Shortcuts before basics?.. 4 7/8 inch block
10-18-2013, 01:00 AM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I'm teaching a beginner quilter- one who has never used the rotary cutter.
A basic 12 inch churn dash block direction calls for one to cut a 4 7/8 strip then subcut a 4 7/8 block ( for half square part). Same directions for any basic block with a half square. Now how the heck do you teach this when no ruler has a 7/8 inch mark??
I really hate to teach shortcuts before basics.
A basic 12 inch churn dash block direction calls for one to cut a 4 7/8 strip then subcut a 4 7/8 block ( for half square part). Same directions for any basic block with a half square. Now how the heck do you teach this when no ruler has a 7/8 inch mark??
I really hate to teach shortcuts before basics.
10-18-2013, 05:43 AM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 436
Thanks everyone!! I'm now the owner of a few rulers that show 1/8 increments!! They do make a difference!! Have to wear my glasses though! Lol. I really appreciate all the suggestions and help!!
10-18-2013, 07:04 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Clay Springs AZ
Posts: 3,229
I prefer to make larger and cut down so the Quilt In A Day triangle square up ruler is a must have. It saves so much time and makes perfect HST.
Also like to make 8 at a time. For 2 1/2 in HST use two 6 in sqs. Draw an x and sew on each side of line then cut in half both ways then on lines. Add 2 in for each size larger (8 in for 3 1/2 )
The ruler has you cut once to square up. I did a demo at a meeting and everyone went and bought the ruler.
Also like to make 8 at a time. For 2 1/2 in HST use two 6 in sqs. Draw an x and sew on each side of line then cut in half both ways then on lines. Add 2 in for each size larger (8 in for 3 1/2 )
The ruler has you cut once to square up. I did a demo at a meeting and everyone went and bought the ruler.
10-18-2013, 07:04 PM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
Are you saying you have only quarter inch markings? 11 rulers? I don't have any that don't have eights, and most have sixteenths. Even my freebie wooden ruler from the paint store.
10-18-2013, 07:07 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I've taught a lot of beginners. While you want them to know that measurments are important, if you make quilting fussy and stressful because you are dealing with 1/8" the beginner will give up and not want to pursue this hobby. I learned to teach people who have never sewn before how to quilt using the Quilt In A Day log cabin. All they have to do is sew straight lines. I would cut the last log 1" larger so that we could square up the block and the blocks would all go together easily. We'd use a 5 oz bat and tie it. It's fast and the beginner gets a quilt finished with little hassle. As I learned from my years of teaching children, you need to make the first step simple and easy to do.
10-19-2013, 04:09 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
I prefer to make larger and cut down so the Quilt In A Day triangle square up ruler is a must have. It saves so much time and makes perfect HST.
Also like to make 8 at a time. For 2 1/2 in HST use two 6 in sqs. Draw an x and sew on each side of line then cut in half both ways then on lines. Add 2 in for each size larger (8 in for 3 1/2 )
The ruler has you cut once to square up. I did a demo at a meeting and everyone went and bought the ruler.
Also like to make 8 at a time. For 2 1/2 in HST use two 6 in sqs. Draw an x and sew on each side of line then cut in half both ways then on lines. Add 2 in for each size larger (8 in for 3 1/2 )
The ruler has you cut once to square up. I did a demo at a meeting and everyone went and bought the ruler.
10-19-2013, 04:58 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Greenwood, AR
Posts: 456
I learned cutting the "1/8" way but recently struggled with some intricate piecing and it not coming out right...I asked help from a women that pieces amazing quilts and has been quilting for years.....she told me don't bother cutting by the 1/8", round it up and trim when the block is completed...she says that's the way she does it and the block comes out much more accurately!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
