First take two charm squares.
I am just a little slow on the uptake or have you heard of this technique before? Isn't it always the simple things that amaze us?
Or maybe it is just me!!
Kelly
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Now Why Didn't I think Of That?
I found this amazing idea for half square triangles by the Missouri Star Quilt Company on Youtube. I thought I would do it to make sure it really works and see how accurate this is......
First take two charm squares.
Stack them up, right sides together.
Sew a 1/4" all around the outside edge. I started on a side but now realize I should have started in a corner, but it doesn't make that much difference.
It will look like this....you can see my little wobble on the left hand corner...
Use your rotary cutter and ruler and cut from corner to corner.
Flip them open and voila! you have perfect half square triangles.....One note of caution, the edges are on the bias. It is most important to PRESS not IRON your finished square. This is a cool idea and I will use it in the future.
If you measure a charm square they are a little bit over 5", as you can see in this picture. If you cut your own charm squares exactly 5" you will get an exact 2 1/2 " finished square. My friend Terry just emailed me and said, if you cut your own on the bias they would turn out with the edges on the straight of grain.....another good reason for friends!
I am just a little slow on the uptake or have you heard of this technique before? Isn't it always the simple things that amaze us?
Or maybe it is just me!!
Kelly
First take two charm squares.
I am just a little slow on the uptake or have you heard of this technique before? Isn't it always the simple things that amaze us?
Or maybe it is just me!!
Kelly
First I've heard of this technique Kelly. Thanks for posting!!
ReplyDeleteMarsha McCloskey has a method of joining several bias strips before cutting the squares. I'm pretty sure she wrote a book about it with directions to get different sizes.
ReplyDeleteI've seen it before but discounted b/c of bias. Never would have thought of cutting 5" square on bias as a first step. I love smart people!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jan
WOW!!! Thank You for this wonderful, scathingly Brilliant information!!!! NEVER thought of cutting on the bias!!!! Thank You again!!! And Again!!! Mollie
DeleteI happened to see the video the other day and thought it was pretty cool but I don't like that it's on bias. Cutting bias squares first is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteStarch and press holds the bias potential problem
DeleteAnd if you cut your squares on the bias, the four sides of the square that you are sewing first are all on the bias
DeleteI love this idea and will try it soon, will be cutting mine on the bias. Thanks so much for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI love this Kelly! I just bought a new stack of charms and was wondering what to make. Now you just got me started thinking some more :) the wheels are turning!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you buy charm squares?
Deletestarching takes care of the bias problem. i do this all the time now.
ReplyDeleteI saw Jenny Doan do it on a YouTube tutorial and thought it was the best thing ever!
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteOh, great tip! I haven't seen this before, but it's so clever. I know I will use this idea.
ReplyDeleteWales, UK
ReplyDeleteThanks for this tip. Certainly try it next time.
Now I can try all those half square patterns I avoid. Thank you
ReplyDeleteYou and me both 😉
DeleteIt looks like a "slick" method until you think it through... all the outside edges are on the BIAS! Be very careful!!!
ReplyDeleteyou didn't read the previous comments? . . . TSK TSK ;)
DeleteWhat size are each of the HSTs afterwards? And how do to scale to make larger?
ReplyDeleteDumb question... How do you cut on the bias?
ReplyDeleteThere is no dumb question if you don't know the answer. You can cut a square on the bias by placing the diagonal of the square on the straight of the grain--in other words, parallel to the selvedge. Happy quilting!
DeleteDon't you waste a lot of fabric if you cut a Square on the bias?
ReplyDeleteI would only do that if I had several half square triangles with the same colored fabrics.
DeleteTHANKS FOR SHARING! I'M A NOVICE QUILTER AND THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT TIP! :)
ReplyDeleteI sew but trying to learn quilting. I know what the bias is but I honestly have no clue what this all means or what you're trying to accomplish. I would just cut all my squares the same size and make triangles out of the squares. Put this more in layman's terms and why are you cutting on the bias?
ReplyDeleteCharm squares are precut to size (usually 5 inches square, but this works with larger squares). It helps to use your iron to work on this. Fold a charm square in half until it looks like a triangle. Press. Align the long pressed edge of the triangle parallel with the selvage edge of another piece of fabric. The point of the triangle should be closest to the selvage with the long edge of the triangle farthest from the selvage. Open the triangle to become a square. The charm square now lies on the bias of the fabric. If you cut out a new square and fold it to make a triangle, the new triangle’s long side lies with the grain of the fabric and is not cut on the bias.
DeleteWhat a great idea. Thank you
ReplyDelete