English is my second language. Therefore, many words and phrases that seem normal, routine, or commonplace to a native speaker make me go WOW. How did they come up with that phrase? For example,
there is more than one way to skin a cat!!!
I have a cat, Jonesie. He is adorable, a bit shy around strangers, but very affectionate. To picture him in pain is painful to me. Skin a cat??? No way. Research tells me that the "cat" in that phrase refers to a catfish. That makes sense. Phew!!! what a relief.
Now since the cat-catfish-skinning mystery is resolved, I agree that there are several ways of getting to your destination. Today's destination is Quarter Square Triangles or QSTs.
What is a Quarter Square Triangle?
It is a square made up of four same sized triangles.
How do you make QSTs?
Well, you could cut 4 small triangles and join them to a make a square (YUCK).
In my opinion, that is not a method that requires a blogpost. All other methods of making QSTs start with making HSTs (feel free to check the internet) or require paper piecing.
So what is new about this method? It is
SIMPLE & EASY. Allow me to show you.
Fabric Requirements - 8 squares of fabric 5" each. You can use charm squares.
I am using 4 different squares, two of each kind.
1. Make two four patches. See pictures below.
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| Layout of the 4-patch blocks |
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| Place RST |
Chain piece the squares.
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| Chain Piecing |
Cut the connecting threads and iron to the dark sides.
Match the two halves of the 4-patches
Place RST and chain piece.
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| Placed RST |
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| Chain Piece |
And you have your completed 4-patches :-)
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| Completed 4-patch blocks |
2. Starch and iron the finished 4-patch blocks. At this time, you can square up the blocks. They should measure 9.5".
3. Place the two completed 4-patch blocks RST and stitch all around using a 1/4" seam.
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| 4-patch blocks placed RST |
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| Can you see the 1/4" seam? |
4. Cut on the diagonal, both ways.
5. Open, iron and enjoy your QSTs. You will get 4 QSTs each measuring 6 1/4".
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| Magical!!! |
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| Ironed and Ready to go!!! |
Yes, there are several ways to make QSTs. Why do I like this method?
Because, I got four QSTs without drawing any lines or using any special rulers.
If you like this method, please leave me a comment. Because getting a comment from you is like getting an e-pat on the back!!!
Based on a comment received from Quilter Jackie of So Cal, I am including the size chart here.
In the tutorial, I started with 5" squares and the resulting QST is a little larger than 6.25". You can square it down to 6" (red highlight). See chart below. I am hoping that this chart will be helpful to you!!!
Cut the connecting threads and iron to the dark sides.
Seriously, Preeti, you are BRILLIANT!! LOVE this!! Giving you a huge e-pat on the back and a big e-high 5!! I don't know how you come up with these great techniques but I am so glad you share :)
ReplyDeleteE-Pat here too Preeti!
ReplyDeletevery very cool,
ReplyDeletei've seen many tutorials....but this one's a first!!!
excellent!!!!
xo
eva
I'm very new to quilting..thank you for sharing your method.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you've made something seem simple to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Voila! A big pat to you Preeti, You have taken a complicated chore and made it a simple solution.
ReplyDeleteAn E-pat coming your way. This is very clever. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHow simple and easy, thank you.
ReplyDeleteBravo! So clear and simple. I can't way to try skinning my cat--I mean catfish--this way! See you soon. :) E-pat, pat, pat...
ReplyDeleteNot often that I find a technique that's really original. This is terrific. I'm going to try it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow! Never seen that before. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteThat is so much easier! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteoh so clever! We both live in the Mid Atlantic BTW I'm in MD
ReplyDeleteLeeAnna at not afraid of color
I passed on your tutorial to my bee... thanks
ReplyDeleteLeeAnna
What a great idea! And that's another quilt idea for my long, long list...damn you! :D
ReplyDeleteBTW, being a non-native English speaker as well, I feel with you on the language issue. My favourite English word so far is "shenanigans"; you hardly ever hear it, you can hardly say it, but it's great fun, because it sounds like a made-up word! :P
Wow! Now that is skinning the cat! in a really cool way.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's so simple and brilliant! I never would have thought of it!
