On-point quilting: Where to start with cutting and setting triangles

This week’s been fun exploring the built-in stitches on the PFAFF performance icon. In yesterday’s post, we completed stitching the background fabric and making the center block. Today we’ll cut the stitched fabric to make the background pieces for the cushion cover.

The background fabric has rows of stitching as well as half rows of stitching. When I started stitching the fabric, I didn’t realize how long it was going to take! In the end, I decided to create a separate center block so I didn’t need as much stitched fabric.

Cut stitched fabric into squares

The first step is to cut the background fabric into squares of required sizes. I cut the fabric at the 10” mark to make two pieces. On the half with more stitching, I cut a 9¾” square. On the other half, I cut off the green background and cut the stitched fabric into two 5⅛” squares.

Next, cut the large square in half on each diagonal to make four setting triangles.

Then, cut each of the smaller squares in half, on the diagonal, to create a total of four corner squares. I cut the squares at opposite angles so that the stitches run in different directions across the triangles.

Layout for cushion cover assembly

It’s time for the exciting part! Lay out the units for the cushion cover top, as shown in the photo below. You can orient the stitched fabric however you like; you can see I have the corner triangles with the stitching running up and down instead of across in this photo (I changed the direction when actually assembling the cushion).

Remove the Inspira Fast & Easy Tear-A-Way Light Stabilizer before sewing the pieces together – I found using small tipped embroidery scissors helped to start the tearing. I didn’t get all of the stabilizer off, but enough so that the fabric is flexible and not stiff. Be careful not to cut into or remove the stitches.

Sew rows together

The cushion cover has an on-point setting. Start sewing the first row at the top left of the cushion. Sew the setting triangles to the opposite edges of the nine-patch with the extra seam allowance of the triangle at the top edge.

Continue sewing the pieces into rows, pressing the seams to the nine-patch fabric. The seams are a bit thicker, but glide smoothly under the needle thanks to the PFAFF IDT System.

I sewed the single corner square top and bottom rows on last. Using the excess triangle seam allowance to help guide placement, I lined up the tip of the triangle with the center of a nine-patch square to make sure it was centered. Again, remember to press the seams to the nine patches.

Check your measurements and trim if necessary, so the cushion cover top is 17½” square. The completed cushion cover has lots of movement thanks to the stitched fabric. It was so much quicker to piece it together, but the stitched fabric makes this cushion sing summer!

Visit us again tomorrow to find out how to put the finishing touches to complete your cushion cover, made easy with the PFAFF performance icon.

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: Create or edit your stitches with the PFAFF performance icon

Go to part 5: Stitch in the ditch AND grid quilting with the PFAFF IDT System – PERFECT!