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Question of the Week

Question for the week of April 7, 1997:

Our question this week comes from Barbara Stroup

What's the most accurate way to make a lot of quarter square triangles?

Beverly (TIGGER@MSN.COM) :
Make a grid.

Mia :
Triangle Paper is the most accurate way and the fastest.
Last night I sewed over 300 half square triangles in a matter of two hours.
The triangle paper is also available for quarter square triangles. I always
try to piece more than I need for my project so that I can
add the extras to my scrap pile for use in a scrap quilt.

Nina-Marie, Erie, PA :
I like to use the bias strips and bias
squares. This is the easiest way to
make a lot of quarter square triangles.
I've done this so much that I've worn
out my first bias square! (This method
is describe in Marsha McClosky's On to
to Square Two).

XstchrQltr :
I agree with Charlotte. Triangle paper is wonderful and fast. I have also recently purchased paper that let's you sew many flying geese quickly.(It works like the tringle paper.) I haven't tried it yet, though but it looks like fun.

Charlotte :
Triangle Paper! It is wonderful and helps to minimize the stress on all those bias edges.

Anthony (cont') :
ances. You now have two QST blocks for every pair of squares you started with. With a slight variation you can actually have three, even four different colors in different parts of the QST. I jusy did a nine patch and hourglass set using this method. Did 60 4 1/2" perfect QSTs in an afternoon. This method is in Porter and Fons' Quilter's Complete Guide; still wins my vote as the best all-around quilt book out there.

Anthony :
Cut 2 squares 1 1'4" larger than the finished size of your QST. Each pair of squares will yeild 2 QSTs. Pair a square of background and main print, right sides together. Pin either side of the diagonal line. Sew down each side of the diagonal line with your presser foot riding along the line and your needle stitching 1/4" away from the line. Chain sew all your pairs. Press flat, then cut apart along the diagonal line. Trim tails and press the seam allowances to the darker fabric. Separate the units into two stacks of triangle squares. Using a mechanical pencil, mark the back of one stack diagonally from corner to corner. Pair two triangles squares right sides together with opposite colors meeting. Butt opposing seams to lock. Pin on either side of the diagonal line. Sew down each side of the line with the presser foot along the line and the needle stitching 1/4" away from the line. Chain sew all pairs. Press flat, then cut apart along the diagonal line. Trim the tails and press the seam allowances to one side. You now have two QST blocks for every pair of squares you started with. With a slight variation you can actually have three, even four different colors in different parts of the QST. I jusy did a nine patch and hourglass set using this method. Did 60 4 1/2" perfect QSTs in an afternoon. This method is in Porter and Fons' Quilter's Complete Guide; still wins my vote as the best all-around quilt book out there.

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