Half Square Triangles: Eight From Two

This sounds like a multiplication exercise, doesn't it? It really isn't, but there is always some math involved in quilting and this Telecast Thursday episode is no exception.

Last week I showed you how to make four half-square triangles from two pieces of fabric. This Telecast Thursday, I'm going to up the game and show you a technique to make eight half-square triangles from two pieces of fabric. That's twice as many HST's! This is the multiplication part of the episode :)

For this technique, you will again use two pieces of contrasting fabric, but instead of four HST's, you will end up with eight of them.

Watch the video below or on my YouTube channel to see how to make this happen.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to receive automatic notifications when new videos are posted. I hope you'll give this video and others you like a thumbs up and share it with your quilting friends.

I'm continuing with my series on half-square triangles and easy block units next week, so be sure to check back with me then.

Creatively,

Half Square Triangles: Four From Two

In this episode of Telecast Thursday I'm going to show you how to create four half-square triangles (or half square triangles, whichever you prefer) from two pieces of fabric. Okay, maybe this also sounds like a magic trick and it really does work like magic, but it isn't. Sorry to disappoint you but there isn't any real magic in quilting (just like no crying in baseball!).

You'll need two pieces of fabric the same size and I would suggest that there is a contrast between the two fabrics to get the appropriate effect. Two fabrics the same colour doesn't work very well and you'll just up with a pieced square. I'm using charm squares in my demonstration, but any size of square will work, but the pieces do have to be square. Rectangles and triangles just won't do!

To see how simple this technique is, watch the video below or on my YouTube channel.

Do you have an amazing way to create half-square triangles? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Next week I'll give you another way to create even more half-square triangles, so be sure to check back next Telecast Thursday.

Creatively,

Book Review - Crafty Critters

It's been awhile since I've looked at a book that isn't all about quilting. I do, however, also like to pick up books that have stitching projects in them. I'm a sucker for cute, whimsical designs and Crafty Critters has lots of these. 

This is a small book packed full of adorable projects, perfect for gifts. In Crafty Critters, you'll learn to sew whimsical little projects that feature owls, foxes and other woodland animals.

Look through the book with me in the video below or on my YouTube channel.

Love the projects in this book? You can pick up your own copy and start stitching up one - or all - of these sweet designs.

Creatively,

Disclaimer:  I am an Amazon affiliate and will receive a small amount of compensation should you purchase by clicking through a link above. Thank you for helping me continue creating videos and blogposts.

How to use the Tracing Feature with the Janome Artistic Edge

This Telecast Thursday I'm going to let you in on one of my favourite features on the Janome Artistic Edge - besides the fact that it cuts amazingly well and is so fast too.

There are so many things that the Janome Artistic Edge can do: cut paper, vinyl, leather, fabric, apply crystals, and oh, so much more. I have been mostly using it to cut appliqué shapes from fabric and having great success using it to cut out the intricate appliqué shapes in the One World quilt. The SimpleCut software comes pre-bundled with the Janome Artistic Edge and is used to operate the machine. It has many helpful features and one of these is the "trace" feature. I use this feature all the time for two reasons:

• to tell me exactly where the Edge will be cutting the appliqué shape out of my fabric, which allows me to make any necessary adjustments. 
• to tell me how much fabric I need to prepare for appliqué shapes which makes for economical use of fabric and fusible web.

To see more detail on how to use the trace feature, watch the video below or on my YouTube channel.

This is just one of the advantages of the SimpleCut software and the more I'm using it, the more I realize how much it can do!

If you have a digital cutter, let me know in the comments below what your favourite feature is.

Creatively,

Janome Artistic Edge: Fabric Preparation

It's Thursday and that means it's time for another Telecast Thursday blogpost.

This week I'm taking a look at how to prepare your fabric to be cut with a digital cutter, such as the Janome Artistic Edge. It seems that some cutters don't like it when fabric is fabric-y and not paper-y. In this video I'll show you how to make your fabric stiffer - more paper-y - so that the digital cutter can do its very best job. 

Watch the video below or on my YouTube channel.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel so you'll always receive a notification when I post a new video. If you like this video, I hope you'll share it with your quilting friends.

Let me know your best tips to achieving peak performance from your digital cutter in the comments below.

Creatively,