I have been playing around with the methods that this group suggested for making square in a square blocks, and have decided that what works best for me is the quilterscache method 2: cutting squares on the diagonal and sewing the resultant triangles onto the center square.
But this means sewing an unstabilized bias edge, which I've never done before [or perhaps better stated, avoided like the plague before!].
I've heard of starching the squares that are going to be used for the triangles. do you use spray starch? how do you keep the iron faceplate ungooey? any tricks about this?
When I use starch on fabric I use the spray starch, give it a good enough coat to be damp, and then let it sit and soak into the fabric before pressing. Then, I flip the fabric over before pressing. Helps keep my iron nice and neat and gets a good stiff fabric piece as well. However, I don't often starch bias edges. Two tricks: Never touch the bias edge with your fingers (helps me to remember to not pull) and use the walking foot for piecing . . . no pushing/pulling on that edge.
Don't worry about the bugs that everyone has put in your ear about how horribly scary bias edges are. They aren't nearly as bad as many other things that we deal with on a daily basis, like the fear of the needle going through your finger! Take a deep breath and go for it! You will love it!
Martha, it may be that you won't have any trouble at all and won't need any tricks except to stitch gently (no pulling or tugging). A lot depends on your fabrics and also your SM. Why don't you cut a square of the fabric that needs to be stitched on the bias, cut it bias and stitch it to the fabric that will remain straight grain? That test will probably tell you if there's no problem or if you're in for a struggle. If your bias fabric is a mushy soft one, you might need some starch or the list of blue words to shriek as necessary. OTOH, it will very likely be that the stitching will be as easy as can be. Polly
I always do square in a square (however many times!) by the foundation paper piecing method. never have any worries about bias edges that way (unless sometimes if I forget to cut carefully beforehand). . In message , Martha writes
I like to use starch when I have a bunch of pieces with bias edges. I starch BEFORE cutting the pieces. If I'm cutting triangles from strips, I usually cut the strips, starch them, let the dry completely, and then cut. If you're sewing a bias edge to a straight-grain piece, it sometimes helps to have the bias on the bottom, next to the feed dogs.
Yes, you can starch your fabrics well before cutting them. Spray fabric with starch and let sit for a few minutes for the fabric to absorb the starch; then press. If you press right away you will end up with a gunky iron and flakes of starch on your fabric.
Also, remember that your square is cut on grain. So, you are only sewing one bias edge to a straight edge (not two bias together) The straight grain square will also help you avoid pulling things out of whack.
When I do any of this type of block I have a couple of "tricks" that I use. First, check the pressure foot pressure of your machine. To do that cut two pieces of fabric exactly the same length. Do not pin them together as you sew a regular quarter inch seam. The seam should end with both pieces lined up and even at the ends. IF not you may want/ need to check the pressure on your pressure foot. If the top fabric ends up "longer" than the bottom (which is usual, sigh) loosen the foot pressure, if possible. If you can't adjust the pressure foot pressure, you will know that you have to be a bit more careful with all seaming.
Second trick, cut your squares for the triangles a bit over size. That gives you room to trim the finished square to size instead of unsewing and resewing a bias edge. Also, if you are doing a lot of these, trim the corners of half the triangles. make a template if you wish. Find the center of the bias side, and center of one side of the square. match and trim corners so that the edges are the same. Makes it faster to sew the first sides on the square. Just a note..... the Dear Jane group used to have/ may still have and annual siggie swap. And the block used is square in a square. The first year I did the swap I made well over a hundred of these. So learned a lot of tricks to make the project go a bit faster.
Have fun, and don't worry overmuch about it. Keep the bias edge on the bottom, cut oversize triangles and go for it.
Martha, I use the method you describe: triangles on opposite sides, press open, triangles on the other two sides, and trim. Don't obsess about the bias edges -- they don't stretch THAT much unless you tug on them. You can make just one or two square-in- square blocks to see how it works. That won't ruin your stash or take much time (in fact, it would take less time than worrying about it). In other words, just go for it!
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