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Chevron Quilt / Half Square Triangle Pattern

Half Square Triangle

I want to see if this will work.

The link above is a PDF file for an instructional pattern, drawn to scale, for a half square triangle. This is the pattern I used for making the Chevron Baby Quilt and the Disney Chevron Quilt. Sometimes, having a paper visual helps and I’d like to make it easier for people. This needs to be printed on 11×17 paper and when the print dialog box is up, make sure the “Actual Size” is selected. There is a 1-inch scale box to make sure it prints correctly and the grid is drawn to a 1-inch scale as well.

It will look like this (but don’t print this, this is a jpg and won’t print correctly):

half square triangle / Chevron pattern instructions
half square triangle / Chevron pattern instructions

If this helps, works, or if more is needed, please let me know. I can still draw, much to my own surprise, and can make something like this in any size, to scale and to print. I could also add more instruction if there is interest. There are other great tutorials out there on YouTube and such, but sometimes people like to see the paper or have something more tangible.

You will need free Adobe Reader to view the file and I suggest printing from Adobe Reader and NOT from your web browser. Your web browser may or may not add content that will change the size.

Is there a better ratio size or finished size that you’d like to see? More instructions? Email me from my contact page or leave a comment. Thanks!

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Valentine’s Day Quilted Headboard

Close Up

I finished the “headboard” piece in time for Valentine’s Day! I’m really happy with the FMQing and have a better feel for it.

Valentine's Day Bed
Valentine’s Day Bed

Here’s a better close up of the finish.

Close Up
Close Up

It’s very…uh…organic. Hahaha. But that’s how it goes. Practice, practice, practice. I suppose if I wanted something more homogenized, I wouldn’t be making it myself!

There are certainly things to remember for next time. Like…don’t quilt the binding fabric. I suppose this would be even harder to watch if I didn’t leave enough of the backing fabric in that I could watch it better with the little bit of extra. So, if you’re going to use bias tape, still leave wiggle room when quilting so you can make sure it doesn’t get tucked under like this.

don't FMQ binding
don’t FMQ binding

And once you DO quilt the binding, rip it out, and requilt, don’t go and do it again.

Pay Attention Becky Jo!
Pay Attention Becky Jo!

I am thick-skulled. I need extra lessons sometimes.

I cut down the backing fabric to 1″ and used it to wrap around for binding.

Backing for Binding
Backing for Binding

More of my severely right-handed pinning…I try to make them perpendicular, I really do…

Pinning Down the Wrap Around Binding
Pinning Down the Wrap Around Binding

Here it is with some non-Valentine’s Day pillow cases.

Chevron Quilt Headboard
Chevron Quilt Headboard

Yeah. I’m really happy with it. It’s about 50 inches wide, so if/when I get tired of it, it would also be a cute table piece…not a full runner, but a good-sized center runner.

If anything, I hope this inspires people who are afraid of the FMQ on their machine. It’s one of those ‘just do it’ things…you have to dig in and go for it. Who cares if it’s a bit wonky, or imperfect? We can go to Target if we wanted perfectly machined, sterile, boringness, but where’s the fun in that? (BTW, I went to Target last night…hahahaha!)