ReplyDelete-Malia (Liberty on M*)
This is great! Thank you for laying it out so perfectly for all to use.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing this for some time and have taken it a step further and select the size based on what my scraps will allow - anywhere from 3" to 12". Probably even larger will work but I don't call them scraps.
Fantastic!!! I hate patterns with QSTs but your tutorial makes it super easy for newbies. This is going to be my next project. Thanks a million!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteI love that method! It's so easy and much more efficient. Thank you Preeti!
ReplyDeleteIt goes so fast. Thank you for sharing !
ReplyDeleteAbbysmom,
DeleteDid you try it? I'd love to see it. Send me an email with a picture at sewpreetiquilts@gmail.com
Preeti.
This is something I must try. So basic and simple and AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteOMG.. You are a genius. I hate making these.. BUT will be trying your method. Now to figure out the math for different sizes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the very good and easy to follow tutorial
Quilter Jackie of So Cal
Dear Quilter Jackie of So Cal,
DeleteI hope you come back and check this page because I am going to add the start and finish sizes. And Thank You!!!
Preeti.
Preeti I love, absolutely love your enthusiasm! Your given name is also very beautiful and appropriate. Thank you so much for all of your tutes as they are so well detailed . There are a ton of tutes available, but most do omit a step or two. You are a lot younger than I am, but I will be back frequently to help hone my own efforts. Please continue!!!! You are appreciated!!! :-)
ReplyDeletelove, love ,love this!!! have been watching you for a little while, and am so impressed with your tutes. will be trying this soon. tysm.
ReplyDeleteThat is really neat! Thank you for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteThank you from a beginner .Now for your next project...write a book for beginners!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom how to cut fabric(I did not know how) to finishing a quilt. I will be looking forward to more tutorials .
This is exactly what I have been looking for. Brilliant tutorial, thank you and happy holidays.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are a quilt "Rock Star". I love it. Thank you for letting us all in on this quick way. We are all busy and it is hard to squish in sewing too this helps.
ReplyDeleteA big E_PAT for you! QSTs without drawing lines or bias edges! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for making this look so easy. Sent this to my friend. She is now starting to make a quilt using this method.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! Thank you for showing this. Can't wait to try this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tutorial, I just did that cut on two squares,but l really like using four squares it will save so much time.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! Sending e-hugs!!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJust found your post and new method of making QSTs thru Stephanie's blog at Late Night Quilter. fabulous! I will definitely be using this in the future - and thanks for the extra chart of sizes!
ReplyDeleteWow. What a great, fast technique. Thank you for the chart of sizes.
ReplyDeleteI linked to your blog from Late Night Quilter! Boy am I ever glad that I did. Your tutorial and method are fantastic!!! I am going to joyfully click and become a follower. Thank you so much for sharing your method; I have never made quarter square triangles because of how much trouble I can have making half square triangles. LOL But not any more Thanks to you! Have a Wonderful Day!!
ReplyDeleteI linked over from Late Night a Quilter too, and love your tutorial!!! So glad you shared it, anything that makes life easier is a huge blessing!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this! Great technique.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!! I just love it!! Thanks for sharing ! XX!
ReplyDeleteWow. Mind. Is. Blown. Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful awesomeness!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! I dub you the next Eleanor Burns! Thank you for the chart...as I was reading, I was thinking, "But what if I want a 3" (or whatever) finished QST?" and voilà, my wish was your command. Saving this post. :-) Thank you!
ReplyDeletePretti, first I have to tell you how much I like your name! Very Nice. This method for making QSTs is wonderful! Thank you SEW much for making my quilting life easier. I just happened upon your blog after seeing the beautiful Paulitics quilt. I am making that quilt my next project. I just signed up to follow your blog too. Great job on everything I have see here!
