Fast Patch Triangles Technique

Anita Hallock's Strip-pieced Triangles

Set of Crown of Thorns blocks

With my Fast Patch strip-piecing techniques, you can make about any block with squares and 45-degree triangles. Make strips of triangles, then sew them to each other and to plain strips.

Make blocks four or eight at a time, as shown with this Shoofly block:

Shoofly blocks

Checkerboard Method

There are two ways to produce triangles in strips. This is the checkerboard method. It is very versatile
and can be used for about any number of triangles.

Strip piece a checkerboard.
Cut it diagonally.
Rearrange the parts like this:

Sew parts together.
Cut diagonally.
Sew parts together again.

Cut strips of triangles.
Sew them to each other or to solid strips to make design panels.

Make more panels if needed for the design you are doing.
Cut cross sections and assemble blocks.

What sizes of strips do you start with? How many strips do you need? What about the seam allowances? What combinations of triangle strips and solid strips do you need different quilt blocks? Details are given in these books. Click for more information.

Two-Square Method

In the Checkerboard method above, bias edges will be on the outside edges of the triangles, making them rather stretchy. This is an advantage in some blocks, but it may not be what you need for the blocks you are making. The Two-Square method puts the straight of the fabric in the traditional position on the outside edges of the blocks.

With the Two-Square method, you make 64 triangles (32 light and 32 dark), sewn together and pressed ready to be made into quilt blocks.

Arrange two squares with right sides together.
Cut diagonally.
Sew the long strips together in pairs, a light and a dark.
Sew a smaller piece to each side, keeping the lights and darks alternating.

Cut diagonally again.

Rearrange the parts and sew them together.
Cut strips of triangles
Sew strips of triangles together in panels.

Assemble blocks, a whole set at a time.

What sizes of squares do you need? What about the seam allowances? What if you need just a few triangles? Fast Patch Kids Quilts introduces this Two-Square technique and gives this information. Click on it to see what types of quilt blocks are in it, and learn how to get a copy.

The books below were written before I developed the Two-Square method, but I have a Two-Square update sheet which is free to owners of these books. You will still need to do some thinking to convert from the Checkerboard method to the Two-Square method. By making some easy calculations, you can use the Two-Square method for most triangle-based blocks in the books. Click to get more information, see what types of quilt blocks are in each book, and learn how to get copies.

If you already have either book, send me a stamped self-addressed envelope for a copy of the Two-Square update. Write to Anita Hallock, P.O. Box 2, Springfield, OR 97477. Please include your e-mail address.

If you have one of those books and the update but aren't sure about converting a project to the Two-Square method, E-mail me: hallock@pacinfo.com.

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