Ask Alex: Stitching Triangles : Crafting : Home & Garden Television

Figure A

Quilt maker Norm Dudzik’s has a question to which nearly all quilters can relate. When sewing triangles, the ends or points drift or tweak away (figure A). What can you do to help keep triangles straight?

Expert Alex Anderson offers these pointers:

A sharp new needle is recommended. Use a 70- or 80-size. Some quilters recommend changing needles after every six to eight hours of sewing or quilting.

Figure B

The throat plate hole can also make a difference—try a single-stitch hole throat plate for higher end sewing machines (figure B).

Figure C

Feed the fabric through with a stiletto (figure C).

Here’s an easy triangle-making technique:

Figure D

1. Position two squares of fabric, right sides together, and cut down the center with the ruler placed on the 45-degree angle on the edge of the fabric (figure D). Cut into two-inch strips. Add 1/4-inch seam allowance if desired.

Figure E

2. Sew the two-inch strips together. Keeping one end with a fairly consistent edge—one edge will be out of kilter. Press the seams open when working with small triangles (figure E).