ReplyDeleteHi Pretti,
ReplyDeleteWill these work for Jenny's latest tute Ohio Star. I see trying this in my near future. I still need to finish 2 wedding gifts (1 will be Squirrel Kisses) & 2 baby quilts
Thank you loads. I love the way you simplify processes! ����
ReplyDeleteThank you! You are brilliant and so kind to share. I have a quilt that has remained unfinished for over 5 years because despite several attempts I couldn't make a consistent QST. You saved me a lot of frustration, and now I'll have a quilt!
ReplyDeletehow AWESOME is that!! I'll definitely be using this idea AND chart for sure! TY TY TY
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this information. You have made my life easier.
ReplyDeleteVery nice tutorial, however I don't really care for all the bias edges. I'll have to starch well.
ReplyDelete"There is more than one way to skin a cat" has nothing to do with cats or skinning. It just means there is more than one way to do something. As in more than one way to make a quarter square triangle block. Some people cut tiny triangles and sew them together. That's what our grandmothers did when they sewed by hand. Now we found another way to skin that cat.
Thank you for an easier way to make this block too. I am enjoying seeing all of your beautiful quilts! You are ahead of me for the start of 2017 in quilt finishing, lol
ReplyDeleteHello Preeti! I have been quilting for over 10 years and am still obsessed gloriously in all the steps of quilting! Yet, to give you a little chuckle, last year was the year I really learned how to make HST and now am in love with them, always looking for patterns that use them. Now in 2017, I am learning how to make QST and am once again investigating the variety of ways that quilters make them. I have found 4 methods now that I truly like the method the quilter has shared and know that I will use. One of them, of course is yours, as of today! Plus, I love love love and so much appreciate your size chart! Thank you so much for sharing that along with your great tutorial. I am also going to sign up to follow your blog. I am a talker/writer (as you can tell). But do not comment often enough. So have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI love this method. Thank you!
ReplyDeletewhat a unique & easy way to get a colorful QST - love the photos & instructions - here is your e hugs & high 5s
ReplyDeletedon't know why it took me so long to find this site:) :)
Thank you so much! It's exactly what I've been looking for!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to make them! And I love the size chart. Thank you so much!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the last commenter. This is an awesome tutorial. I'm going to use it. Thanks for the size chart.
ReplyDeleteI love this method. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteI love this method. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteI love this diy project. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI am very late to the party, but I think this is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteJust found your posting. THank you for the chart. Is there a size chart like this forbidden halfsquare triangles.
ReplyDeleteForbidden should have read- for making half square triangles
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Brilliant. This is the method for me now. Thank you so much. 👏👏👏👏👏👌👌
ReplyDeleteBecause all your sides are on the bias(45 degrees from the warp and the weft threads) be very careful with handling them, specially when you press. This method has been around but it tricky. You could use your walking foot also to sew them together, that will also help with sewing on the bias. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteThis is BRILLIANT! And exactly what I need - FOUR of the same QST. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteMade a whole quilt using this method. Works great and give you a beautifully scrappy quilt if you use several packs of charm squares. Thanks for sharing this! And yes, I bet you do have some “scratching your head” times with some of our idioms. But I bet you have some interesting idioms in your native language as well. I have a good friend (now deceased) that published a book of Spanish - English Idioms and English - Spanish Idioms for students take college Spanish. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou had no trouble with the bias edges? Did you starch your fabrics?
Delete“You should know that you are both right, after all, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” Origin The exact origin of this phrase is unknown, but it is thought to be of British origin. It first appeared in print in the early 1800s. It dates back to 1854, when it was first recorded in print in the book “Way down East” by Seba Smith.
ReplyDeleteMore Than One Way to Skin a Cat – Meaning, Origin and Usage
english-grammar-lessons.com/more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat-meaning/
Thank you for sharing this new and easy way to make a quarter square triangle. I made 4 patch blocks and I didn’t know how to make them into a quilt.
ReplyDeleteI am new to quilting and recently found your post. Even though your post was dated in 2014, I am glad I found it in 2022. I will subscribe to your website.
Thanks again Linda in CA.
Almost 10 years after you posted, I am just finding this tutorial. WOW. Mind blown! Brilliant! Thank you!
ReplyDelete