Squaring Up Half Square Triangles - Question
08-15-2014, 06:16 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hernando FL
Posts: 1,662
Instead of investing in a rotating mat, just get a smaller mat that can rest on your main mat. You can still easily spin it, and it'll cost a lot less than a rotating mat. 
Wish I had figured that out before I bought one!
I agree, a smaller mat works just as well and is a lot less expensive. It is what I use all the time.
I square up the way Jan described. I don't have that exact ruler but I have one that is similar. I have some bloc loc rulers too but only in small sizes so they don't get used very often.
Wish I had figured that out before I bought one! I agree, a smaller mat works just as well and is a lot less expensive. It is what I use all the time.
I square up the way Jan described. I don't have that exact ruler but I have one that is similar. I have some bloc loc rulers too but only in small sizes so they don't get used very often.
08-15-2014, 06:39 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mechanicsville, IA
Posts: 1,497
In my classes I request the Bias 8 Square ruler from Martingale. I believe it to be the best square up ruler on the market and it is still the only one marked with SOLID 1/8" lines in two directions....and this allows you to sliver off the tiniest bit on all sides of a block or block section.
Here is how I use it.
Jan in VA
Here is how I use it.
Jan in VA
08-15-2014, 06:44 AM
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
Love it when you do a diagram. Thanks!
In my classes I request the Bias 8 Square ruler from Martingale. I believe it to be the best square up ruler on the market and it is still the only one marked with SOLID 1/8" lines in two directions....and this allows you to sliver off the tiniest bit on all sides of a block or block section.
Here is how I use it.
Jan in VA
Here is how I use it.
Jan in VA
08-15-2014, 07:52 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
just pick up the ruler,
take the block by the corneer you just trimmed,
turn that corner 180 degrees, (to the opposite - diagonal - corner),
and realign the ruler ON the already trimmed edges
trim the remaining two sides.
Easy Peasy!
Jan in VA
08-15-2014, 08:06 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
I ..... have a Quilt in a Day ruler for squaring up that works great too. With this ruler you don't press your HST open but rather put the marking of the ruler along the stitching line and trim the two sides. Since the HST is still folded at this point by trimming the two raw edge sides you are actually trimming all four. ......
When HSTs are pressed open, it's nearly impossible NOT to make that diagonal seam do something slightly wonky which will distort the block. The smaller the HST, the more likely you are to distort it. (This is true for seaming narrow or small things, too; the less width you have, the fewer threads you have to 'hide' slight errors.)
After 30 years of teaching, I've gotten settled in my choices of tools, in many cases. The Bias 8 ruler was not designed necessarily for this squaring up use. it was meant for cutting HSTs from two strips sewn together. Of course, THAT makes all the sides be on the bias, which drives me absolutely nutty in classes -- my focus is on teaching ways to make things easier for beginners, not giving techniques that are open for frustrations! And bias is a frustration for many beginners! Why use those bias edges when it's just as easy not to?!
Any way, I've been after Martingale to make this Bias group of rulers in a 12" size to be used like I suggest; it will work for all blocks, not just HST, etc. So those of you who have it, and are wise enough to train yourself to use it often (like in EVERY block as I do
), write to Martingale to ask for them to make us a 12" Bias Ruler WITH THE SAME MARKINGS as the Bias 4,6, and 8"!! I keep waiting!
Jan in VA
08-15-2014, 08:08 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Nawth o' Boston
Posts: 1,879
Early on in my quilting, I bought the June Tailor HST QST ruler from Joanns, which works well for simpletons like me who often have problems with visual cues - you can easily see if you are centered properly for both cuts and whether your blocfk is a bit short of the mark. However, if you are doing non-standard sizes, it looks like the Martingale is a good bet. I have seen the block-lok's but I don't know if that little lip thing is worth the dough.
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