Thursday, March 12, 2009

Is There Life AFTER Half Square Triangles?

OK, I will admit to it, I hate half square triangles. I will not even go into quarter square because that is way out there!

Quilting is something I taught myself, along with most of what I do. No classes, just books and video and Internet and as much as I can absorb. I have read more about half square triangles than I care to admit. Read tutorials, watched videos, bought rulers, papers.........and still really, really struggle with getting everything where it is supposed to be. So I just made quilts that I liked that didn't have the blessed things in them.

You need to grow in what ever you do! So, just like I have taught myself everything else........practice makes perfect. I am in the middle of two quilts with a few half square triangles in them. Scrappy use and abuse quilts, but patterns that I really like. Is it getting better? I am not redoing every one over so that must mean some progress, a baby step maybe?

My question is.........How many of these lovely things do you have to make before you have the "Ah" moment that says you know what you are doing? Will I ever know what I am doing or is this like Algebra and will never quite make it past the knot on my head?

I am trying to follow the liberated quilting thing and not stress if things are just a tad off but if I see it, everyone else will too and that just says, don't quite have it yet.

9 comments:

Amelia said...

Oh! Lady, I do know where you are coming from with this post. There are many number of quilt patterns I have ran away from because of the many HST's involved in making it. One thing that has made them easier for me is the paper piecing way...where you make 4 or 8 at a time - depending on the size.

Here is the web site:
http://quilt.com/Blocks/TrianglePapers/Triangles.html


However, I have found you still have to sew straight and cut straight.

You are 100% correct we need to grow in our expertise.

Let me know when you reach that plateau...

Purple Pam said...

I had it together at one time. But I found as I am trying to come up with blocks for a workshop I am doing, I lost my mojo with HSTs. I know that I can make them bigger and then cut them down. They are almost perfect then (depending on my cutting skills on any given day). I can also use triangle paper and tear off the paper when they are done. That works, too. My sewing machine does not have an accurate 1/4 inch mark, so I eyeball it. Sometimes my eyeball is off, i.e. my HSTs are off! But sometimes they are all on! I never know. It is a crap shoot every time!

homegrownsongwritersalabama said...

I WILL NOT do a complicated quilt! As I have stated previously...you and I are too much alike!!! I am self-taught in all my crafts and have had no problems sewing any garment and having it look nice and fit nicely, but precision quilting is evidently not meant for me. I do CQ's and strips and raggedy squares.

Kristie said...

I think most everyone hates half square triangles! I do mine the sameway that Amelia does! It is wonderful!
Kristie

Belvie said...

OK....I guess I'm the "sick" one here. I actually like making HST. I cut the triangle a little larger and then trim to size after sewing. I think I've gotten better as I've made more of these. Several of my quilts have lots of them, so I've had plenty of practice. I am always careful to not stretch the bias as I sew!

Scrappy quilter said...

I love them. I know, I know. They are fun for me to do. One thing I learnt a long time ago though is there are no mistakes in quilting. Have fun and if everything isn't just quite right, it's okay.

Sara said...

You will get it! I know because I made J's entire quilt out of half square triangles to make his a pinwheel quilt! Its twin size, and all 2 inch HST! I hate them too! But you will get it and it will get easier!

Katie said...

I spray the washed fabric with sizing first. Then I iron the two fabrics-right sides together- and then cut strips, squares, and finally half squares. Then just sew the two pieces that are already together. I have to be very careful when ironing them open and find having lines on the ironing board helps.

SueR said...

Does anyone like half square triangles? Okay, well, maybe Belvie is one! I am well practiced in them but they sure aren't my favorite thing to do. I subscribe to the make-it-oversize-and-then-square-it-up method. Takes extra time, but the results are worth it.