Today I'm going to show you how to make this fun, bright triangle block using
the Sidekick Ruler from Jaybird Quilts:
the Sidekick Ruler from Jaybird Quilts:
The final block should be between 12 1/2" to 13" high. (This is 14 1/2" to 15" measured on a side).
If you'd like to make this block without the Sidekick Ruler, see here.
1. You will need a total of 8 strips of solid color fabric,
2 each of 4 colors. Cut each strip 1 5/8" x 18".
(**Note** This can be done with all the strips cut to 1 1/2" x 18" but the measurements are close. By making each strip just 1/8" wider, you'll have a little "wiggle room" in your cutting and sewing.)
2. Sew the strips together using a 1/4" seam. Sew your strips into 2 sets of 4,
from darkest to lightest, like shown here:
3. Press each seam in the direction of the darker fabric. Be careful not to stretch the strip out of shape. (Mine are a little stretched out of shape on the right sides. I had to fix that before proceeding)
4. Using a regular rotary cutting ruler, trim each of these sewn strips to 4 1/2" width:
5. Using the Sidekick ruler from Jaybird Quilts, trim one end.
***for this triangle, the light color fabric will make the star shape in the finished triangle***
6. Turn the entire strip around, and cut the triangles. You will get 5 from each strip.
Be sure that the color you want for the final star shape is oriented down,
so that you have 3 triangles per strip with that color as the longest piece.
You can see the Jaybird Quilts tutorial on using the Sidekick ruler here.
Here are the cut triangles: 6 matching triangles that will form the star, and 4 for the points.
(One of the 4 triangles won't be used in the final block)
7. Line up your small triangles to make a big triangle following the placement shown here.
Sew together in rows.
8. Sew the rows together into the final large triangle. Pin or glue baste as necessary to line up the outer edges. It's nice if the centers all match, but don't sweat it! Since the center points are all the same color, it won't be obvious in the final quilt if they don't!
These blocks can be so beautiful!
We did these as a block of the month at the Pensacola Modern Quilt Guild:
I hope you enjoy making these bright triangle blocks as much as I did!
Becky
