60° Triangles - Block Lottery January 2017

For the month of January, we are sewing with a shape that we haven't tried before - the 60° triangle, aka the equilateral triangle.  

It's not as scary as it looks, thanks to Amy, the fourth volunteer to help with the block lottery.

To our members who were anxiously waiting these photos and instructions, THANK YOU for your patience.  The holidays got the best of us. 

Unlike any previous block lottery, we are asking each unit (it's hard to call a triangle a block) to use a specific fabric.  It is the Rose Border Print in Aqua from Melody Miller's first collection, Mustang, for Cotton + Steel.  

Using a multicolored focus fabric allows for many color combinations that either compliment or contrast.  In the photo below, the fabric chosen are all complimentary and are also Cotton + Steel, but from lines other than Mustang.    

  
16 triangles are needed for construction.  Use as much (or as little) of the Rose Border Print in Aqua as you want.  However, each 16 triangle unit MUST contain at least one piece.  

Cutting:

There are multiple ways to cut 60° triangles using specialty rulers such as this one or this one.  If you prefer templates, a pdf is available for downloading and printing here.


The method I used for these photos is simply done with the 60° angle lines on my regular ruler.  A tutorial with clear instructions and pictures can be found here.  (No need to reinvent the wheel; Thanks Faith!)  

Tips:

Whichever method you go with for cutting your 16 triangles, remember these things:

1)   Starch is your friend, as in before cutting, because you'll be making bias cuts. 

2)   Bias edges s-t-r-e-t-c-h.  Do not use steam or starch after cutting.

3)   Accurate sewing with a .25" seam is crucial.  I can't say it enough, do     not stretch your fabric as you sew.  Let your machine and feed dogs do the work.  If your machine's presser foot has a seam guide, use it.   

4)   Press all seams open.  Be gentle.

    5)  Two triangles sewn together with the seams pressed OPEN will have ears.          Do not chop them off.  They are used to line up triangles.

Sewing:

Sew each row individually, left to right.  

Flip the left triangle onto the triangle to its right.  Line up the only two points (upper right hand side in pic.)  The other two points should have a point side and the cut off tip side.  Stitch a ¼ inch seam from circle to circle.

 

Continue sewing from left to right.  Pay attention to the side you need to sew or you will make a half hexie.  (Ask me how I know!)

Pin the rows together by placing a pin at the point where the seams of the triangle intersect in the upper row.  

Put the pin through the seam intersection in the row underneath.

When pinning, if one triangles edge is a little stretched, don’t pull the other side to line points up.  It can be eased into place by positioning the smaller triangle over your finger and the larger one on top.  It should curve around your finger just enough to ease in the fullness.  Be gentle.  Do not stretch.

Your sewing machine needle should pierce the fabric exactly at the intersection where the seams meet.  Accuracy is the goal.  

Sew all 4 rows in same manner.  Note how the seams all intersect at the same point.

Once all rows are sewn, the finished 16 triangle unit should measure 12.25" from the base to the top point.  

Remember first one always takes longer.  Enjoy and have fun!