triangle problem
 

Hi


Instructions say" If you don't have a large square you can fold in each end about 8 1/2 ". Lay your straight ruler with 45 degree along the fold. The inside colour wil just touch the top of the point. (I understand this) BUT

Fold of fabric - this straight side is the centre of the triangle - putting masking tape on your cutting board to keep the 2 sides of the triangle works well.

The base is run along the dark strip in the picture.

The small triangle is cut from the centrepiece. It is a right angle triangle but the height is only yup 5 strips. Fold the seam allowance up and cut right into the top.

So my problem is - the width of the fabric is 42". 8 1/2 triangle is opened to 17" on each side of the strip. Problem is (8 strips - each strip is 1 1/2 ") The middle strip is only 5" in height, should the base of the strip be 10".

Figures are 17" x 2=34. Width of strips is 42 - 34= 8. I think there is something wrong with their figures.

Can anyone help me figure this out?? The more I read it the more confused I become.

Hope to hear from someone.

Thanks for reading - Marge

Can you tell us what pattern your looking at. I'm a visual person and like to see a picture when I'm trying to solve a problem.

I realize 17" is double 8 1/2" but - I don't understand why you would not cut the strip 8 1/2" and cut triangles from there.

is there a way on your pattern to contact the author?

The pattern is called North Star Puzzle with e-mail address: www.fibrecreations.ca which I tried to log into, but only got a home page but that was all. I e-mailed the store in Canmore Alberta, where I bought the pattern and have not heard back from them. It does give the picture there, it is a circular (somewhat) table topper. There are 8, 3/4 squares sewn together to make it somewhat round. Hope this makes sense. I'm running into the problem when it comes to the centre of the strip to make a smaller triangle. I have to set the ruler at the 5th strip from the bottom, but I only have 8 inches let, if the 5 inches is doubled for the bottom, I would have to make it smaller.

Does this help, or did I confuse you. thanks for taking the time to look at this.

Marge

or, even better, is this the coloring you're doing? (3rd pattern down)
http://www.fibrecreations.ca/patterns.html

[ATTACH=CONFIG]374348[/ATTACH]

Is the triangle outlined in green the one you're trying to cut?

Before I write anything else, I want to confirm that's where your problem is.

Oh, I get it.
I think.
Weird way to write the directions.

They wanted you to cut the "right" triangle from the point down toward the dark strips using a square ruler.

2nd option - cut the regular way (at least for me) from a strip set with a long ruler, from the dark/bottom strip up.

(So you're making an isosceles right triangle)

Good news:
You don't have to worry about the width measurement when cutting.

You just have to make sure that both 45 degree cuts intersect at the same/correct position (5th strip - or wherever).

If you do that, then the bottom measurement will be the correct size (as you already have the tip point and the angle degree).


(If the measurement is, in fact, 5" for each side, then the width will measure a bit more than 7" (square root of 50) ......according to Pythagorean.

MTS-
That sure is a pretty table topper!

This looks exactly the same as Strata Star which has very non confusing instructions. I know the designer of SS has had some problem with copy right infringement with her pattern. I loved making mine.

http://ruthsquilting.com/thank-you-f...y-strata-star/

Not mine.
But, yes, gradiations, when done well, are really lovely.
I love them.
And just that little bit of light fabric makes the whole thing glow.

It's the pic from the pattern the op was referring to (I think/hope).