Cutting with the Easy Angle

Life ain't easy. Terrible things happen to everyone. You have to keep your sense of humor, give something of yourself to others, make friends who are younger than you, learn new things, and have fun. 

George Vaillant

Easy Angle Tutorial Part I

When I am asked about favorite quilting tools there are several that come to mind but the one that I would not want to be without is the Easy Angle.  On my Previous Post I showed the three sizes that are available.  Stores like JoAnn carry the 6 1/2" size.  The other two may be available at your local quilt shop if not you could ask them to order them.  Some on line shops carry them too.  In the block that I am going to show you ALL the cutting except for the initial strip cuts were done with the 6 1/2" Easy Angle.  I could have used the 4 1/2" one since my strips were only 3 1/2" wide.

First Cut Position

Since I'm using a 3 1/2" strip the tool is aligned with the 

3 1/2" mark at the upper left corner of the strip.

Second Cut Position

In the second cut position it is important that the black triangle tip hangs off over the edge of the strip.  The top edge of the strip is straight with the 3 1/2" line on the tool.

To cut another triangle pair, flip tool back over to the first position align carefully then cut.  Flip tool again to the second position align carefully then cut again, repeat cut and flip until the number of triangle pairs needed are cut 
or the end of the strip is reached.

Squares and rectangles are cut using the reverse side of the tool.  Sizes up to 6 1/2" can be cut by aligning the top edge of the tool with the top edge of the strip.  Cut along the right edge of the tool.  Adding sandpaper or non-skid dots to both sides of the tool is a good idea.  Try to place them away from the lines and on top of each other front and back to prevent the tool from slipping.  You can see how I did this on one of the tools in my previous post.

Here is a completed Monkey Wrench block made using pieces cut with the Easy Angle.  Below are a few more nine patch blocks made with the same shapes.

Pressing tip for working with symmetrical nine patch blocks.

Now you didn't think I could just make one did you?

Looks like I have a bit more pressing to do.  I know the fabrics aren't exciting but I have dozens and dozens of yards of old calicoes to use up.  This block goes together quickly and I will have a nice charity quilt top made in just a few hours.  This tutorial produced just what I didn't need - another project.  LOL I hope you got something from it too.  In case you need it written out here is the cutting needed for the block.

Nine Inch Monkey Wrench Block

Background - 1  - 3 1/2" square

Pair a background and print strip and cut 4  - 3 1/2" triangle pairs with the Easy Angle

then cut 4  - 2" x 3 1/2" rectangle pairs.

Chain piece the triangle pairs and rectangle pairs together.  Press seams to the darker fabric.

Construct rows and block and pressing as pictured.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.  If you did please let me know in the comments below.  If you have any questions or anything isn't clear please let me know that to and I will try to help.  Don't think that this is all you can do with the Easy Angle because I will be working on a Part 2 and Part 3 for the tutorial.  

I'm linking to Cat Patches NewFO and Sew Many Ways and Patchwork Times and 
Sew Happy Geek and Lily's Quilts and Freemotion by the River and From Blank Pages

Favorite Quilting Tools

Do not wait;  the time will never be just right.  Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

Napoleon Hill

4 1/2" Easy Angle

Thearica over at Pigtails and Quilts put up a post about favorite quilting tools yesterday.  It of course has taken a while to get a post together but I am.  I've been thinking about making it a regular feature here for a while.  Since I, having been a quilter for so long, have an abundance of notions and gadgets that I could talk about.

My favorite tool hands down is the Easy Angle.  It was invented over 20 years ago by Sharon Hultgren.  She has invented a number of tools for quilters.  It was the first specialty tool I purchased.  I had a cutting mat, rotary cutter and a ruler or two that I had been using for a few years.  I think it was in 1992 she offered a class to quilting teachers in the Atlanta area and I was able to attend.  I had just began teaching quilting and was trying to learn as much as I could.  She was a wonderful teacher and the class included how to use her Easy Three, Easy Hexagons, Easy Six and Easy Eight tools as well.

The Easy Angle makes it possible to cut triangles from the same size strip that you cut squares.  You don't have to cut a strip that is 3/8" larger just for the triangles.  

Example: For Squares that finish at  2 1/2" you cut a 3" strip.
                  For Triangles that finish at 2 1/2" you cut a 3 3/8" strip.

The top of the tool is squared off so the 3/8" is eliminated.  The other point of the tool is colored dark for the 3/8" measurement.     You also are able to just cut the triangles.  There is no need to cut squares first and them cut them into half square triangles.

The 4 1/2" Ruler in the center of the picture above was her first one.  It only had the 1/2" marking grid.  She improved it within a couple of years to have the 1/4" grid marks.  It was also offered in the blue for a while.

6 1/2" Easy Angle

At some point she came out with the 6 1/2" version of the ruler.  I have two of these.  I keep one with my traveling supplies usually.

Easy Angle II

There is also the Easy Angle II.  It is a 10 1/2" version of the ruler and I really like to use it for cutting large triangles.

I looked on the web for instruction or a tutorial on using them that I could link to but haven't found one.  The one at the manufacturer's site doesn't have the pictures up.  I know Bonnie Hunter uses them on her quilts but the directions are embedded within her quilt patterns.

If you would like for me to make a tutorial on using it I will do that.  Just leave a comment about it and if enough of my wonderful followers are interested I'll put it together.  By the way I'm nearly to the 100 mark on followers and have something special in mind for you!

Linking with Sew Many Ways