June 11, 2011

Folded-Corner Triangles

What do you do with your leftover folded-corner triangles?  Do you make small quilts with them?  Do you use them for pieced sashings? 

Or do you throw them away without guilt and never give it another thought? 

IMG_0345bb

Personally, I can’t force myself to throw them away, so I just collect them and stuff them into a big apothecary jar.  Looking through the jar is like an archeological dig.  Each layer identifies a quilt I worked on, in the order I made it.  If I couldn’t remember when I made the quilt, I would at least remember that it was before the pink and brown layer, but after the red and tan layer. 

The jar is overflowing, so I thought it would be a good time to use some of them.  These were on top of the jar, and from my latest project.  I grabbed a few and sewed light and dark triangles together, using a small seam allowance (about 3/16”).

IMG_0322b (Large)

  Since I’m not sure yet how I’ll put these together, I pressed the seams open.  Now I won’t have to worry about bulky seam allowances, no matter how I arrange the half-square triangle units.

IMG_0323b (Large)

To make sure they end up the same size,  I used the Bias Square Ruler to trim the unfinished units to 1 3/4”.   You can use any ruler with a diagonal marking, but this is my favorite.  My plan now is to decide on a layout and sew the units together in rows, using a full 1/4” seam allowance, then trimming off the excess and pressing the seam allowances in alternating directions from row to row. 

IMG_0329b

And now for the fun part!  These are some arrangements I played around with, using only 16 half-square triangle units.   I’m leaning toward the layout in the middle row on the right. 

9 1 4
8 7 2
6 5 3

If you’ve created anything using your folded-corner triangles, I would love for you to share a link to your post in the box below – it can be an older post, or one you do in the future.  Hopefully the Linky thing will work.  This is the first time I’ve tried to use it, and I’m a little challenged that way.

Hope you’re having a good weekend!

Kim

 

45 comments:

Brenda said...

these are great. I really like scrappy quilts that play with values instead of colours. what do you mean by folded corner triangles? the ones left over from joining binding strips?

Darlene said...

Wow, they are fabulous! Nothing from me - I toss them. LOL

Nicky said...

Hope I've done the linky thing correctly - I used my bonus triangles to make a border for the quilt they originated from.

No waste!

Leah said...

I have a hard time throwing any fabric away no matter how small. I too save my half square triangles. I usually turn them into really small quilts or use them in bigger scrappy quilts. The link I posted is of a quilt made from a bunch of 1.5 inch blue and yellow HST. It hangs on the wall next to my cutting table.

SueR said...

Hi Kim, I do save those foldy triangles but can't think exactly what I've done with them. Used some to make some Bonnie Hunter basket blocks, and some for some little minis. No links though, sorry!

beth said...

I just began saving the little triangles. My jar does not have a LOT of treasure yet...I'm on my way there. ;)

Loves to Quilt said...

I save all of my triangles. BUT, I have gotten around to using them for anything YET!

Jocelyn said...

I too save my triangles. I've made one little table topper which I have linked. It's so fun to use these little cast offs in some creative fashion.

Megan said...

I save all mine, too, unless the original cut away block's size was less than 2." All of mine are currently bagged up in sandwich bags by project and stuffed in a larger plastic bag.

Cille said...

Arghhhh... You have me thinking now. I have a lot of triangle left overs from the quilt I'm making now and the thought of throwing them away had occured to me. Yep that right. I'm not exactly frugal when it comes to quilting. But then looking at your pictures I realized I need to use them. Most likely for some patterned backing. Stay tuned...

Trudi said...

Oh I have a whole collection of triangles :) I should do something with them one of these days :) Maybe I will :)

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

It's an older post Kim, but the one I linked and the one after it show the journals I made just from the triangles from ONE quilt!

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

All of the blocks are great! It could be a sampler quilt too. I have a friend who makes fantastic things out of all of the small pieces I discard.

Sherri said...

What a great post, Kim! I can't bear to throw them away either...and actually, I just made my sewing machine cover using half-square triangles created from left overs of folded corner triangles. I'll go find the link and be back!

Candace said...

I save my triangles, but have yet to make anything, Kim! I love what you've come up with! I really like the middle first row and the left bottom row. What I save are the tiny corners clipped from different blocks in a small, antique jar - when I go to a class with my jar and clip my corners into it, people are amazed (and think I'm a little off my rocker - lol)! But like you, it's a little bit of history of what you've made and a very colorful jar!
Cheers!

