Is there really a word or concept such as "cross-learning?" I don't know, but sometimes I get creative with words as well as fabric. What I mean is that you may learn a new technique and then decide that it is not for you. When you move on to a new project you suddenly realize that something you learned in the discarded technique will be helpful now.
The quilt I am re-working has lots of seams and points that require matching and/or aligning. This is tedious and often requires post-stitching adjustments, which are a nuisance, so I made a proactive, minor adjustment. Below is the original pattern:
 |
| Six points to bring together perfectly. Urggggggh! |
Notice that six points come together in the center. This can be a challenge, and with the high contrast any displacement will be noticeable to the eagle eye of a judge. I changed the the pattern so that the larger triangles on top are combined and cut as one big one. The two bottom parts are stitched together and the single, big triangle is added last.
 |
| One single triangle. Now to put it onto the bottom pieces. |
This is where my experience with paperless paper piecing comes in. I folded the seam allowance over heat resistant plastic, painted starch on the fold and then ironed. This provides a straight, crisp fold. In the photo below it doesn't look very straight because the heat-resistant plastic warps a bit up and down, but the edge actually remains straight. I had to stick pins through the plastic to hold it steady as I couldn't manage to hold it, turn the seam allowance and paint all at the same time with acceptable results. I only have two hands!
TIP: Try cork board under your ironing board cover. This is where it is extremely useful.
 |
| Folding the seam allowance. |
Next I laid the triangle right side up on the lower part of the block (also right side up), aligned the crisp fold carefully so no points had cut-off tips. Then I squeezed a little clear Elmer's glue in the seam allowance and pressed.
 |
| Pinned in place ready to glue and press. |
After pressing I opened up the big triangle and stitched along the seaming crease. Perfect every time! This saved time, curse words, hair pulling and un-stitching. The crease you see in the triangle from tip to bottom assisted in matching the center of the triangle to the center seam of bottom piece.
 |
| Creases help in the attempt of achieving perfection. |
TIP: I had to stitch in the crease over several layers of fabric in some places. I found that a stylus helped me to stay in the ditch of the crease as well as kept the seam allowance from rumpling up under the needle.
TIP: I know I sound a bit OC (obsessive-compulsive). I'm not, but I make every quilt as though it is going to be shown. If you are interested in showing a quilt and maybe winning a prize you must start at the very beginning by being as fussy as possible, and that means perfect points.
Stitching all done:
 |
| All it needs now is to have the edges trimmed. |
This is a perfect example of a part of a discarded technique being used to good advantage elsewhere. It is amazing how the little things you learn along the way can help solve future problems.
Sew some happy seams this week. I wish you the opportunity to combine techniques for a satisfying outcome.
