Triangle Quiltalong – Cutting

Fabric triangles quiltalong

I was having a crafting existential crisis a few weeks ago, just one of those creative funks that happens to all of us once in a while. I easily get caught up in the everyday routine and forget to set some time aside to just make.

No creating = Sad Cinti. So it was time I got stuck into a big project that I could look forward to spending time on…A quilt.

Inspired by some artworks on pinterest, I thought a Triangle quilt would be fun. I started cutting last weekend and thought it may be interesting to have a little Triangle Quiltalong.

Every few weeks I’ll show you a stage in the process and guide you along the way. There are no strict rules, just potter along in your own time and share your progress on Instagram with the hashtag #TriangleQuiltalong.

I’ll pin the photos on a dedicated Pinterest board so everyone can be inspired.

I’m no professional quilter, so my style may sometimes be a little unorthodox. I’ll explain how I’ve gone about each stage, and add some hints and tips that I find helpful.

I haven’t created a pattern for you, but more an opportunity to experiment and have fun.

Today I’ll be covering cutting, and have included a template and planning grid for you to print.

There are a couple of ways to go about making a quilt – Improvising or Planning.

I’m thoroughly in the improvising camp. For me patchwork is all about using fabric scraps and remnants, the fun for me is making a sows ear into a silk purse.

The challenge comes in making bits of old clothing, an old cushion cover, fabric scraps and bits of tea towels, into a visually pleasing result.

So I had a triangle template and just started sorting and cutting until I had enough triangles for the size quilt I wanted.

Rotary cutter and fabric triangles patchwork quiltalong

If you prefer to plan, you can use the triangle grid PDF to sketch and colour in, helping you plan how much fabric to buy.

For some design inspiration head over to the #TriangleQuiltalong Pinterest Board where I’ve pinned some inspiring quilts and designs make by other crafters.

Choosing fabric:

If you are using remnants, it’s best to avoid stretchy or synthetics. Cottons and linens work best, and if possible try to match the weight of the fabric to each other.

I have broken this rule slightly and have included denim with some mid weight dress fabric and thinner shirting. I’ve even thrown in some velvet (although piecing that was a nightmare so best avoid if possible).

Of course there is a huge selection of quilting fabrics that are great to work with, especially if you are just starting out.

Cutting tools:

I’ve used a commercially available 5″ template, but have also created a printable one for you. Enlarge or shrink it to the size that suits you, (but remember the seam allowance will be affected).

Print the Triangle Template PDF

It’s important to cut the triangles as accurately as possible. You will be using the edges as a guide for your seams, so a consistent shape will make the piecing easier and neater.

A cutting mat, rotary cutter and acrylic quilting template/ruler is ideal, but good results are still possible by marking your shapes onto the fabric with a marker and cutting with scissors.

Printable triangle template and grid paper

Remember that once you start sewing your quilt will shrink due to the seam allowances, so make sure you factor that into your initial layout.

For the edges and the corners you will need to cut half triangles.

Cut half triangles for quilt edges

I spent quite a while arranging and re-arranging the pattern until I was happy with the layout. Don’t rush this part, it may take a little bit of experimenting to get to something you are happy with.

If you are a planner, do the same but on the paper grid.

It’s a good idea to lay your pieces out on a blanket that can be rolled away when need be. There is nothing worse than having the perfect layout and then somebody clears it away to make room for playing!

rainbow triangle quilt layout

So this is my final design. It’s destined to be a throw on my sofa and will end up being about a cot size when finished.

Do you feel like joining in? I’d love you to leave a comment with links to any pictures of your progress, or just hashtag #TriangleQuiltalong on Instagram.

The next installment (due in a couple of weeks to give you all time to get started) is all about piecing the quilt top. Till then, I’ll be in my sewing room.
Have fun!

Triangle Quiltalong series:

11 Comments

  • CheezyK says:

    Gorgeous, looking forward to seeing the finished product. Unfortunately I won’t be able to join the quiltalong but you can be sure I’ll be bookmarking all of the posts so that I have a step by step to refer to later 🙂

  • Mandy says:

    Thank you so much for this post, I’ve been seeing so many beautiful quits on line of late and thinking of having a crack, but need a few thinks explained to me. e.g. seams. and you’ve done it beautifully. I might be a bit behind the eight ball but I might join in in the next week or so.

    • Miss Cinti @ My Poppet says:

      Thanks Mandy, I’ll be talking more about seams a piecing in the next installment. You can join in at any time, I’m still working on mine.

  • tiffany. says:

    I’m working on too many projects now to begin another, but I always love hearing about other people’s creative processes. I’m definitely a planner. If joining the quiltalong, I would both chart the layout using your graph AND physically arrange the pieces on a blanket! Loved the post.

  • Yvie Lane says:

    Wow! This is so cool. I had found a pic of a gorgeous triangular quilt I wanted to have a go at, have collected some sweet fabrics… and here you are doing a triangular quiltalong! As I have never done a quilt I was just going to jump into the deep end, but now I might use your triangle grid and see if I can be a bit professional about it all. 🙂 I would actually like to have a zig-zag edging on mine, and so will not have to cut any triangles in half. Hope it works! Will definitely be keeping my eye on what you get up to here. Thanks!!

    • Miss Cinti @ My Poppet says:

      Thanks. I was contemplating a zig zag edge on mine too. I think it would look great, just more fiddly. Looking forward to seeing yours too. I haven’t had much chance to sew this week, it’s been very hot and my sewing room is unbearable to be in. Looking forward to getting stuck in when it cools down a bit.

  • Jane says:

    Hello, I have just finished a triangle quilt, I love the way yours is looking…can’t wait to see how it turns out. I will # tag on instagram so you can take a peek 🙂
    Jane xxx

  • Kelsey Boes says:

    Wow, I wish I had found this in time to quilt along! These look so fun and cute. I am usually a plan ahead person, but right now I could go for some spontaneous old-shirt-childhood-dress-forgotten-pillow spontaneity in the form of a triangle quilt 🙂

  • Carla says:

    Just found you & can’t tag along, but I’ll be checking in on the poorest board (I don’t do instagram). I have a few too many irons in the fire, right now, but once I get a respectable size dent in my in-progress projects, a quilt has been taking shape in my mental que for this winter.

  • Patricia McCue Tynan says:

    I sure appreciate how well done your website is. The instructions are very clear. Thanks for sharing. We recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. At the party I cut fabric into 45″ squares. I used my pinking shears for the edges. I did not want to do any sewing on the fabric at all so I could use them later. So now I want to use all the fabric cloths I made to put into a quilt. Then I will have it as a rememberance. Triangles might be just the thing to do. They all co-ordinate in colors so no problem there. Maybe introduce a white to break it up.

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