Today’s QM Short comes courtesy of Donna Amos, a member of the 2011 QM Scrap Squad. It’s a great tip and a real time saver! Donna lives in Decatur, Arkansas and blogged about her Scrap Squad experience.
Recently I had a large stack of rectangles (over 100) that called for using stitch-and-flip. I dislike marking all those squares and thought there had to be a faster way than drawing a line on each one. Here is what I came up with. (This will work with half-square triangles also.)
Here’s the rectangle with a square to be added. Cut a narrow strip of paper, lightweight cardboard (cereal box weight or file folder) or lightweight sandpaper like you see on the right above. I used cardboard.
Place the square on top of the rectangle, right sides together.
Lay the cardboard strip across the square, corner to corner. Cardboard should be a little longer than the distance from corner to corner.
Sew along the straight edge of the cardboard, holding the cardboard in place while sewing. Chain as many as you wish.
You’ll get a perfect diagonal seam.
Trim the seam allowance to ¼”.
Set the seam by pressing over the stitching and then flip the smaller patch open and press.
A perfect diagonal line without marking each square!
Many thanks to Donna Amos for sharing her photos and text with Quilty Pleasures. We really appreciate the great job she did.
About Diane Harris
I'm an editor for Quiltmaker magazine in Golden, Colorado, USA. For six years, I wrote pattern instructions, product reviews and how-to articles. Then I spent four years as QM's Interactive Editor, working to generate much of our online content. Now I'm back to patterns and how-tos, which is a great fit for me. I still love writing about quilt-related topics for Quilty Pleasures, and I always have my finger on the pulse of the quilting world. I teach a variety of quilt classes and give guild programs, too. Reach me by email: editor@quiltmaker.com.
For a more accurate or different way to do it, Lori Holt just put out a big flower shaped plastic template with a lot of lines on it. You center it and place it on the bed of your sewing machine (has adhesive to it) and you put the corner in front of the needle and let the other corner follow the center line headed straight to the needle. There are also lines 1/4 ” away on each side for it you were making two hst’s out of the squares, doing on each side of the line you would line up the corner with the line to the right.
I don’t have this one, but it sounds great. I also was looking at a plexiglass table and it has these same type of markings on them you could follow as well.
Bonnie Hunter makes a template to get 1/2 squares in sizes that are usable. Turn your piece and put the template on the corner of the bonus triangle and stitch along the edge of that.
If you are going to sew the “scrap” to couldn’t you have a piece of paper or card 1/2 wide and sew down the other side then trim between the 2? These second blocks always need a final trim to size so it seems like this would work.
Just turn your work around and use the strip the same way. No need for the 1/2 inch strip!
Peggy, I’m not quite understanding. Please explain how that sewing down center of a Square (when u have two squares right sides facing each other) is going to make to hst?? The reason for the marking in the middle is to sew on each side of the center marking, correct? Doing the Rectangular/Square that u were making would work for that method, BUT, how would the hst work from two Squares if u sew down the middle and cut the middle? Georgia was more likely correct when she said to make 1/2″ cardboard pattern and sew on each side of it……
I agree, that this method that you described with the 1/2 in strip would work.
Emory cloth is like sandpaper, but the grit is applied to cloth instead of paper. You can find it at the hardware store.
the post cards you get from all the political candidates, churches, etc. Our church makes postcards to promote different events. There are usually some left over and I use these for my paper piecing – it is heavy enough and smooth – no that I think of it, they may slide for this, but am def going to try.
It’s a great idea, but I too like to mark because the piece you cut off can be a leader & the next cut off piece can be an ender so those 2 pcs together & you got a hst, as they say waste not want not. While your makeing a quilt your already starting another with this method.
I think this would work amazing with a 1/2″ strip of paper. You would just line up the paper with the line you sew and then cut down the middle and still no marking.
thanks for the tip.No need for a pencil any more
Shucks! Did not work for me! Not sure what I’m doing wrong.
I like this idea. When stitching on the bias, I find it’s more accurate to press before trimming the 1/4″ seam allowance. I do this when sewing binding strips together too. I’ll try this method with the simple sewing guide on my next HSTs. Thank you!
I’ll have to try that. I would think it would be good for keeping seams straight on crazy quilt blocks, also.
