Handy tips and techniques...squares
• transitions • appliqué
• vliesofix • drawing
• points • squares
• seams •
A fellow New Zealand Quilt Tutor, Anna Prussing, suggested this
tip to me many years ago. New quilters may be interested to
try this out.
It is normal practice when piecing ½ triangle squares
to add 7/8 of an inch to the required finished size square,
thereby making allowance for ¼ inch seams on all edges.
Anna's suggestion was to add 1 inch to the finished size of
the square required and proceed as follows.
Step
1
Cut two 5-inch squares. Thus the finished sewn size
of the squares will be 4 inches.
Place right side of fabric one to right side of fabric
two and align all the edges.
Draw diagonal line. (Corner to corner)
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Step
2
With machine stitch length set on 2, stitch ¼ inch
seams each side of the drawn line.
(You may prefer to stitch seams at slightly less than
¼ inch.)
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Step
3
Now cut apart on the drawn line, this gives you two half
triangle squares already sewn!
Press these seams open.
These two squares will be approximately 1/8 to ¼
inch larger than required cut size of 4-½ inches.
Cut these to the accurate size, using the appropriate
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Step
4 with 'Square' ruler
Using the 'square' ruler. Place ruler's printed diagonal
line onto the square's seam line. Keeping the ruler's
marking for a 4-½ inch square within the fabric
square, cut the excess off the first two sides.
Turn the fabric square, placing the ruler's 4-½
inch marking on the first two cut sides, proceed to trim
excess fabric from sides 3 and 4.
A perfectly square 4-½ inch block is done!
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Step
4 with 'Long' ruler
If using a long ruler, place the ruler's 45 deg. printed
marking onto the seam line.(Make sure your sewn square
is slightly larger than needed!)
Cut side one, turn fabric square, cut side two, turn square
and place ruler's marking for 4 ½ inches one a
just cut side, trim off any excess, turn fabric square
and complete side four. Make sure your cut corners are
meeting on the seam line.
A perfectly square 4-½ inch block is done!
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