QuiltingInPhilly

Hi everyone, I just introduced myself in the introduction section.
I am attempting to make my first friendship star pattern with half triangle squares. I'm not sure how to piece them so that I don't lose my points on the edge of my star. I'm wondering if I need to somehow skew the piecing or making less than 1/4 inch seams.

Any help would be appreciated. I've looked for tutorials, but none of the ones I've found address this issue.

Prism99

You need to sew with a "scant" 1/4-inch seam allowance. Not all block patterns require this, but those with points do.

I wrote a long post some time ago about how I use moleskin to create a physical guide for the scant 1/4 inch, but I can't find it at the moment. Search Youtube for "how to sew a scant quarter-inch seam" and you should find some demonstrations. I think it works best to create a physical guide. Dritz has just come out with some adhesive hard foam strips that work well for this, but you still have to know how to position them correctly (the red Dritz "gauge" for this is incorrect). If I have time later today, I will post my method here.

QuiltingInPhilly

Thank you, I will go look on YouTube.

nativetexan

http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/10/01/...erfect-points/
an odd star one
http://jmday.com/?p=1022
http://piecemakers4life.wordpress.co...g-a-quilt-top/

Krisb

That scant 1/4 does me in. I cut squares 1 inch larger than the finished block size. Draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4 inch each side of the diagonal. Cut along the line you drew, open up the half square triangles, press them. Now square up the units to 1/2 inch more than the finished block size, being sure to keep the seam line along the 45 degree line on your ruler and the seam going right into the corner.

There are many tutorials available on this method. Here is just one.

http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...uaretria_2.htm

QuiltingInPhilly

I like this idea. I might try this next time. I did finally get the star correct though with the scant seam. I just finished it.[ATTACH=CONFIG]324524[/ATTACH]

Prism99

Nice job!!!

QuiltingInPhilly

Thanks, it's not perfect, but not bad for my first star block.

CoyoteQuilts

Just remember when you have an unfinished block with a bias 'point' that it will be 1/4 inch in from the edge. This includes 1/2 square triangles (1/2 triangle squares... same block new name ) and flying geese...

DebraK

nobody wants to hear this, but practice, practice, practice. You will see where to adjust to improve your accuracy. doing many scrap blocks has helped me. I have a nice pile to play with for design purposes.