You coul also use an emery board… I do like the idea of using the basting spray so you don’t have to hold on to it! Thank you for all the tips!
Ooh. Using a nail file is a great idea!
I use washi tape- one strip usually lasts for about 25 blocks or so and it stays put while I sew.
If you place your needle at the tip down in the fabric and butt the guide next to the foot it will work.
great idea especially for the lozenge challenge wonderful thank you
I, just last night, finished stitching and flipping 628 rectangles………where were you about 3 weeks ago when I started this???????????? LOL Great idea..I’ll remember it for next time.
Brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing. I have an idea that will work with yours so well! If you have a ‘stitch in the ditch foot’ it would make the job easier still. The card would but up against the divider in the foot! Tried it, love it! Thank you!!!
I like your idea of using the stitch-in-a-ditch foot, seems like that would help things along.
Thanks for the great idea. I’m making chevrons and this will surely help.
What is emory cloth & where do you get it?
Thanks
Those dividers that come in Lipton Tea Bags should work great! They are cardboard and long enough…
The tea bags dividers DID work great , for this and to put under the fold for paper piecing also, Unfortunatly Lipton now use a silly little inner box to seperate the bags , Not happy about the change:-(
great idea, I am making ‘flying Geese ‘ for the first time, so this will make things accurate and quicker, thanks for your tea box tip, always thought it was such a waste for those strips of cardboard.
I was commenting on how neat this was and asked my Darling Husband if I could have some sand paper. (He has many different grit sizes.) DH gave me some emory cloth. It is in strips of 1 inch by 10 inches and is more flexible than sandpaper. It also doesn’t crack and leave little pieces of grit like sandpaper. I have 250 setting blocks to make all stitch and flip. I am much more inclined to dive in with these aids.
Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for the tips. I will be trying both as I have had this same problem in the past.
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I’m going to employ your clever method, but I’m going to use 1 inch Post It Tape. It comes in a tape dispenser. Or maybe just use larger sized Post it Notes
Great idea – thanks for the photos to clarify and make it stick in my head!
: )
Wow! Thank you so much. Found you from someone I was following on Pinterest.
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Thanks for this tip, I’m definitely going to try this. I hate the schlep of marking all my squares. Thanks again from Sunny South Africa.
Thanks! I’m going to try this!
Thanks for the great tip, I have quite a few 1/2 sq. triangles to work on this week, so I will for sure give it a try!
I like this idea. I would use it if I was planning to discard the cut off piece.
But I usually use a half inch ruler to mark that diagonal line across the squares. I position one side along the center And I draw down both sides of it. It takes a bit longer to chain piece one side, then flip around and go back along the other outer line, but when you cut them apart, the little cut off pieces are already assembled HST ready for another project.
I haven’t tried the strip, but if it were 1/2 inch it might work for the double stitching or maybe 1/2 inch masking tape would work? I normally do the two lines of stitching, too.
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thanks that a really good tip will be uswing it from now on
Good idea and I bought the Rowenta iron in the pic as well.
I really dislike marking lines to sew, as it takes to long and Iam very impatient when sewing dont move right along, so I will try this out…looks like a Great Idea!
If you spray the card with a little basting spray, then you won’t even have to hold on to it.
What a great idea. I definitely have to try this.
I have been doing this for years, but by using a post-it note. I have even used a insert card from a magazine. Easy peasy.
Recently I was tempted to buy a quick quarter ruler for making half square triangles. I didn’t buy it and so glad I didn’t. I knew there had to be a better way than to do all of that excessive marking which is way too time consuming. Thank you so much for this wonderful time-saving idea. It’s just what I was looking for.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Brilliant idea!
THANK YOU this is possibly the most useful advice ever for me. i hate marking lines and i procrastinate which delays the project!
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Just wondering…. don’t you need to be a quarter inch away from the template? Looks like to me you would be sewing on your cutting line?? Thanks!
I was wondering the same thing myself.
Sheila, stitching right next to the template works because she’s doing the stitch and flip method, so she needs to sew directly corner to corner. If you were making half-square triangles, and making two sets from two squares, you’d want to stitch 1/4″ from the template, as you say. I’d do that by using a Post-it note instead of cardboard, putting it on the other side of the needle, and using my 1/4″ foot.
