Monday, October 19, 2009

Christmas Mat Striped Border tutorial.

I thought I might take you through the method I use for making half square triangles the quick and easy way :o). This is how I did the borders on my Christmas mat - (your freebie pattern from Among The Gumtrees blog last week) - so I'll use the measurements from that pattern for this demonstration....

1. Take 2 strips, (1 of light and 1 of dark) 1 and 7/8" wide and rule them up as shown below. The vertical lines are 1 and 7/8" apart and the diagonals run from corner to corner.
2. I've used a dark thread for easier visibility for you so that you can see that I've sewn 1/4" each side of the drawn diagonal lines.
3. Cut the squares apart on the drawn line .........
....then cut the triangles apart.
4. Press the little blocks open pressing toward the dark triangle.
5. These little squares will now measure 1and a 1/2" x 1and a 1/2".
6. Lay the squares out in the pattern you'd like to sew them then sew them all together with an accurate 1/4" seam allowance.
7. Press the strip with all the seams pressed in the same direction.
8. Trim off the little 'bunny ears' .......... and your strip is now complete and ready to sew onto your stitchery :o).
This is my favourite way of making lots of 1/2 square triangles, and I hope you found this little tutorial useful ................ :o)
FOOTNOTE:- I should have put this in with the instructions, oops, sorry ;o). You can make these half square triangles to suit any project you're working on. The general rule is to add 3/8" to the desired block size you're needing. So if you want a finished block (including seam allowances) of 4" for example - then you would make your strips 4 and 3/8" wide - this would give you a half-square triangle block 4" x 4" -[ so that when it's sewn into your project it would be a finished size of 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"].

16 comments:

LyndaG said...

Great idea .. thanks for sharing

Pat Earnest said...

This would save a lot of chain stitching. Your instructions are very easy to follow. Thanks! Also thanks for the 2 beautiful Christmas projects. I really got a chuckle from the mouse in the pudding.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

great tutorial!

SewLindaAnn said...

Thanks for the info. I recently purchased an old book Spectacular Scraps by Judy Hooworth and Marg. Rolfe because I want to play with color and 1/2 sq. triangles. Your method is easy to understand, quick, and accurate. Also, thank you for the stitcheries, I love them.

Julia said...

What a great way to do them Joy..thank you so much!
I'm going to use this idea a lot..
Hugs Julia ♥

Wendyb said...

You clever elf, Joy!! What an easy way of doing it...I was admiring the borders and thinking how fiddly it must be, but you just slam-dunked that idea!!! I'm going to have to give that a try!
sugary hugs 'o) Wendy

Terri said...

Wooohooo!! Now I bet I might be able to do those little triangles! Thank you so much....I especially LOVE, Love, Love to have pictures ;>

Allie said...

How cool is that! Oh you clever woman. Thank you - even *I* understand this!

Julie said...

How clever is that!! Thanks for sharing, I've never thought of doing them in a strip before, makes lots of sense.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Fantastic tutorial Joy...you make it look so easy..

Vero said...

Thanks for the tutorial, it's really useful. I came to your blog looking for the Christmas pattern.

Greetings from Spain

Jude said...

Joy I found that very easy to follow and I did the border for the gumtree stitchery and it worked perfectly, thanks very much.Now to the quilting.

Micki said...

Thanks for sharing...That's such a great idea and I wouldn't have thought of it!
Micki

Christine said...

Thanks for the tutorial. Will have to try it out. Sounds like it would be quicker than doing them individually.

Nanette Merrill said...

Well look at you Joy. What a smartie! Nice job.

Erika said...

thanks for the tutorial and the beautiful design