My friend Susan shared a great technique with us at a recent ThreadBenders meeting. It’s from a website named Sugaridoo 😁. I had never heard of it before, but I think Irene’s quilts are bright and fun – and she has some very creative ideas.
In the video on Irene’s site I learned a great new way to make a block with an odd triangle
using an intriguing tool made from cardstock (or any cardboard you have on hand)!
It can be used for any odd triangle you find in a pattern or make up in your own designs. Are you intrigued? Would you like to know how it works? Well, to see Irene’s excellent video demonstration click here!
It’s brilliant. I couldn’t wait to try it. And here are my results:
I made my tool, and cut out a square of fabric, and the triangle I wanted to add to it. I laid the triangle in place, right sides up, and aligned the 1/4″ line on the tool with the long edge of the triangle.
I put my fingers on the tool,
then folded back the triangle over the tool. Next I moved my fingers to the open areas on the tool,
so the seam allowance on the triangle was held in place, and the tool could be removed.
Now it was easy to flip the seam allowance out from under the fold I’d made.
and pin it in place.
l sewed the triangle on with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Flipped, pressed,
And squared up the block.
What a clever idea. I wish I’d thought of it (although I’m not sure my brain could have come up with it 😊).
So many patterns include templates for this type of odd shaped block, but now we know an easier way. Thanks Irene! Please click here to visit her site and see all of her great ideas.
Joanne Corrigan says
This was very interesting. I really liked this technique. I am definitely going to try it. Thank you!
Donna K says
Hi Chris,
I investigated her website for the video and couldn’t find it so I’m a little unclear about a few things. Can you send a link about this process to all of us out here on blog world?
Many thanks in advance,
Donna K
Ps. Love your blog, thanks. ❤️
clkquilt says
Hi Donna,Irene’s video can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cupY-YBlL84
Eleanor McMurrin says
Dear Chris, My note has nothing to do with your “card trick”, which, by the way is marvelous! Perhaps you’ve heard about the July 4th massacre at Highland Park, our neighbor just to the south; Village Quilters is putting together a quilt for the toddler who lost both parents that day. They’re also making quilts for the 8 year old twins; one was shot in the spine, the other was uninjured. One likes baseball; the other likes bugs. If you’re interested I can email your some pics of the blocks. Eleanor
Gloria Volland says
I tried this technique and liked it as I was struggling to get a project to look right, but I found that the fabric liked to slip out at the corners. I improvised by putting fine grained sand paper on theback of my card stock pattern and found that it was a great help to keep the fabric in place. Hope this helps others use the cardstock trick.
clkquilt says
Great suggestion! Thanks Gloria!