I’m really excited to have a pattern of mine featured over on the Shannon Fabrics website and blog.  It’ll be up on their site soon…but I have permission to go ahead and post it here!  YAY.  So you can download the PDF here right now!

People LOVE cuddle quilts, but I find many quilters are intimidated by the thought of piecing a quilt entirely with Cuddle fabric. I have a trick for you that will make that fear disappear!

Fusible Stitch-n-Wash from Floriani will completely stabilize your Cuddle fabric.  (It’s also available in a non-fusible if you like spray adhesive.)  Fuse it to the wrong side of your Cuddle fabric using your iron on medium heat.  (I rough cut my pieces first so that I don’t waste a lot of the stabilizer.)  I recommend testing with a scrap to get the heat setting that works for your iron.  Then cut your pieces to size!

I still use a walking foot as your layers are quite thick.  Lengthen your stitch (I use a 3.0) and use a 90/14 stretch needle.  But I didn’t have to use a single pin when piecing this quilt!  I wouldn’t use this for whole cloth Cuddle quilts or blankets, but this product will allow you to piece smaller “fussier” designs that you might otherwise shy away from with Cuddle fabrics.

Another unique feature of this product, because it is made up of half soluble and half non-soluble fibers, you can LEAVE it right in your quilt.  Don’t bother tearing it out, simply  quilt and bind as usual.  The non-soluble fibers stay in the quilt and act as a layer of batting.  It’s completely soft and super cuddly after you wash the quilt!

Floriani also has a wash away stabilizer, Wet-n-Gone, that is available in fusible and as tacky sheets (as well as non-stick).  This would also work to stabilize your cuddle fabric and will completely wash away.  (I use this product when I machine embroider on towels.)

So happy Cuddle Quilting!!!!!  And don’t forget to check out the other free patterns (mine will be up soon!) over on the Shannon Fabric website. 

*I was in no way compensated for recommendation of Floriani products.  I simply want to share great products from great companies….especially when it’ll make your quilting easier!  Shannon Fabrics provided the fabrics used in this quilt.

Share and Enjoy

So one of my best friends is Cristy.  Cristy’s mom is Sharon Schamber.  Sharon is a Master Quilter and quilting legend.  It’s common for me to text Cristy and ask her for advice.  And while doing a Half Square Triangle study of my own, I did just that.  Turns out, Sharon has a method for making Half Square Triangles that is different from any other and provides amazing results.

 Magic Triangles

This may be my favorite method for making Half Square Triangles.  I’ve given it 4.5 stars.

Some points I love about it

• no dog ears to trim
• bias edges are not on the outside
• you can make a large number quickly once you get the method down
• this technique resulted in the most accurate HSTs

What kept me from giving this method 5 stars?

• it’s hard to know exactly how many HSTs will result from your fat quarters (I found from my two fat quarters, I could get a total between 64-68 HSTs that measure 2.5 inches in size)
• larger HSTs will result in a bit more waste

This method does require a commitment to watch and learn.  With my first set, I had to pause the video and do a step, then restart.  But after going through it once so that I understood the technique, I was able to do the next set very quickly.  I really want to encourage you not to be scared off by this.

The videos are available for free on Sharon’s youtube channel.  I do want to note that Cristy also has this DVD for sale if you want to add it your reference or a guild library or something.

One other note, cut your strips the size you need your finished HSTs.  So I cut mine 2.5 inches as in the video.  But if you need 4.5 inch HSTs, you would use 4.5 inch strips.

Magic Triangles Part 1:

Magic Triangles Part 2:

Magic Triangles Part 3:

Now I have one other method that I also really love to share with you.  I’ll try to get it up soon.  In the meantime, you can visit the other methods of the Half Square Triangle Study.

Part 1: The Traditional Method
Part 2: The Square Stitch Method
Part 3: The Simplified Grid Method
Part 4: The Grid Method
Part 5: Magic Triangles (you’re here!)

Share and Enjoy

We are almost done. Today I will show you one of the last three methods that I’m going to overview for making Half Square Triangles.

 The Grid Method

Today is an expanded version of Part 3.  It’s handy for any even quantity…not just multiples of 8.  I’m giving it a 4 star also.  I think it’s easy to understand.  It requires a little more thought and you have to take time to draw your grid, but when you’re making a large quantity of HSTs, it’s not too much hassle.

So basically we’re joining a whole bunch of sqaures together and then cutting the lines later.  In the example, I “joined” 6 squares (which yields 12 HSTs), but you can make your grid any size you need.  For example, if you need 30 HSTs, then you’d want to do a 3×5 grid.  (That’d give you 15 squares, and when you cut then in half, you’ll get 30 HSTs.)

Add 1 inch to your finished size to determine the size each square of the grid.  In the example, I used a 6×9 rectangle – 9 inches long (3+3+3) with two rows (3+3) for a 6 inch width.

Draw you square grid first. And then add you X diagonal lines. (You want to maintain the X formation.) Just as before, sew 1/4 inch on both sides of your diagonal lines.

Now use your rotary cutter to cut on all your solid lines. Press the seam to the darker side and trim as necessary.

Visit the other methods of the Half Square Triangle Study. 

Part 1: The Traditional Method
Part 2: The Square Stitch Method
Part 3: The Simplified Grid Method
Part 4: The Grid Method (you’re here!)
Part 5: Magic Triangles

Share and Enjoy

Being buried under fabric is a great place to be. More later.

Share and Enjoy

Today is easy and you will get 8 Half Square Triangles from one square. I’m sure this has an official name, but I don’t have a clue what it is! So I present you with….

The Simplified Grid Method

I’m giving this 4 stars. It’s easy to understand and gives you four times the half square triangles! What’s not to love about that?  (Especially if you need to make a multiple of 8.)

Remember how we added 1 inch to the Traditional Method to determine the starting size? Now you just need to double this number. So if you need 2 inch finish – then you double 3 and start with a 6 inch square. Easy!

If you have layer cakes coming out your ears, you can make a ton of HSTs that will finish at 4 inches.

Now draw two diagonal lines across your square.

Sew 1/4 inch on each side of both of your lines.

To cut your HSTs, start by cutting the square in half vertically and horizontally. So you have four squares.

Now cut on your lines and you have 8 HSTs ready to press and trim!

If you need to catch up….

Part 1: The Traditional Method
Part 2: The Square Stitch Method
Part 3: The Simplified Grid Method (you’re here!)
Part 4: The Grid Method
Part 5: Magic Triangles

Share and Enjoy