The new red and white project I started last weekend has a very interesting tool that makes constructing the blocks quite easy. The toosl I am using are called the Tri Recs rulers, designed by Darlene Zimmerman and Joy Hoffman for EZ Tools. They are sold together as a set, and both shapes are required to make the blocks.
There are some great instructional videos on YouTube that you can watch to see how the tools are used. Click on this link to view. This Fons and Porter online post is a great instructional as well.
Basically, what you do is cut strips of fabric to the finished height of the triangle units you need for the blocks. Mine are each 3 1/2 inches tall. The Tri triangles are Isololes triangles (remember those from Geometry class?), and the Recs triangles are Right triangles. When you cut those with your fabric doubled you get one Right triangle, and one Right triangle, reversed. Sew the three units together and you have a square.
Four of these finshed units are required for each quilt block.
The block is comprised of four Tri Recs units, four half square triangles and one center four patch block. A simple nine patch really!
16 Responses
Thank you for this! I was so curious about these darling and unusual blocks! You are going to have a really awesome quilt!
I was wondering how the block was constructed; thanks for showing. So simple once you see how, but looks so complicated.
WOW!! SEW easy but so incredibly sweet!! Thanks for sharing!
P
Thanks for the heads up on construction … I had visions of fiddling with templates … I don’t do well with templates (I guess I’m not careful to make sure that I hold my pencil consistently so the shapes aren’t all uniformly sized). This looks so much easier!
Nice block! I have this ruler. It is really a good one.
Mary
Thanks for answering my question! Sounds like a wonderful set of rulers and the links you provided are very helpful, too.
Hugs!
I love the block but the color combo in the magazine was not my favorite. Your reds are great! I have a set if those tools and the definitely do a great job in doing the geometry 🙂
Love those rulers! Great explanation of how to use them 🙂
okay that’s cool! geometry? hah! i was able to skirt that in college! ;p
Very cool! Thanks for sharing what tool you’re using. I’ll have to keep my eye out for them.
I am going to make this quilt! I have the rulers, just have not used them. Thanks for showing us info and links. Sometimes all we need is a gentle nudge to get going! Love your blog.
Gloria
Thanks for the info on how you made the block. I bought thr TriRecs rulers nearly 10 years ago when they were a lot cheaper. I’ve used them to make star blocks. There is no substitute for them in my mind. In fact I have some pieced TriRecs so I can try your block.
Enjoy your enthusiasm for quilting.
Hope Grandpa is doing as well as can be expected. Love the stories about him and E.
I love the block. I’ve heard of those Tri Recs rulers before but have not yet used one. Thanks for the info.
I like your reds and tans much better than the reds and whites in the magazine sample. Lookin’ good!
Thank you! What an adorable block!
Thanks for the confidence builder. I have a couple patterns that need this ruler… but I have been intimidated by it.