Cake Mix

I am a self-taught sewer (sewist?) and quilter. Thankfully, when I need help, inspiration, or am stuck I can turn to sewing blog and YouTube videos. Quilting has so many techniques or varieties of quilting; paper piecing, hand quilting, long arm quilting, free motion quilting, strip piecing, etc. 

One of the new-to-me techniques is triangle paper. This is paper that you sew on top of and then cut into the perfect shapes that will make up your quilt squares. One take on triangle paper are these cake mixes. These arrive like large pads of paper. You place two fabrics that are 10" x 10" facing each other, lay a piece of paper on top, and sew through it. Then, you simply follow the cutting lines and have perfectly joined half-square triangles.

Fat Quarter Shop sent me this set of "recipe cards" to try out. I decided to use up some of my favorite fabrics that I've loved and hoarded but didn't have a lot left of to use in bigger projects. You can also purchase a layer cake from Fat Quarter Shop that will come pre-cut and coordinate (this is a layer cake that I have my eye on...)

These fabrics are from several different lines and designers but I love each and every one of them. Though I wouldn't normally put them together, I was impatient to get started and decided to make it work. 

Here is a square of two pieces of fabric and the sheet of paper that I've sewn through. There are sewing lines that you follow and cutting lines that you breeze through with a rotary cutter.

The sewing lines have arrows that guide you; I kept the line in the center of my sewing foot as I went. I kept my needle in the down position so that I could pivot and turn quite easily.

The cutting lines are the black lines and it is another step that goes quite quickly.

I can honestly say that I will never, EVER, make half square triangles without triangle paper again!!!

Once you get your shapes cut and ironed, there are several templates that you can follow to set up your quilt squares. I am loving the organic look of these mis-matchy diamonds in such a classic shape. I am going make 42 of these so that my quilt will be comprised of 7 of these blocks by 6. This should make a pretty large and comfy throw. 

Here is one completed practice square. My white fabric is a bit see through and therefore making sure that seams are nested will be important. I love how to points match up so well because of the way they are sewn and cut by use of the paper. It is a very quick process and the possibilities are truly endless! If you look at the bottom of the cake mix front page, it shows you a few ways that you can arrange your shapes and the different quilt squares that you can make. I might throw a random square or two to break up all of these mini diamonds. Stay tuned for the finished quilt top!

***Want some fabric to try these squares out on? Enter the give~away from Yellow Yarn Fabrics in the post!***