Easy Piecing for Inset Corners and Triangles

August 8th, 2008 in sewing, quilting, home decorating

Mary Ray, contributor

1 user recommends

To do it neatly, first sew the diamonds together from dot to dot along one edge and press the seam open.

This will create an opening at the corner.

Turn the patch so it meets the edge of the adjoining triangle and
stitch the seam, once again from the dot at the angled corner out.

To do it neatly, first sew the diamonds together from dot to dot along one edge and press the seam open.

Photo: Mary Ray

Add Comment

Email to a Friend
Print

Diamonds and triangles are traditional shapes in quilts, but they can be intimidating if you don’t have a plan for stitching them together. I think that’s one of the things I like about doing patchwork—it’s both creative and incredibly anal at the same time. While it lets you play with color and pattern, it demands accuracy in cutting and stitching. But it doesn’t have to be scary if you just think things through.

Diamonds

Here are a couple of tips that make working with pointy shapes a whole lot easier:

1. When two diamonds are stitched together, they create an angle and sometimes a patch needs to be sewn in that corner.

To do it neatly, first sew the diamonds together from dot to dot along one edge and press the seam open.

This will create an opening at the corner.

2. Next, attach the inset piece in two steps: Match the dots and sew the first edge of the diamond to the inset patch from the dot at the angled corner out, securing the seam at the start by stitching a couple of stitches forward and then back.

Turn the patch so it meets the edge of the adjoining triangle and stitch the seam, once again from the dot at the angled corner out.

Press the seam allowances toward the inset patch.

Turn it over and admire your corner!

Triangles

Triangles can be especially tedious if you try to piece them one at a time. Here’s a quick method for cutting and sewing multiple right triangles with legs of equal length that form a square when sewn together along the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle). I can’t take credit for this method. I learned it a long time ago and I don’t know whose idea it was originally. But, it’s a neat method—so when triangles are part of your project, give it a try.

1. You need two different fabrics. Start by making a grid of squares on the wrong side of one fabric and in the direction of the grain. The squares should each be 1/2 inch larger than the finished two-triangle patch. Draw angled lines with chalk or pencil across the grid connecting the corners. Pin this fabric grid to the other fabric, right sides together, matching grainlines. Cut the second fabric along the outer edges of the grid so it’s even with the first.

2. Sew through both layers 1/4 inch away from the angled lines.