givio

Anyone else using their red charms? Here are some more blocks I made for my quilt using the reds.

jlt37869

Awesome blocks, Givio! Love seeing all the variations! I'm planning to do hst's with my reds, also! Was thinking about using WOW, but after seeing your blocks, I may need to reconsider. Thanks for sharing!

givio

Thanks girls!
jlt, Red and white is classic! I thought I'd do creams and light tannish prints because I have a quilt already that I made using a lot of white. Are you going to cut your charm once on the diagonal, or twice? I wanted the smaller triangle. If you cut twice like I did, you have to be careful sewing and ironing because of all the bias edges. I hope to see your blocks soon! Did you finish with your blues and greens? I still have quite a lot of blue.

PS. Well, I guess you could cut 8 triangles, then they would be with the grain... but quite little!

Crispy_Frog

Givio- Did you end up with a 9" block, is It? I'm afraid to work that small! I've had trouble sewing triangles because the leading point gets sucked down into the hole in the needle plate. How can I prevent that?

givio

Crispy_Frog, The blocks are 11" raw, will be 10 1/2" finished size. A lot of people use a little waste piece of fabric to start chain piecing-- that way when you start the triangle seam for the HST it will follow the little piece of fabric, and you just continue chain piecing all your units. Some people don't like using a little piece of fabric and go with the 'leader/ender' idea, where the first piece you sew is something you will use later. So, if you can sew easily two squares together, for example, then you could use that to start sewing, and after that first unit, start doing your triangles. Another thing you can do is tightly hold your top and bobbin threads. Sometimes it is the thread going down into the feed dogs that leads the point of the triangle down into there along with it.

AnnieQuilts

I you have one, try using a straight stitch needle plate. I think most machines come with one, and it has a smaller hole for the needle. Just remember to make sure you have selected a straight stitch before you step on the pedal! I have one machine that changes from one stitch to another if I just brush against the screen. Lots of broken needles!

Sometimes if I'm just too lazy to make the switch, I use the leader-ender method or chain piece. That seems to hold the fabric up.

Edit -- looks like Givio and I were typing at the same time!

Crispy_Frog

Givio and AnnieQuilts- I appreciate the feedback on my triangles.

moonrise

Red - Is it too early to mail the squares for the upcoming swap? We're going to be out of town, and I'd like to get them in the mail before we leave. One less thing to try to remember!

djmat

Wishing all y'all a Very Merry Christmas & a Healthy, Happy, & Prosperous New Year!!!
sisterly hugs,
dj

djmat

Only another week before the yellow sign up, yippee! Mine are ready to mail!
hugs,
dj