How to use the Quarter and Half diamond rulers

Creating custom sized pieces with the half and quarter diamond rulers

The crosslines on each ruler are an aid to keep the tool straight –and do not relate to any particular strip size. When creating a specific block size, I recommend that you do the following:

1. Draw the block on paper at the finished size.
2. Add 1/4" seam allowance on the outer edges of the block AND the shape you will be cutting.
3. Lay the tool upside down over the line drawing. Position the ruler over the correlating shape, aligning the ruler's finished lines with the block lines. (Seam allowance will automatically be added when you cut the shape).
4. To custom-size the template: position a piece of thickened tape (see my technique in Quick Star Quilts or Quick Diamonds Quilts with blue painter's tape) on the ruler bottom to create a lip or guide.
5. Turn the ruler right side up.
6. Align or butt the tape edge along the straight edge of the fabric. Cut the 2 remaining sides with your rotary cutter for custom-sized pieces.

 Marking the fabric shapes

1. Select a pencil or fabric pen that will fit snugly in the holes at the corners of the rulers. The point of the pencil should extend slightly beneath the ruler to make a crisp dot.
2. Position the ruler over the cut shape on the WRONG SIDE.
3. Mark the tips through each hole with a mark just bold enough to be visible – not a big dot that bleeds onto the front of the fabric.
4. Determine where the pieces will fit together.
5. Place the smaller piece right sides together with the adjacent piece (in this instance, see both the quarter and half diamond shapes paired with the full diamond).
6. Pin with a small "bite" of just a few threads, securing the edges together.
7. Sew from edge-to-edge. Press seams open. Trim tips before or after piecing to adjacent strips.

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