On Point Quilter
  • Blog
  • About
  • EQ Training
    • Tech Know Quilters Electric Quilt 8 Membership Training
    • Shoot for the Stars with EQ8
    • Electric Quilt 8 Sneak Peek
    • Scheduling a Workshop or Lecture
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Free Stuff
    • Other Video Tutorials
  • Spring Fever EQ8 Mystery
Picture

Reflections on Folded Corners

5/2/2015

 
Picture
Traditional Folded Corner. The line highlighted in blue is the sewing line.
Picture
Traditional Folded Corner Finished
Back when I started quilting, I had a book from Mary Ellen Hopkins entitled "It's OK if you Sit on My Quilt Book".  In this book she introduced the quilting world to connector corners.  I think this may have been one of the techniques that revolutionized modern day quilting.  Over the years I have heard a number of names for the technique including "cheater corner" and "folded corner". 

The technique refers to a method of adding triangles to a quilt block.  It is frequently the suggested method for creating snowball blocks, square within a square units and flying geese units.  Although I've used the technique over the years, I found that I would have some fabric slippage or I would stretch the fabric in the pressing process -- resulting in less than perfect results.
A couple of years ago I was introduced to the Perfect Corner Ruler™.  It is built off the folded corner concept.  However this variation on the technique gets rid of some of the challenges with folded corners.

The Perfect Corner Method™ and Ruler™ were both developed by 
Ruthanna Grihalva, Forever In Stitches, LLC. 
Picture
Perfect Corner Tool

Using the Perfect Corner Ruler

I used the Perfect Corner ruler in my Tad, Ted and Theodore Bowtie pattern.  The example below is for the "Theodore" unit in this pattern.

Using the ruler, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the base piece of fabric (this is the  piece the corner will be added to).  The measurement to use for this line  is exactly the same as your folded corner measurement.  (For the Theodore unit this is 2".)
Tad Ted and Theodore Bowties
Theodore Perfect Corner Line
Tad Ted and Theodore Bowties
Cut corners.  The square for these corners will be 3/4" greater than the folded corner square.  For Theodore this was 2-3/4" x 2-3/4".  Cut the square once on the diagonal for two corner pieces.

Perfect Corner Ruler
Place one of the Corner Triangles underneath the Base unit as shown.  The right sides of the fabric will be together and the wrong side of the Base unit will be up.  Make sure that about ¼” of the Corner Triangle extends beyond the sewing line for the seam allowance.

Sew on the drawn line.

Picture
Fold the Corner Triangle into position.  An added benefit is that the seam allowance can be pressed either away from or towards the corner.
Perfect Corner Ruler Method
Finished Theodore unit after trim-down
Here is the MAGIC!  Align a square ruler to the original size of the Base Unit and trim off the excess Corner Triangle fabric.

Finish by folding the Corner Triangle down out of the way and trimming the excess base unit fabric.

Using the Corner Pop Ruler

Approximately six months ago Deb Tucker came out with her version of a "folded corner" ruler.   Corner Pop™ from Studio 180 Design is used for folded corner units.   Using this tool you will trim rather than mark, add an oversized replacement triangle and then square everything to a perfect size.  
Picture
Deb Tucker's Corner Pop Ruler
This tool is featured in my latest pattern - Ferris Wheel. This pattern would have traditionally called for a 2 inch folded corner. Here is how I used the Corner Pop tool.
Picture
Use the 1 1/2″ Cut Away lines on the Corner Pop™ to cut one corner on a half-square triangle unit.


Picture
The square for these corners will be 3/4" greater than the folded corner square.  (For this unit, the square is 2-3/4" x 2-3/4".) Cut each corner squre once on the diagonal to create two half-square triangles.

Picture
With the half square triangle unit on top, sew (using an accurate 1/4″ seam) the corner triangle to the half square triangle.


Picture
Press either direction.  Trim the added corner triangle using the 1 1/2″ Corner Trim Down line on the Corner Pop™.  Trim the top and right sides.
Picture
Here is one of the finished units from a Ferris Wheel block.

Folded Corner Poll

Inquiring minds what to know....what methods you have tried -- and if you have tried multiple methods, which one do you prefer. Poll selections are confidential.

Featured Pattern - Ferris Wheel

When going to the fair as a child, the ferris wheel was my favorite ride.  I loved the view at the top and enjoyed colorful lights late at night.  This quilt can be made with 8 fabrics or the medium and dark fabrics may be made from scraps.  If made from scraps, Charms work for the Dark; and Fat Eighths or Fat Quarters for Medium 1 and 2.
Picture
Ferris Wheel Pattern by On Point Quilter
Finished sizes:  

  • Wall Hanging (36″ x 36″)
  • Lap (66″ x 90″)
  • Queen (90″ x 90″)
  • King (114″ x 114″)


Recommended (optional) Tools:  

  • Tucker Trimmer™ by Studio 180 Design
  • Corner Pop™ by Studio 180 Design

To make construction easier, sections in the quilt use oversized piecing along with the mentioned specialty rulers.  If you chose not to use the specialty rulers, alternate instructions are provided.

Happy quilting.

 Kari 

Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt.
Picture
Judy
5/2/2015 02:55:43 am

Can't participate in your surveys as I use a different method. I use Inklingo to print HST's in the required size, then using the trimmed corners to place them accurately on the square, I sew along the printed seam line. No waste with cutting over-large HST's and the corners come out perfectly.

http://inklingo.com/section/inklingo-quick-start/63/msg/Welcome+to+Inklingo%21/a5771bce93e200c36f7cd9dfd0e5deaa

Sharon
5/2/2015 06:33:02 am

I don't like the folded corners method because I hate the wasted fabric, and I never sew those small triangles together to use in something else. Besides that, they don't turn out very accurate for me. My 1/4" seam allowance is more accurate. I prefer sewing a triangle to an already trimmed corner. I like Sharyn Craig's Cutting Corners Ruler, and would like to see you do a post on that ruler.

Connie
5/2/2015 03:52:39 pm

Ihave used all the methods including Sharon's, but my favorite and only method now is the Corner Pop tool from Studio 180 Design! LOVE that tool!


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Free guide available for newsletter subscribers
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Kari Schell

    Electric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer.

    Categories

    All
    Art And Stitch
    Cricut Maker
    Dear Jane
    Electric Quilt 7
    Electric Quilt 8
    Goose Goose Duck Challenge
    Longarm Quilting
    Patterns
    Silhouette Cameo
    Summer Games
    Tips And Techniques
    Tools And Rulers

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    RSS Feed

Contact:
On Point Quilter
e-mail:  onpointquilter@comcast.net
phone:  763-566-6536

GET MY NEWSLETTER FOR REGULAR EQ AWESOMENESS!

* indicates required
  • Blog
  • About
  • EQ Training
    • Tech Know Quilters Electric Quilt 8 Membership Training
    • Shoot for the Stars with EQ8
    • Electric Quilt 8 Sneak Peek
    • Scheduling a Workshop or Lecture
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Free Stuff
    • Other Video Tutorials
  • Spring Fever EQ8 Mystery