Piecing Tips and Tricks: Quilt-In-A-Day Rulers

I don’t know if it is the former engineer in me or what but I am a sucker for specialty rulers. These two are some of my favorites. Maybe it’s because I started quilting because of Quilt in a Day and I actually got to meet Eleanor Burns.

Anyway, here are some tips you can use to make the parts to Jingle Pieced Block #1 using the Triangle Square Up ruler and the Flying Geese ruler.

For Half-Square Triangles, cut 2 squares 5” x 5”. Place them right sides together and draw 2 diagonal lines.

Sew 1/4” from each line.

Cut apart on drawn lines and 2 1/2” from each side.

Before you do any pressing use the Triangle Square-Up ruler and aligninf the 2” mark with your seam, trim your HST unit.

Flip over and trim your corners.

Now, press to the dark fabric for a perfect little HST unit.

For Flying Geese, cut a 6” x 6” square of the fabric that will be your triangles and a 4 1/2” x 41/2” square of the fabric that will be your rectangle. Line them up so the are centered and the right sides are together.

Draw a diagonal line.

Sew 1/4” on both sides of the diagonal line.

Cut apart.

Press toward the larger triangle.

Now, line these 2 squares up so that the smaller triangles are on opposite corners and the right sides are together.

Draw a diagonal line and stitch 1/4” on both sides of the line.

Cut apart.

Clip seam right in between both the previous seams.

Press so that the rectangle (goose) is flat like this:

You will have two of these. Now you can use the ruler to line up the goose and trim away.

You will make 4 each time with this method so it is handy when making blocks like Jingle Pieced Block #1.

Comments

[DebrafromMD]

I'm so glad you posted the triangle square-up ruler tutorial. I had this ruler in my bin and had completely forgotten about it. I pulled it out and made a bunch of half-square triangles today, and they came out perfect. Thanks so much!

[Lori Ginsberg]

I love Eleanor Burns. She is a lovely lady. I see her a couple of times a year at the big quilt shows in my area. She is always so sweet and friendly. Her rulers are amazing.

[KarenO]

LOL, I'm an engineer too, but my quest is always to use my regular rulers to mimic the specialty rulers. For example, I take a square ruler and draw a line on the ruler where the seam should be for my HST. Then I do exactly as you describe. I missed the trick of flipping the triangle to cut off the corners. Nice!

[Eileen]

I love the triangle square up ruler--but I didn't know about flipping the piece over to cut off the corners--that's fabulous! Can't wait to try it. I too started quilting with Eleanor Burns' Quilt in a Day on PBS. I love her methods!

[Guilitta]

Thank you for the tips. But for me it looks very difficult. I don´t know if this ruler a good thing.

Greeting Guilitta