Tutorial for Jack! Learn some helpful tips!

This post shares how to make Corner Triangles and how to square them up.  AND...How to build the lower curled portion on Jack's stem unit which is the same stem used in Sharing the Harvest.

Corner Triangles are used in so many quilt patterns and they are so easy to make!  Jack has a number of Corner Triangles in the pattern and if you've never made one...here's a look at how to, and what to do if they turn out a bit wonky... 

Begin by placing a 45 degree line on the edge of a square or rectangle as shown below, and draw a line corner to corner using a 45 degree line.

Place the right sides together with the required fabric underneath

It'll look like this if using a rectangle to create a diagonal seam.

Stitch on the drawn line, flip to reveal the right side of the fabric and press. I use Aurifil 50wt thread.  It's a lighter weight and when the fabric is folded over the stitching line, most times everything lines up well.  I recommend stitching just a thread beyond the drawn line to allow for the thickness of the thread.

This is how it should look when adding a rectangle instead of a square.

But what if your edges don't match up perfectly? Mine can be wonky at times!  Sometimes the Corner Triangle fabric will show beyond the the edge of the bottom fabric.  This is a result of stitching too far from the drawn line towards the outer corner.  

Or the opposite can take place. The Corner Triangle fabric is shorter than the background.  This is caused when stitching too far from the other side of the drawn line.  

Both photos below are exaggerated examples.

So what can you do?

In the photo below, i do not trim the fabric underneath. 

(If i'm working with small Corner Triangle units, smaller than 1-1/2", i don't trim underneath at all.)

Instead, when sewing the above unit to another piece of fabric, i place them right sides together, using the black fabric edge in this case, as my guide.  Lining it up to the edge of the green fabric underneath and stitching a 1/4" seam.

In the photo below, you can see the orange Corner Triangle unit doesn't come all the way to the edge.  

However....If the orange Corner Tri is too short, i recommend just doing it over.  

In the example below, i would remake that Corner Triangle. Why?  

It appears there is too little of the orange fabric that will be caught in the seam allowance and eventually it would compromise the integrity of the seam.  Make sure you have enough of the Corner Triangle to truly capture a significant and strong seam.

The reverse of this is when there is too much orange Corner Triangle showing beyond the black fabric.

This is an easy fix!  Turn the unit over and trim the orange Corner Triangle even with the black fabric. 

 

Hold on...

Again, this is an exaggerated example and look how far away i am from the corner.  Eeeeks!!

I would redo this one too.  Trimming a couple thread overhang would be okay, this example not.  LOL 

I guess my best advice is to look carefully at your Corner Triangle.  If you can fudge it without compromising the seam allowance or creating more wonkiness, then this is how to straighten it up.  

And now for the lower curly portion of Jack's stem section

In the pattern instructions, you'll be creating a Corner Triangle using the background (e) rectangle and the green stem rectangle to the left of (e).  Once this unit is made, trim the background portion to the size indicated in the pattern.  There should be a 1/2" space between the green stem and the background as noted in the photo.  1/4th of that area will be taken up in a seam.

Once trimmed and with right sides together, stitch the stem unit above to the section directly above it, shown in the pattern diagram and below.  

Don't match the green diagonal seams, but they should be very close together when laying side by side as shown in the photo below.  

  

Depending on the accuracy of ones seams, the space between green Corner Triangle and the green stem portion (indicated by the arrow below) may be smaller or larger when sewn together. 

The rest of the stem unit is a breeze! Just take it one stitch and at time and try and be as accurate as possible.

The very first photo of Jack at the beginning of this post and the one below are made by Sharon who has a thriving online Etsy shop Daisy Cottage Quilting and can be found on Instagram @daisycottagequilting

 

Isn't he just the cutest??

There are a couple other Tutorials recommended in the pattern when finishing your Jack...Adding a Prairie Point Sleeve and a Single Binding.  

Find them both by clicking on the blue links.

And...Here is my new pattern cover for Jack!  Available now in PDF form for $8 in my Etsy Shop.  Mailed copies will be available as soon as i pick them up from the printer next week :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

If you do make a Jack or 2...

post a pic on your Instagram, tagging me

@laughyourselfintostitches with the #jackthequilt 

Or email me a photo! And i'll be more than happy to share! chezstitches@gmail.com

Happy Fall!