A "Pointy" Quilter?

When I see a gadget or gizmo that makes the process of quilting so much more simple, I always think to myself, "Oh, Grandma would have loved that!"  I grew up in Mom's sewing room and under Grandma's quilt frames.  I remember little piles of fabrics out on Great-grandma's back porch where her sewing machine was kept - and the little black pot-belly stove she stoked with wood and coal to stay warm while she quilted.  So, basically when I say "Grandma", I mean all of my foremothers!

Grandma would have loved a rotary cutter! Grandma would have loved a speedy sewing machine with a 1/4" guide on the foot, a self-threader, and a push button that clips the threads.  Grandma would have loved my longarm quilting machine.  I can sometimes picture all the grandmas looking over my shoulder as I quilt.

They would have loved today's TOOL:  Quilt in a Day's Triangle Square-Up Ruler by Eleanor Burns.

It comes in a 6-1/2" or 9-1/2" size.  Here's how it works:
Basically you stitch two triangles together, and while still folded, align the ruler over your stitches, then trim the excess.

ALIGN ruler over stitches.

TRIM excess.

Open and PRESS.

Makes beautiful, perfect half square triangles.  Love those corners!

~~~

I love it for squaring up quarter-squares / hourglass blocks too. 

Ohio Star - one of my favorite blocks!

The trick to using this ruler is to give yourself a little "fudge" factor - rounding up the measurement of your beginning pieces by 1/8" or 1/4" extra.  For example, the math formula for a half-square triangle is usually to add 7/8" to your desired finished size.

HST = FS + .875

I just round up and add 1 inch instead, then trim.  (By the way, I compiled all these math formulas into my handy Quilter's Bible << available here.)

And the answer is YES.  I always trim each unit, no matter how perfect my measuring/cutting/piecing techniques.  I can't help it - pointy points take me to my happy place.  *Ü*