BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Quilting Confused With a Pattern - Please Help!

Hello all <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'm new at quilting and recently found this pattern online.

http://www.quilters-world.com/freepatterns/pdfs/1201christmasstartreeskirt.pdf

I really want to make this for x-mas and already went out and bought the fabric.

The thing is, I'm in Europe... we use cm here rather than inches and I had to convert it all, which wasn't a problem.

The part I'm stuck on is how to cut the pieces. In the quilting clas I took, we were told to always leave an edge of a half cm on all sides of the pieces.

When started following the instructions, step 1 is to cut out 2 squares of 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" (23.5 x 23.5 cm)

When marking these out on the fabric I did as I was taught and left an edge of 1/2 cm on all sides.

The next part of the instruction is to cut the squares on both diagonals to make eight triangles.

This is where I get confused. If I cut the square on the two diagonals to make these triangles, how do I get the 1/2 cm on each of the triangles? Do I just sew 1/2 cm in from the edge I just cut?

I'm so confused. Please help!

Hi Breigh,
The pattern should have accounted for all seam allowances. Just make sure to sew the seams accurately and it will work out fine.

HI Breigh,
After I got home last night I couldn't stop thinking about your delima. I think the easiest thing for you to do would be to make a felt board and attach it to your wall. Take all of the pieces and arrange them in the order they should be to form the squares. After you are sure about the way it should be, take them down and start sewing them together. I would recommend that you take down 1 row at a time and then after it is sewn put it back on the board. This will allow you to do it the way it is supposed to be and it won't be as difficult as it seems. To make a felt board: Buy 1 yard of craft felt and cut it to the dimensions you want (mine is 36" X 36" square). I used straight pins to attach it to the wall. Now all you have to do is stick your cut pieces of fabric to it. For some reason it has enough wool that it acts like a velcro type fabric and the pieces just stick. Hope this helps!