Julia said...

All I've done is thnk of what to do with them, then give up and put them away for another day..

Katie M. said...

I always save my cut of triangles after trimming. I usually stack them next to my machine and use them as leaders and enders and then they are sewn into half square triangle blocks with coordinating fabric.

Thimbleanna said...

Oh, you clever girl! Mine are usually so small that I just end up throwing them away without a second thought. It's sure sun to see all of your arrangements!

liz said...

In the past I haven't saved them, but from now on, I will. A special jar is a good idea, or they would get snowed under by all the other scraps floating around.

Béa said...

I save all them :fabric is so expensive in France...no wasting. But I sew a second seam 3/8 away, at the same time, and cut between the two seams. My bonus HST are ready for use for borders, mini quilt, blocks... XO

Helen in the UK said...

LOVE your little HSTs!
Did you see Bonnie Hunter did a post about how she uses/organises these pieces a while back: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/03/those-bonus-triangles.html

Have fun with them :)

antique quilter said...

yes I am crazy I save them
not sure I have posted something using them yet!
will have to go back and look
oh they make great little quilts go for it!
Kathie

Melanie said...

I Just started saving them---- It's going to be an awesome quilt...full of fabric memories...

Abby and Stephanie said...

I love all the different lay-outs. I admit to throwing them out without a care. I might need to rethink that!

Jennifer said...

Wish I could say I'd done something with mine, but they sit in a bag near my sewing machine.....someday!

Suburban Stitcher said...

I think that's my favorite layout too! It really lets you focus on the light and dark values.

Lori said...

That is so cool you took the time to play! I love all of the settings and the tris will make a lovely quilt.

Carol said...

Love your little blocks from left-over triangles. I did make something, I added my name to Mr. Linky. I made a mini version of your quilt Summer Breeze. The pinwheels are made from left-over triangles.

Michelle said...

I have saved the small triangles from the Charming Stars quilt I made. I haven't done any thing with them yet but I want to do them like yours (1st row, last pic). I just love that style.

Michele said...

I love these! I don't save triangles like this, but I do have a mason jar full of the tiny corners that you trim off hst's after they are sewn. Yes, it's odd, but it makes a great quilt time capsule and decoration too!

Kristen said...

I had not saved them until I read Bonnie K. Hunter's trick of using business cards to mark the perfect 2" HST ... I have a big stack of pink and white ones left over from a quilt I'm making from one of YOUR books. And I have just the idea of what to do with them (when I get around to it, of course). I will come back and post the link once I do.

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh Oh....I save EVERY little piece! As you illustrate, the sky is the limit on what you can do with them...and frankly, as high as fabric has gotten I'm not throwing NUTHIN' out!!!

Wendy P said...

I linked to today's post on my blog! I looked back and could not find a post on my wall hanging made from half square triangle leftovers, so thanks for the opportunity to do so!

I am looking forward to seeing what you do with all your cool scrappy folded-corner triangles. (I never heard them called that until today!)

Sinta Renee said...

What a fun post Kim! I am just catching up on blogs... I have to go see what everybody else has done with their's now!

Cheryl said...

I don't have anything to share, but love to see what others have done! I just love half square triangles!

Nicky said...

Thanks Kim I just had to come back to see what other people had posted. Some great ideas out there! Thanks for the opportunity to share!

QuiltSue said...

I've made pincushions, with mine, but didn't take photos before they were sent off to the intended recipients. Now I'm building up a new supply of them.

Prof. S (the enchanted bobbin) said...

I have just been tossing mine...but your post might inspire me to change my ways!

Lynn said...

I have been saving them in a storage box for years. I think I might have 1,000 or so. I thought of using them to frame orphan blocks, or log cabin blocks. So far though, they just sit in their box. It's a someday project.

eva said...

a bit slow here - can you explain folded corner triangles....

thanks
eva

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

I save everything... They come in handy! these blocks look gorgeous kim! so much fun!

The Quilting Elf said...

I made and exchanged square-in-a-square blocks using novelty fabrics. I made that quilt and then used the cut off triangles for a pinwheel quilt. Both became donation quilts to children's charities. It was great fun to get a *bonus* quilt!

Suzy said...

Added a linky. Better late than never? Hehehehe. :o)

Kay Koeper Sorensen said...

Half square triangles are what really drew me into quilting.

Марина Сохончук said...

Thank you for sharing!
I added the link to my bonus HST quilt...