1 ruler, 1 rotary cutter for making half diamond units

Welcome back! Yesterday I started to show you how to make a Diamond Hexagon using the Sew Easy Triangle Ruler 60° for an oversized throw cushion. It’s a really simple technique that gives an intricate design – in other words, it looks difficult to make while it’s quite the contrary! So, let’s continue this exciting project.

Making Half Diamonds for the Diamond Hexagon Cushion

We covered how to make the triangles (aka diamonds) for the pattern in yesterday’s post, and today we’ll make the Half Diamond units using the Sew Easy Half Diamond Ruler and the OLFA 45mm Quick Change Rotary Cutter. I’m quite fond of this rotary cutter, as I can easily change blades in just a single click. No more confusing assembly with a washer and a nut! I just need to slide the locking mechanism and the blade immediately pops out! And it’s really easy to insert a new blade. Another thing I like is the innovative spilt blade cover which allows for extra safety protection while cutting. It’s perfect for right and left-handed quilters since each side slides back and forth independently. Watch the video to see for yourself:

Making Half Diamonds

Remember at the end of yesterday’s post I mentioned keeping all your scraps? Now’s the time to bring them back onto your cutting mat, along with your Sew Easy Half Diamond ruler and your OLFA Quick Change Rotary Cutter.

Step 1

• Cut 8 Half Diamond units from your scraps while ensuring that:
  • 4 units have the 60° angle on the left
  • 4 units have the 60° angle on the right

You should also have one extra unit from yesterday’s Step 4 (if you truly cut 3 triangles out of each rectangle, that is) and you could use it to make these half diamonds. Don’t hesitate to sew more 2¼” strips together should you need to as well.

Step 1 with the 60° angle on the left

Sew additional strips together should you need to before cutting a Half Diamond unit.

Step 2

• Stitch a 1½” strip from your solid fabric to the edge of 4 half diamond units from Step 1 as follows:
  • 2 units with the 60° angle on the left
  • 2 units with the 60° angle on the right

Step 3

• Cut a 1½” strip from another fabric of your choice (I chose the green with orange polka dot).
• Stitch to the edge of 4 half diamond units from Step 1 as follows:
  • 2 units with the 60° angle on the left
  • 2 units with the 60° angle on the right

Final layout of the Diamond Hexagon Cushion

That’s all for today’s instructions. Hope you’re enjoying making the Half Diamonds using the Sew Easy Half Diamond Ruler. Come back tomorrow for the big reveal! You’ll get to see just how easy it is to make the Diamond Hexagon oversized throw cushion!

This is part 2 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 1: In quilting, diamonds made easy with the Sew Easy 60° Triangle Ruler!

Go to part 3: 4 easy steps to piecing the colorful Diamond Hexagon cushion top

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