Sunset - June 2, 2020

Sunset - June 2, 2020

Friday, February 14, 2014

The importance of being earnest...

...when it comes to making hundred's of half square triangles, lack of accuracy will get you everytime. It sure did for me. As mentioned in my previous post, this UFO goes back 4 years. Dozens upon dozens of HST's were made according to the instructions...I knew better...why I did not use Triangles On A Roll (TOAR) at the beginning, escapes me. Cutting many, many individual triangles can often lead to disaster when piecing and needing a 2 1/2" unfinished square.

Take a close look at the difference...

First ones made piecing two triangles together....Just a bit off wouldn't you say?


Brand new HST's...spot on...using TOAR


Then when sewing each HST to the next, needle position gets moved one dot to the right of center and on goes #57 - 1/4" foot with guide.

Works for me and lesson learned. Now back to joining those rows together...

What do you do to ensure good results when piecing?


Pat






 

12 comments:

  1. accuracy is always an issue for me.
    I like to make 2 from a square. I also have used the 8 at a time from a square. I prefer to not use paper, but that's just me. I always have to trim too to get this the right size.
    I like the idea of moving the needle, I have a hard time with my 1/4 foot because you can't see where it is underneath.

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  2. Oh my goodness, Pat, I am in awe. That is MATH and I have always been terrible at figuring out angles and measurements. You are amazing!

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  3. What an amazing difference TOAR makes! How do I handle accuracy? I pray a lot!

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  4. I like to use the Easy Angle rulers, and find they are usually quite accurate. But I do at times make them using two squares together to make 2 HSTs, and I cut them larger than needed and trim them down. I have used papers when creating 1/2" finished HSTs.
    I'm afraid to move my needle 'cause I never remember to move it back. : )

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  5. I find consistency is the key to accuracy. I think it helps to have a certain kind of personality too. It will be easier to work with your new squares that's for sure.

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  6. I bet the TOAR save a lot of time in the end. I make mine two at a time and oversized but then I have to trim back.

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  7. Making those small units perfect, certainly does effect the outcome. I tend to make HST with either Tangles, Triangles on a Roll or sew two squares and trim.

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  8. I will just say that I married my math man! I flunked every math course in high school and that meant I had to torture myself again in summer school! I was not thinking! Your quilting amazes me. I've gotten a bit of x-stitch done in the last weeks. I really miss doing it more often. I have work on doing it year round somehow! Hope you aren't too snowed in, Pat! Think spring, honey! xo

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  9. I too love the accuracy of paper piecing triangles. I have the Triangulations software and use it whenever I have a pattern that requires lots of HST's.

    Wishing you continued success on this quilt project!

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  10. Love the colors, so sweet and pretty. I hadn't heard of TOAR before, sounds like a wonderful invention.

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  11. I started hand piecing for good results, lol..and more applique, less piecing! :) I see in your previous post you are working on Benj.Biggs...me too :)

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