why can't i sort this out?
 

i want to make a tree skirt, sort of. i want a square mt for uder the tree, simple simon.

what i have is two meters of debbie mumm border fabric. the border is printed on both edges.

can you help me sort out how to cut this? i'm having some kind of serious thought constipation.

thanks!

aileen

Cut 4 trianbles, each one should be cut the width you want the finished square to be, and the height should be half that, maybe a little more. Sew three sides together, mitering the borders and finish off the other edge to be open for putting around the tree. When you cut the trianbles, you want to make sure the long edge is cut along your boarder. By cutting the triagles from both sides you won't loose as much fabric, either. I wish I knew how to do a picture here!! LOL I do hope this helps you!

Onalee Rose

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

Love this buslady... So very true!

The first thing I would do is wash the fabric and then measure it to see what I have to work with.

If you cut two triangles from each side, the most the long edge could be would only equal to the usable width of the fabric - and the height of the triangle can only be 1/2 the usable width of the fabric.

Great graphic, Bearisgray! See why we all need to learn to use graph paper?!

This will make a square approximately 31" square. You could enlarge it by extending your batting and backing a couple inches beyond the triangles and applying a 2" (+/-) wide binding (cut this at 4.25", fold in half as usual).

Jan in VA, "Graph Paper Soapbox apostle"

i love graph paper. thanks bear!

i should have pulled it out, but i was so frustrated just sitting here trying to visualize it i came hereintead of the drawing cupboard!

cheers!

aileen

I was thinking that the unit would end up around 38 inches square - assuming at least a 40 inch wide fabric and 78 inch length of fabric.

Sometimes drawing the units helps me figure out how to assemble them.

From your drawing, Bearisgray, it looks like the triangles will be using half the width of the fabric, which I figured at 22".
From the point to base of the triangle would be 22"; the diagonal of 22" is about 31".
Each triangle base forms one side of the square skirt.
That's how I arrived at my figures. I'm not saying they're always right; I DO make mistakes, too!

Jan in VA

I was figuring the base (the edge with the border) to be approximately 39 inches - the height of the triangles to be about 19.5 inches - and the sloped sides to be approximately 27.6 inches - if the original poster has two full meters of fabric available.

If I was doing it, I would make a paper template from newspaper to make sure that I had it right - and that I could get all four triangles from the piece of fabric I had available - and then I could make adjustments if necessary before I cut into the fabric.

There may be another way to do it if you want all four sides to be bordered - I don't know what it would be - but someone else might.

LOL!!! Okay, Bearisgray (Sharon), I go back to the original question.....Why can't I figure this out??:D

I quit; I'm on to new conundrums to befuddle me tiny brain tonight!

Jan in VA