quiltingbuddy

I saw a great sale on Crftsy and bought my first kit. I downloaded the pattern/instructions and in looking at them it looks like the pattern is full of half square triangles. That's fine but the cutting instructions call for cutting them 6 7/8" and I'm wondering if you know the best way to cut them for accuracy without doing the 7/8 thing. I usually cut slightly larger and trim them down a bit after the blocks are sewn but I don't know if there will be enough fabric. And then even with that I'd rather cut squares, draw the line and sew on each side so I don't have to deal with the bias edges. The problem is I have no idea what size squares to cut to make them come out right. Any idea what might be the best way to do this?

EasyPeezy

If they ask to cut 6 7/8" you can cut 7" square and sew the two diagonal lines,
cut and trim to 6" square.

zozee

Funny you should ask. I just now heard rave reviews about a nifty tool called the Folded Corner Clipper. It eliminates the need to draw anything, and corners turn out perfect every time. Can't wait to order mine. YouTube has demos.

MadQuilter

I recently invested in the Easy Angle ruler and love it for making HSTs. There is no trimming down and you start with strips. There also is no dog-ear trimming (well, maybe one)

sewbizgirl

Lol... I think we bought the same kit! Hedge Maze quilt with Rowan fabrics? It's so beautiful.... I cut mine out already and had no problem with the 6 7/8" measurements, but it would be fine for you to cut at 7" and trim later. There's plenty of each fabric for you to cut 7" squares. Just don't go any bigger! I had leftovers of every fabric. Sometimes just a strip, but from most of it I had big pieces leftover.

sewbizgirl

I bought one to do a Bonnie Hunter quilt and I LOVE it! My HSTs come out perfect with no need to trim!

yadroc

I don't like to correct someone else, but I think you should start with a 7 inch square and trim to 6 1/2 inches to give you a 6 inch finished square. I sure don't want you to end up with the wrong size. I think the rule is to cut your fabric 1 inch bigger than your finished square. The amount that you trim off will be very little, just enough to square up.

117becca

half-square triangles are probably the only thing that i would cut up to the 7" and trim down. I am working on a log cabin type quilt and w/ accurate cutting, sewing, and careful pressing, I did not need to trim anything.

ManiacQuilter2

I always cut my square adding the 1/8", then starch & press them carefully, then sliver trim the excess off. That way they come out perfect every time.

mic-pa

I have the omnigrid triangle ruler and if the HST call the finished block to be 3inches or 4 inches or what ever I cut a strip !/2 inch bigger than the finished size of the block and use the triangle ruler to cut them out and they turn out perfect every time. I learned this in a class many yrs ago. So I no longer deal with the 7/8 measurement and they turn out perfect.