Are the outside edges of the HST on the bias or on the straight of grain?

From the pictures, it looks like the outside edges are bias?

I don't pay any attention to bias so I don't know. But since my stuff is so small it isn't an issue. It might be for the larger blocks. I don't really even know how to tell the grain. So I guess I would have to say you will need to experiment and see if it matters or not. Sorry that is the best I can do!!

The grain is the way the threads in the fabric goes.

The threads that go across the fabric from selvage to selvage are called the crosswise grain - usually has more stretch than the lengthwise grain.

The threads that are parallel to the selvage are called the lengthwise grain. Usually has the least amount of stretch.

If one goes diagonally, then the grain is on the bias. Usually there is the most stretch when fabric is cut at a 45 degree angle.

This has a fairly clear explanation with illustrations.
http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/p/fabricgrain.htm

I had another lady question the bias. Here is what I answered her with.

This is her question:
Am I missing something ?? If you cut the original half-square triangle unit out of the strip---don't you then have all of
the sides of the square on the bias ? Awfully hard to sew
accurately to anything else, especially for beginners because they stretch/ what you have after further cutting & sewing is an hourglass, not a four-patch. four-patch is 4 squares of different colors or pairs of colors.[/quote]

My answer:
I cut and sewed a 4" HST. I sewed another piece to one side as if you were sewing blocks together. Yes the sides are on the bias. I sewed two differant ways. Two differant blocks. With the seam following the straight grain and another with the seam following the bias.They came out the same.

When you piece two blocks together I pin in the center and then match the ends on each side. If you don't pull on the side of the HST you shouldn't have any trouble getting them to line up without stretching. I had no problem.

If you are getting an hour glass then I suggest you may need to look at your seams and tighten them where they need it. I do get blocks that are off kilter when sewn together but it doesn't have anything to do with grain but with getting a good seam.

I have done a tutorial for fixing problems when doing HSTs

This might help if your 4 patch is not coming out right.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-23252-1.htm

There is no reason in my opinion that a beginner can't do this.
HSTs are a first step to learning to do more involved quilt blocks.
If you are doing small stuff don't worry about bias. But if you are doing larger HSTs then just pay attention to anchor the center and the corners. When you have a couple of blocks that one is just a tad wider than the other you can gently work the fabric in so the two fit together without any tucks. If you pin in the center and pin or I prefer to tack( it has less room to move) then if you have a large block or row of blocks then pin from the center out part way and from the outside in to meet in the middle between the center of the block and the corner of the block. This is a valuable thing to learn and any beginner can learn it. Once you can do this the bias is not a problem.

Well done! I like this tutorial. Thank you for sharing your expertise with all of us.

Nice tutorial.

I like the way you did the overview - took it down - and then built it back up.

You made a complicated looking block look very do-able.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks Sharon I think they are easy to do. I appreciate your comments!!

Rhonda - I too appreciate when you illustrate it. I saw a great quilt pattern in a magazine-type catalog. So I just divided it into "blocks", then figured out how each block was turned to make the design. It's not an exact copy, but now I can make this pattern because you have simplified breaking a pattern down into parts and pieces.

Way to go!! That is exactly what I have been trying to get across to people. If you can "see" the "Blocks" you can take the design apart on any quilt block and then make the sections easy to make.

I so appreciate hearing this Sara!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Another keeper!

Don't know how I missed this one, but you can bet I've got it copied now. Thanks, once again, for yet another great tutorial for making our lives easier.

OK, I just found this tutorial.... This is amazing.

Thank you

Rhonda that a beauitful block,very nice colors thank you for teaching us your useful info on block ,i always learn from your helpful tutorial,s

Janet and Nellie you are more than welcome. I really enjoy sharing what I have learned!

Thanks Ronda. I think it is great that you will share, it is so much easier for me to understand your tutorials than to read it out of the book. I guess I an pretty simple minded. I am a true hands on person. Thanks again,you give me such an incentive to us up my scrapes and make something that looks good. Hugs to you. Pat

Hi Rhonda,

thanks for the tute. Great one and the pics help make things clearer. More tips for better quilt making in the future. :thumbup: :D

You're welcome! I hope to have more to share this year. Just have to think about what I want to add to the board.

I try to make a trial block, but it is hard to guess what the sizes are. Do you ever give the needed cutting instructions? I agree that the colors are very nice.
Thanks, Jan

I sort of do for the designs I design, But there are several variables. What size quilt block do you want to make. How many "Blocks" are in the quilt block. I design using a 6 blocks across by 6 blocks down grid. If your quilt block is not one I designed I would have to see it to tell what you would need. I also design for a 4 x 4 grid also. and I do have some that are an 8 x 8.

