 These techniques save a lot of time and simplify what used to be the tedious part of creating a quilt. Instead of cutting out hundreds of triangles we can create 2,4, 8 or more half square triangles (HSTs) with only a few seams, a rotary cutter and ruler. (See how here)
One of my favourite quilt patterns is the Double Irish Chain. This pattern, like many others, was developed around tools like the 2 ½ inch wide ruler and rotary cutter we use for strip cutting/sewing. Other tools like the 6 ½ inch ruler and specialized triangle rulers are key to some of the new, quicker assembly methods in the patterns that we follow. Chances are that there are not many new quilt patterns that are yet undiscovered. Every quilt block we make today may have been developed decades or even centuries ago. The new patterns that are available now use those patterns and employ new techniques to make piecing easier - but often with one drawback. Waste. I can’t tell you how it pains me to buy the fabric the pattern requires and to follow the directions only to learn that as much as half a square is cut off after sewing - and discarded. (sew and flip method). I was so disappointed finding many of the new patterns di this that I decided to stop buying patterns and develop my own. One such pattern I drew up, I did to highlight some beautiful fabric. It would be simple - a play on the rail fence quilt square - with a wider center strip. I used my 2 ½ ruler and my 4 ½ ruler and strip cut and sewed a 2 ½ inch + 4 ½ inch + 2 ½ inch strip set the WOF. (width of fabric). This created a strip set 8 ½ inches wide. To make a square I would cut this strip set into 8 ½ inch lengths making 8 ½ inch squares to put together to create a quick and easy quilt. So I did. And I was disappointed that I did not think ahead. After cutting the strip sets into squares I realized I could get 4 squares at 8 ½ inches with a leftover strip of 7 ¾ inches. Wow. What a waste. Yes I could put that into a scrap pile to be used some other day - NOT - (or donated). But I began to think how I could rewrite that pattern idea into something that would make better use of the fabric. I did a little ciphering, and realized if I changed the center strip to be 4 ¼ inches instead of 4 ½ , I could get a full 5 squares of 8 ¼ squares out of my strip set. AND NO WASTE! (See the new patttern here - My First Waltz) Over time I realized that one small change to technique or measurements on a pattern can often save as much as 25% of the fabric required for a quilt. All that can add up to $20 and sometimes $30 a quilt. I began thinking about all the patterns that are out there that could benefit from such a small adjustment so as to save fabric. And I found a second pattern that I adjusted. And that is how I began to rewrite history. I am on the quest to tweak and re-write traditional patterns and blocks to use fabric more economically while still using newer techniques that save time. (You can see a few here. ) AND - with the cost of fabric today it means instead of scaling back on what I love to do - I can continue to create quilts with abandon and within budget! It means using less fabric and having less waste. We live in a very affluent society but life for many who are retiring and living on a fixed income or those raising a young family are having to pinch pennies just to get by. Sometimes all we need to do is make a few adjustments here and there and we can still do many of the things we love. Rewriting patterns to reduce waste keeps me doing what I love! I think my Grandmother - who lived through the depression - and made dozens of quilts during that time - would be proud.
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