evelyn5269

I started out putting 4 strips together and cutting triangles and putting one up and one down across in a row. Then rearranged them and making hexagons. Any great tips to make the side straight besides just cutting down the row on each end at the points.??
Thanks,
Evelyn in spokane

Jennifer23

Sadly, not that I know of... two sides will be straight, but the other two will be zig zaggy. You can cut triangles to fit, or just leave them pointy, or chop off the points to square it up. I've done all three ways on different projects. I like leaving the end points on, so I either make filler triangles to match the border If I'm using a border, or leave the ends pointy if I'm going borderless.

Given how you're building your triangles, I wouldn't cut them off; I would make filler triangles. Fold one of your strip triangles in half, and that is the size your fillers need to be (plus 1/4" on the fold side for seam allowance).

PaperPrincess

Did you use a 60 degree ruler? That's the one you need to use to get hexagons. I like to leave the top point of the triangle on. Then you just match the triangles & sew.

krafty14

I usually make two opposite facing right triangles for the zig zag sides. I use the 60* triangle. It has a solid line down the center, which is half the triangle, but there is also a dashed line down either side of the center line which you can use to cut half triangles with seam allowance. It's easier to sew them on a row of hexagons before you sew the rows together.

PaperPrincess

Just re-read your post after having my coffee, so now I will answer your actual question! I usually just cut the sides of the quilt straight. You can make fillers like Krafty14 suggested, but it seems like a hassle to me. I usually add a border as this will stabilize the bias edges.

maviskw

Sounds interesting. I would lilke to see a picture of the 4 strip triangle that makes a hexagon.

maviskw

I've figured it out. I've made some optical illusion blocks that use triangles, and so I can see how these triangles made of strips would make a hexagon.