If you are wanting the size for the strips for cutting out HSTS then here is how to figure it:

Set your template on point. Measure from the center of the template to one point (right to left) then add at least 1/2" for 2 seam allowances.
So for a 2 1/2" template you will need strips that are 2 1/2" wide. But other sizes of templates will vary. The best way if you want to figure it is to measure.

I just lay the template on the fabric and see how wide I need to cut so it isn't too small and then I just cut it roughly the right size. But I am not too particular about saving every little bit of leftovers. I am more paranoid about it being too small and having to start over. So I go bigger to make sure I have enough.

Hope this helps. If you need help figuring what you need then send me the size template you are using and I will give you the size and numbers you need to cut.

Wow, gal, you've really outdone yourself! Thank you once again for the great tutorial! We love you!

Thanks! :mrgreen: You're good for my ego! LOL

Thanks! :mrgreen: You're good for my ego! LOL[/quote]

Hehehe... at least I'm good for something!

You sure have a different way of producing a block. I'm going to try this. Thanks so much.

Rhonda, Your great!!!! Thanks for sharing with us. I'm soooo knew to quilting, but I've fallen big time for it. And your helpful hints will make my learning so much more fun.

you're welcome. I hope you enjoy the process!

Ronda
this tute was fascinating and very helpful, but I have one question: How does this affect the fabric requirements given for quilt patterns? Ok two questions! Is more fabric required? I usually buy more fabric to allow for cutting errors (Yes I make errors, lots of them, and usually end up using ALL the extra fabric anyway) !!! Your tute is very easy to understand. Thanks.

THank you Rhonda for the tutorial. You make it look so easy.

check out the HST tutorial and you will see there is little waste left. So it shouldn't take any more fabric than you would have anyway.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-37915-1.htm

-

You're welcome! Once you learn how to make the "Blocks" as in Boston Blocks or Star Point Blocks etc it is just a matter of sewing squares together. It is easy.

Rhonda, I was looking at all the tuts you have and they are just to die for. But I just haven't seen it or by luck maybe I won't and I can tell you something about the HST or even your two tone square. You may need math and I'm not very good with that part. So you take your two squares that are different colors and sew they face to face all the way around, no opening. After you sew them together just cut from corner to corner turn and cut again and you get 4T. and if you want square's them make them big enough and sew the same way and just cut in the middle and then in the middle the other way and come out with four squares. I hope you didn't know this already and that's the only thing I could show everyone.
Love being on the site you guys are GREAT. Thanks for everything.
t4family5

I belong to a BOM (well, 6 to be exact) and one month the block had 81 pieces. But...it looks a lot like yours. Their directions were horrible. I knew it wouldn't end up being 12 1/2" so I quit altogether. Now, I think I can use your way and do it. It has the exact same blocks as this. Like the three triangles together. Someone suggested I paper piece it and I nixed that idea. My hat is off to you. You should go on YouTube. I'd follow you!!!!!

I love this! There are so many different ways to make HST, but I've never seen this one. Your explanations and pictures and diagrams were all so clear and easy to understand. Thank you so much for taking time to do this for all of us.

EXcellent!!! I am 'green'....meaning, I have my sewing machine, supplies and LOTS of material...and just don't know where to begin! I see so many patterns and ways to make different types of squares, the 'quickest' and 'easiest'..etc...and all I've been doing is 'lurking' and watching tutorials after tutorials!! I've noticed all quilts are made of 100% cotton? I know all of my material is not all cotton and I don't think all the thread I bought is either..:( I have a Brother SQ-9000 and also an old Vintage Sears Kenmore. Anyways, best tutorial I've seen Rhonda!!

Thank you Rhonda!! Your pictures are perfect and so is your tute!

gotta go get my writeing tablet, so i can write down the directions this looks like it will make a beautiful quilt, i only have done blocks so we will see what i can do itryed before but i just could not get the triamgles to work so i am going to try again thanks for the tuturiol
hugs dora

So do you cut bias strips to sew together first - or do you have all bias edges on your squares? I'm sure that this works, but it is so much easier - and less time consuming - to draw a diagonal on cut squares and then 1/4" out on either side for sewing lines. Bias edges can give people fits. To each their own!

It sure helps to have pictures with the directions, makes it all come together.

Thanks for such a great tutorial. <object width="1" height="1" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="undefined" value="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed width="1" height="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" undefined="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" allowscriptaccess="always" /></object>

Thank you so much. I love viewing your tutorials. I am wanting to do this block sometime.

I just ordered the "Wonder Cut Ruler", which will make these triangles so easy.