Tool time with Kari and her Clearly Perfect Angles ( 2 winners today)

Have you ever met someone for the 1st time and thought after the conversation, "We could be friends!"? That was my thought after my phone call from Madame Samm when she asked me to share a tutorial on my Clearly Perfect Angles template. We visited about many things and hopefully, someday we will get to visit over a cup of coffee! Thank you for asking me to participate.

I am a rather practical person who likes to use my time efficiently. I used to get so frustrated when I'd have to spend my time drawing lines for making half square triangles or sewing through and then ripping away paper or dealing with peeling, sticky tape on my machine. One day I looked down at my sewing table at a ruler that stayed in place with static cling... a lightbulb went on and the Clearly Perfect Angles template was born.

Because it stays in place with static, it can conform to any machine and smooth sewing surface. By the time you get throught this tutorial you will wonder why you didn't have one of these before.

Let's take a closer look at the anatomy of the "CPA".



A: Where the needle will be when placed on your machine.
B: 1/4" seam guides on each side of center. The gray bands coordinate for one of the techniques.
C: Angled green bands used when needed in conjunction with the two main techniques.
D: 5/8" seam guides...wait 'till I show you what you can do with those!

The following tutorial shows a flat shot of the CPA that is not actually on a machine so that you can see everything better.

Basic Center Alignment: This is used when the directions tell you to sew from point to point on the diagonal.

Place the top point of your fabric squares at the needle.The bottom point should be on the very center line. The trick with this is to watch the bottom point instead of your needle. So, begin sewing, simply letting the bottom point follow up the line and thru.

You can see how you now have the squares sewn together from point to point...Remember, you didn't draw a line! You would trim the seam allowance to 1/4" and when pressed you have a perfect half-square triangle.

Joining Binding: This is one of the best tips, and a great reason to just leave the CPA in place all the time.

Overlap your binding strips at a right angle so "inverted" points are formed (see arrows). Using the same Basic Alignment, stitch diagonally from one inverted point to the other.

Trim the seam allowance to 1/4" and when it is pressed, the seam is hardly noticeable. AND...you didn't have to draw a line....or guess!

Gray-Band Alignment:Use when the directions instruct you to stitch 1/4" on each side of the center points.

To make alignment easier, I color-coded the CPA for the different techniques. For this one we are going to use the gray bands. Place the top point on the outside edge of the vertical gray band. The bottom point also needs to be on the outside of the gray band. The top, left side of the fabric will be on the outside edge of the angled gray band. Stitch the first seam by following the bottom point up the outside edge of the gray band. I've stitched the first seam in this photo. Just rotate the block, realign, and stitches the second seam.



Cut apart between the seams. This method produces two half-square triangles. (No wasted fabric!)

Green Angled-Band Alignment: These bands are only used when the fabric squares are larger than the area of the CPA and there is not a line for the bottom point to follow.

This may happen if:
1. - the fabric squares are 5 1/2" or larger

2. - you have customized the CPA to fit your sewing set-up and havelost some of the depth due to trimming.


You can see the bottom point has no guide. When needing to sew from point to point,
align each of the top edges of the fabric at the bottom of the angled green bands.

Slowly begin stitching, keeping the same angles on each side. This photo demonstrates how both sides are now at the bottom of the 3rd band. Eventually, you will be able to go back to watching the bottom point come up the line.

The green angled bands can be used with the no-waste method of making half-square triangles too. Begin by lining the top left side of the fabric with the outside edge of the gray band (just as we did above). Watch your angles again until the bottom point can follow the vertical gray band.

I just want to point out that the fabric sides will be at different colors during this process (Example: left side is at the bottom of the 3rd green band and the right side is at the top of the 2nd green band, but the point will remain on the outside edge of the gray vertical band).

5/8" Seam Guides and Caboodles: I originally included the 5/8" seam guides for garment sewing (I am a Home Ec teacher after all...) and also for use in aligning the CPA to your machine. BUT, low and behold, I've discovered a new use for it in the quilting realm. In fact, just earlier this week I submitted the manuscript and projects for my next book with Martingale.

It uses the 5/8" line with fabric squares that have been sewn point to point and the corner triangle usually is waste. Basically, you will get a second project from those scraps. The book is
titled, "The Whole Quilt and Caboodle". So let's see how to make a Caboodle piece........

As you can see in the picture, I have already sewn from point to point. BUT do not trim the seam allowance at this time. Simply move the fabric to the left and line up the points on the 5/8" line. Stitch a second time.

Cut apart between the two seams (they will be slightly larger than 1/4" because the seams are 5/8" apart). On the left is the piece your pattern called for. On the right is the Caboodle piece, ready to be made into a second project.


I know it was a lot of words to describe how to use the CPA, but Ipromise you, once you start using it, it will make all the sense in the world.

The blog would get much longer if I demonstrated how to align the CPA to your machine, but that too, really is simple. I'd like to invite you to visit my site, http://www.newleafstitches.com/, to view the different videos featuring the Clearly Perfect Angles. The QR code below will also take you to an overview video of the product.



Fast, accurate and frustration free! You truly will wonder what you ever did without the Clearly Perfect Angles!

There's 2  free CPA in someone's future... just make sure to leave a comment to be eligible!

Thank you Madame Samm... the coffee pot is always on if you want to stop on by!

Kari


Congrats Ladies...


Marsha and Laqueria have won... both have been contacted
thanks to Kari and all those who participated. 
Have a delightful weekend...see you next week 
where we will be launching our new blog design
and a month of Heart and Hand...


Special note from Kari...
Thank you for all of the nice comments. It was very wonderful to be included. Many of you expressed an interest in purchasing a Clearly Perfect Angles. I would like to offer a reduced price of $8.00 (now thru the end of the month) to any of you who left a message. Please feel free to email for details. sales@newleafstitches.com Thanks once again! Kari