Stitch and Flip quilting hack

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Notes

“Stitch and flip” is a common quilting technique that is used any time you are adding a half-square triangle onto another piece of fabric.

When these units are added onto a block, it is often called “snowballing”.

This is also the technique that is used for the Easiest Ever Method for making half-square triangles, quarter square triangles and flying geese.

Normally with stitch and flip, you mark a diagonal line onto a square of fabric and then stitch right on that line. 

This quilting hack is a shortcut. You can stitch that line without marking it on the fabric first and save time.

On the bed of your sewing machine, you will need a reference line that is in line with the needle. Mark this line with a piece of tape or a post-it note.

This is similar to how we can add a reference line for a 1/4” seam, but the line is in a different place.

Then when you stitch, align one corner of the square with the needle and the other corner of the square with the reference line. As you sew, guide the fabric along the reference line to keep it straight.

When the stitching is complete, fold back the triangle to make sure that it is accurate, then you can trim away the excess from the back and press.

This trick is easier with smaller pieces since you need the reference line reach the corner of you square.

If you have an extension table for your sewing machine, you can extend the reference line farther and have more room to work with.

That’s how easy it is!

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