No worries about stretching then.

I have never done it or heard of it.

Is "Best Press" a substitute to starching and where do you get it?

I certainly agree with Prism99, that stay stitching can distort as much as your final seam. Any stitching on the bias edge needs to be done very carefully. Lay one piece on top of the other without stretching .... rather than starting at one end and pinning to the other end.

I'm just finishing blocks for a quilt today with lots of squares made up of 4 half-square triangles each. To avoid that catastrophic stretch on that final bias seam, I start in the center of the block, turning the finished seams in opposite directions. Stitch from center to edge; then go back to center and stitch to the opposite edge. That way, if I do get a little stretching, at least all the triangles meet at one point and the stretching is equalized on both halves.

Good luck! :)

You can get Best Press at most QS.

I think starch is the answer, especially on triangles. Just learned this from Sharon Schamber and it really really makes a difference. I spray startch every piece of fabric now before I begin to cut. Big difference in accuracy.

I have never stay stitched a triangle! :wink:

Never.

I never have and never heard of it.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm working on a quilt now with lots of bias edges and I'm about ready to pull my hair out because of all the distorted blocks I have. I wouldn't do anything that might make it worse. I used sizing but next time I will use starch and see if that helps.

I was having trouble with setting triangle for an on point block. I did the stay stiching and it worked out great.

Just usea little shorter length st... and be very careful not to stretch when stitchine.

I do have a fix butting on my machine and I do use that

I stay stitch when I use pieces cut on the bias on the edges of the top so that they don't stretch out too much during the quilting part. Other than that, nope.