June 29, 2004

 INDEX 

  1. Class Description

  2. Anatomy of On-Point Setting

  3. Class Supply List

  4. Focus Blocks

  5. Sashings

  6. Cornerstones

  7. Cutting the Edges!

  8. Cutting the Corners!

  9. Sewing on the Edges and Corners

Cutting the Corners!

     This lesson teaches the "math" behind cutting the corners and Lesson 8 tackles the sewing of this quilt setting together.

     At this point, the quilt top should look similar to the one shown below.  Note that the edge triangles are not sewn on yet.  

     In every On-Point Setting quilt, there are two types of triangles that are needed:  Edges and Corners.  In the diagram below, the pink triangles represent the EDGES and the purple triangles represent the CORNERS.

     To cut both the edges and the corners, we begin by cutting simple squares!  This lesson cuts the corners, which is easier than cutting the edges.

Cutting The Corner Triangles

     The corner triangles are made from a square that is cut diagonally, once, so that it yields two triangles. These two triangles have bias edges, but we will account for that when we sew them so that they do not stretch.  The calculations for cutting the corners is a piece of cake!

  1. No need to count the number of corners you need, because there are always four corners, and since we get two triangles from each square we cut, we need a total of two squares.  So, in summary, always cut 2 squares for the corners.

  2. Now that we know we need 2 squares, let's calculate how large they should be cut.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  IF YOU ARE SEWING YOUR QUILT TOP USING A SASHING, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE SASHING STRIPS MEASUREMENT WITH THE BLOCK.  FOR EXAMPLE, A FINISHED 9.5" BLOCK THAT HAS A FINISHED SASHING STRIP OF 2" WOULD MAKE A TOTAL OF 11.5". Keep this in mind!

  3. To determine the size of the 2 large squares, do these two things: First, multiply the finished block (or block/sashing) size by 0.707, then round the result up to the nearest 1/8" (1/4" if you aren't comfortable with eighths!) and second, add 2" to the new measurement. For example, if the finished block is 9.5", then first multiply that by 0.707. This equals 6.7165. Round this up to 7". Second, using this new measurement of 7, add 2". This now equals 9". Another example, if the finished block with a sashing is 11.5", then multiply by 0.707, then add 2". So, 11.5 x 0.707 = 8.1305. Round this up to 8.5". Add 2" to get a measurement of 10.5".  Cut your two squares 10.5" each.  Note:  Adding 2" allows room for error.  You could add less (such as 1-1.5"), but there is much less room for error if you add 2".  In the grand scheme of things, there isn't much fabric wasted by adding 2" and it is better than having to re-cut!

  4. Let's do the math.  My finished block is?  _____   If there is a sashing, the finished width of it is _____, making my finished block/sashing total _____.  Multiply my finished block (with sashing if it has one) by 0.707, round it up to a comfortable measurement, then add 2".   The size of each of the two squares needed is?  _____

  5. Cut two squares the size you came up with in step 4.  I will be cutting 2 squares for my corner triangles that are 109.5" (because I like a little room for error!).  What size are you cutting?

  6. Cut each square once diagonally, to yield 2 smaller triangles, such as the example shown below.  Note that the diagonal cut is the longest side of the triangle and is the bias side.
     
                     Cut the squares                        Cutting on the diagonal, once

                         
              Yields 2 smaller triangles

  7. Place your corner triangles in their positions in your quilt layout, always making sure that the non-bias edge (either of the shorter sides of the triangles) of the triangle is on the outside edges, as shown below (marked with an "x").  Note that the bias edge of the triangle (the longest side) goes up against the block/sashing, as shown in the second photo below:
     
                     Layout with the corners              Closeup of a corner

    Note:  In the photos above, notice two things:  1)  The outside edges of the triangles (the short sides of the triangles) are also the outside edges of the square(s) when you cut... this keeps the bias edges on the inside and it results in non-bias edges on the outside of the quilt top, which is a good thing, and 2)  The triangles are a little larger than the area that they are going to be sewn in, which is a good thing in that it gives you room to sew more accurately!

  8. Let's review!  To find the dimensions of the squares needed for the corner triangles, you simply:  1)  Know that you will need 2 squares, 2)  Multiply the finished block size by 0.707, then round it up (don't forget to take into consideration sashings, if you have them!), 3)  Add at least 1" to the size, and 4)  Cut each square once, diagonally, that yields 4 smaller triangles (2 triangles from each of the 2 squares).

  9. This top should look similar to the photo below, without the edges and corners being sewn on yet.

     Lesson 8 will attach the edge and corner triangles to the quilt top, and wrap up the quilt.  We're getting close to the finish line!