Measurements

Jan 25, 2008 10 Replies

I recently went to Quilters' Cache and decided to make Buckeye Beauty. When I put the four 3.5" squares together, I get a square of 6.5". However, the half-square triangles are supposed to be cut at 6 and 7/8" and that doesn't add up to 6.5" when sewn together.



Is the pattern measurement for the half-square triangles incorrect, am I reading this pattern incorrectly, or is there a better measurement for the half-square triangles? My math said cut them 7 and 3/8" to get a 6.5 square as did my husband's (he's MUCH better at math than I am).



I am not cutting even one of them until I hear from you who (are much smarter than me) to tell me what is the correct measurement of a half-square triangle to get a 6.5" square after sewing them together.



Thank you. There are probably 800 people on this board with better math skills than me.


The pattern is right. A 3.5 inch square will finish to 3 inches. When you sew 4 of them together, you get a 6.5 inch square, including seam allowances. It will finish to 6 inches. The "formula" for half-square triangles is to add 7/8" to the *finished* size; your finished size is

6", so 6-7/8" is correct.

Julia in MN

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Phyllis Nilss> I recently went to Quilters' Cache and decided to make Buckeye Beauty. When

Julia did, didn't she? Way to go, Julia. Polly

Except that *some folks* (it's not me, honest, it's the pussycats doing it) absolutely NEVER have their HSTs come out right so *they* cut them at 7-1/4" and trim the finished square down to 6-1/2". VBS -- I don't have any trouble with other stuff that had bias cut parts to it, just the HSTs -- go figure -- LOLOL! And I don't cut HSTs any more, I cut the larger squares, sew the two diagonal seams and then cut them apart to make 2 HST blocks :-). This way, the pussycats don't have to mess with the rotary cutter -- it's difficult to do with their furry little hands!!!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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I agree with the others. The pattern is correct, but I always go the extra

1/8th inch, so I would go 7". It is easier to trim the block then pick out stitches to resew if you aren't 100% accurate.

Phyllis: For half square triangles, the formula is to add 7/8" to the desired FINISHED size. I find that fiddly, so I add a full inch, then square it off. This works for me; lots of other quilters do it this way. PAT

Pat, I'm always surprised at the bright young folks that come by that can excel at calculus and are so puzzled at fractions and rulers. I used to just tell them to go back one mark from the inch. Like you, I abandoned that and tell them to just cut an inch and trim. They say you pick your battles. I'm not picking that one. Polly

I KNOW I came back here to thank you all, but I don't see it. Guess this isn't my month for doing much right, but I do thank you for taking the time to tell me, not only that it is right, but "why" it is right. I've never had a question that someone here hasn't been able to answer. If this thank you doesn't show up, I'm going to scream!

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