In
the first part of this tutorial, I showed how to use 2 ½ inch strips from a thick and thin
stripe fabric to make an interesting block that looks like it took more than 4
simple strips of fabric to make. After looking at the blocks sitting on my craft
table, I decided that they would look their best if they were set on point, one
after the other in a runner.
Then,
there were the tricky tasks of both choosing a fabric to compliment the blocks and
calculating the size to cut the setting triangles. To calculate the sizes for
the setting triangles, I enlisted the help of Electric Quilt 7. I could set the size of
the pieced blocks and use the computer to calculate the size of the setting
triangles. Electric Quilt calculated that I needed to cut one 9 ¼ inch square
and cut it on both diagonals for the ends of the runner. I needed to cut two 8 ⅞
inch squares and cut each one on one diagonal to make the setting triangles for
the sides of the runner. This was great, but, I wanted to use the lighter
strips from the same jelly roll for the background of the runner. Time to put
my thinking cap back on….
Some
work with a pencil and my quilting ruler, allowed me to calculate that the
short sides of each of the corner triangles would be 6 ½ inches. The height of
the setting triangles would be 6 ¼ inches.
I
stitched three of the lighter strips from the jelly roll, side by side. The
height of this strip was 6 ½ inches! My lucky day! Now to work out if the 42
inch length of the pieced section was enough fabric to cut four corner
triangles and four side triangles for my runner.
Starting
from one end, I marked out the fabric with a temporary marker to check that I
could cut all of the pieces. This was how I marked it out (I worked from right
to left across my fabric):
1. Rule
a line that is at 90 degrees to the piecing and close to the selvedges.
2.
Measure
6 ½ inches from the line marked in Step 1 and make a small mark at both raw
edges.
3.
Join
the line marked in Step 1 with a diagonal line to one of the marks from Step 2.
This is the first corner triangle.
4.
Measure
6 ½ inches from the marks made in Step 2 and make a small mark at each
selvedge.
5.
Join
the left-most end of the line marked in Step 3 with one of the marks made in
Step 4. This is the first side triangle.
6.
Repeat
Steps 4 and 5 to make another 3 (total of 4) side triangles.
7.
Join
the two marks at the end of the fourth side triangle with a line that is at 90
degrees to the piecing. This is the second corner triangle.
8.
Measure
6 ½ inches from the line marked in Step 7 and mark a line that is at 90 degrees
to the piecing.
9.
Join
the lower right and upper left edges with a diagonal line. This is the third
and fourth corner triangles.
The
photo below shows which edges (with the double strike marks) of the corner and
the side triangles that will be stitched to the pieced blocks.
Carefully cut
out all 8 pieces on the marked lines.
Each
setting triangle now needs to be stitched to one of the pieced blocks. The
whole runner is simple to put together, just remember that all of the seams are
set on the diagonal and that there are no set-in seams (yay!). Lay out the
three pieced blocks and fill in the sides with the side triangles and square of
the ends with the corner triangles. See the photo below.
Block
1 will have a corner triangle joined to one edge and a side triangle joined to
the opposite edge.
Block
2 will have a side triangle joined to two opposite edges.
Block
3 will have a side triangle joined to one edge and a corner triangle joined to
the opposite edge.
Set Block
1 and Block 3
Fold
the long edge of the corner triangle and mark the centre with a pin.
Fold
one edge of Block 1 and mark the centre with a pin.
Place
the corner triangle with the right side facing the Block, matching the centre
pins and having the raw edges even.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the triangle.
Place
the side triangle with the right side facing the Block, matching the corner of
the short side of the triangle with the corner of the Block and having the raw
edges even. This triangle is on the opposite side of the Block to the corner
triangle.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the triangle.
Block
2
Place
one of the side triangles with the right side facing the Block, matching the
corner of the short side of the triangle with the corner of the Block and
having the raw edges even.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the triangle.
Place
a second side triangle with the right side facing the Block, matching the
corner of the short side of the triangle with the corner of the Block and
having the raw edges even. This triangle is on the opposite side of the Block
to the first side triangle.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the triangle.
Place
Block 1 with the right side facing Block 2.
Match
the seams of the side triangles and the raw edges.
Pin
the two blocks together along the edge.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the triangles, clipping the seam allowance to allow it to sit
flat.
Place
Block 2 with the right side facing Block 3.
Match
the seams of the side triangles and the raw edges.
Pin
the two blocks together along the edge.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the triangles, clipping the seam allowance to allow it to sit
flat.
The runner needs to have the last two corner triangles stitched in place.
Fold
the long edge of each corner triangle and mark the centre point with a pin.
Fold
the remaining edge of Block 1 and mark the centre point with a pin.
Place
the corner triangle with the right side facing Block 1, matching the centre
pins and having the raw edges even.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the corner triangle.
Fold
the remaining edge of Block 3 and mark the centre point with a pin.
Place
the last corner triangle with the right side facing Block 3, matching the
centre pins and having the raw edges even.
Stitch
with a ¼ inch seam.
Press
the seam towards the corner triangle.
Now,
you may notice that the side triangles end a bit past the edges of the corner
triangles. This is fine. The side triangles were cut a little larger than
needed and we can now trim them to size. In the photo below, I have drawn a
line with a marker to show where the side triangles will be trimmed to size.
Place
the Jelly Roll Runner on your cutting mat.
Place
a long Quilter’s Ruler along the side of the Jelly Roll Runner, checking that
the edge of the Quilter’s Ruler is ¼ inch from the point of each of the Pieced
Squares.
Trim
the excess fabric from the side triangles.
The
top of the Jelly Roll Runner is now completed. It can be quilted and finished
as is or borders can be added to make it larger and frame the pieced section. Join me again soon as I add borders to frame the runner and explore how to quilt it.
