Sunday Quilt Inspiration: The Power of THR3E

It's true, three has some pretty special powers that no other number has in quite the same way. There's the most obvious, the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Can't be a Christian without knowing the power of this particular Three.

But three is a cool number anyway. How about the three sides of a shape? That's what we'll deal with today. There's the triangle, which is the only (equilateral) real triangle. It's the only one I ever really remember because I finally made a neumonic for myself: equi means equal, and lateral means side. So equal sides is what makes a triangle. [Someone could have told me that 45 years ago!]  

But there are also right triangles. And acute triangles. Obtuse triangles. Isosceles. Scalene. I imagine that there are triangles for any way you can think of drawing a triangle. So, as long as there are only three sides, you've got something in the way of a triangle.

Since we're into quilt-making, let's consider how to make a quilt with triangles. They don't have to be equilateral to work, but for this SQI, we're looking at real triangles. By the way, half-square triangles or HSTs, are right triangles, not equilateral triangles. Try not to get confused here.

Equilateral triangles quilt

1.  Start with a set of equilateral triangle pieces of fabric that are the same size. (This is a great time to use that Accuquilt.) I like to sew in strip sets, one right after the next. To keep things easy, I'm showing white triangles separated by colored ones. That is so you can see that I'm keep all the white tris facing me with the point up. The colored tris match to the white ones (RST) with the point down. See #1 in the diagram.

2. Continue sewing pairs in this way until you have what may be enough for a row. 

Trimming the side to
square up the quilt

3. Sew the pairs to each other to create a row. Make several rows.  If you have a square quilt in mind (equal length and width) count the triangles in the first row and make that many rows. Let's say 12 triangles will make a 36" row. You'll need to make 12 rows to get a 36" x 36" quilt. 

But you're working with triangles, so the sides will not be straight until you cut off the protruding triangles. I recommend that you sew one extra pair to every row. Now you'll sew 14 triangles to make your 36" row because you'll be straightening the sides out later. 

Once you have enough rows to make your quilt, you'll want to put them on a design wall or some place where you can play. There are too many designs to show them all here, but you probably get the idea that this is the playing step.

Now that you've decided on a design, sew two rows together matching the points for that design. Keep going until all the rows are in place. Really, it's that simple. 

Like challenges? Here are a few that might tax your thinking...