In making my American Hero Quilt, there are 448 places where I can use this application. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for sharing your tip. I also sew a second pass when the scrap corner is large enough for another HST (half square triangle). A little extra sewing and pressing along the way and another quilt is in process at the same time. So many of the above comments could be repeated here as well; thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I always appreciate tips to make things easier,and faster.
This is genius! I HATE drawing that diagonal line.
What a cleaver idea. I will use it. Love our quilting buddies who don’t mind sharing a useful tip.
This is fabulous!! Thank you!
OMG!!! I love it! I recently put a pattern back because it called for 120 squares to be marked and I just could not bring myself to do it. I will have to go back and pick it back up now.
Thank you!!!!
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Never would have thought of this but when I first started to read I thought you were going to say “Use the Half square sewing guide that you afix to your machine” I think this would work as well. Such simple things that have to be pointed out to use because the forest is to big, or is it to many trees? (too caught up in the big picture)
Wonderful idea. I will try it. You just have to love other quilters for sharing great ideas.
What a great idea. Thank you
My boss at our quilt shop in Wray, CO constantly reminds me to simplify. I can’t help myself. But this kind of simple I can appreciate. Thanks.
I use this same method, but instead of paper or plastic, I use a straight cut of extra fabric (preferably flannel). The extra cut of fabric laid across what you’re sewing ‘sticks’ to your layer & allows you to sew a straight line. Just like with the paper, be careful to sew on edge & not into it.
Thanks for the tip. This will save a lot of time on my current project!
Ohhhhhhhh you are sooooo smart. Must be experience. I love to get tips like this. I have several of my own if you would like for me to share.
Thanks to Donna and Cheri as well.
Thanks for the tip i am going to give it a try the next HST i have to make ,could have used it yesterday when i made a 21in sq it had lots of hst in it .
Obrigada pela dica
Thanks for the tip! I really get tired of marking all the squares. Quilter’s are the most wonderful people to share their tips and ideas!
Great idea ! can’t wait to try it. I think it would work well for flying geese .
That’s way to easy. Thanks you just saved a tree, lol. (No more pencil needed)
I fold my squares diagonally, wrong sides together and iron them rather than marking them with a pencil. I then sew in the crease. The card might be a little quicker!
So simple! It’s amazing no one thought of it before now. Very smart. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you soooooo much for this tip. I love timesavers!
Super idea. I’m eager to try it out.
I never thought of this on my own !! Thanx so much for sharing your idea !!
I’ve been quilting for how many years now and never THOUGHT of this !!! Shame on you, Patricia, and THANK YOU for showing me how !!!
Don’t you just love it when someone can’t stand to fuss with a method and comes up with a neat way to do it easier. This is going in my tips and technique file.
You are one smart lady! Thanks sew much for the tip! Will be trying it out for sure!
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
I’ve been using a 3×5 card for this for a long time (if you accidentally run your needle into the card, just flip it over or toss it, whereas template plastic might ruin your needle). I use the same technique when quilting diagonal lines, so I don’t have to mark my quilt top. Just start your needle in at the one corner, lie the card down so the right edge of it touches the left side of the needle and pivot the card so it hits the opposing corner and stitch away. If the segment is longer, just tape two cards together, end to end. You can keep going by repositioning the card. Fast and easy.
Wish I had thought of that…..
That is absolutely BRILLIANT !!!! I wish I knew this when I was working on my Bonnie Hunter Orca Bay Scrappy mystery. Had to make tons and tons of HSTs and QSTs.
Thank you so much !!!!!!!
Just in time for my 20 snowballs! Thank you for sharing.
How “cool”! What a clever idea!
Great tip, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tip. I wish I had it for a sample that I just completed that was almost all triangles. Will definately use it next time. Thanks again.
No!!! Oh. My. Gosh. How perfectly simple!!! And something I would never have thought of myself in a million years. ::sigh:: Thanks for sharing!
So smart. Thank you.
What a great tip! Definitely going to try this. Thank you!
My kinda girl!
Neat tip! I’ve got a piece of template plastic already cut that will work just fine.
That’s clever! I do something similar, but I put tape on my machine bed and use that to line up points. It works with HSTs and these types of piecings.
Brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing. Your timing is perfect.
Now that’s sweet! Thanks
Thanks for the tip! I’m going to try this.