Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Thangles Galore

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Thangles Galore.  You might think that sounds like the female lead
in a James Bond movie.  But no, Thangles are a wonderful quilting tool
that enables one to make scads and scads of half square triangles
without sewing on bias edges or drawing stitching lines on the fabric.

The first step is cutting your fabric into strips to get the proper
end-resulting size half square triangle you want.  This information is
on the package of Thangles.  I am making a gazillion 1.75 inch finished
half square triangles for my Celebrate Spring Fatquarter Challenge that
I am doing with Dawn at Quilts & Pieces and Darlene at Quilting Daze.
(That was a CLUE Darlene!)  My strips had to measure 2.25 inches.  You
position the paper strip on top of your two right-sides-together fabric
strips, lining all the edges up perfectly and pinning into place.  You
stitch on the dotted lines, then cut apart on the solid lines.  My
fabric strips were a tad longer than the paper strips, so that little
pile of trimmings on the right is what I lopped off to the edge of the
Thangle paper.

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The next step is the fun part.  You get to rip the paper apart from the
fabric.  I find the best approach is to do it fast, as you would if you
were removing a band aid. You end up with a satisfying pile of little
Thangle papers tossed to one side, and perfect little half square
triangles on the other.

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Then, you press open your half square triangles (toward the darker
fabric), and trim.  The trimming is slightly less than with other
methods, as you end up with only one little "dog ear" instead of two.
I think this is a great method, especially when you need to make loads
of half square triangle units.  Highly recommend it!

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26 responses to “Thangles Galore”

  1. What a handy tool and thank you for the demonstration. Hopefully I can finfd this tool in the Dutch stores!!

  2. What a handy tool and thank you for the demonstration. Hopefully I can finfd this tool in the Dutch stores!!

  3. Do you use Thangles all the time or just when you’re making tons? I have used them on and off.

  4. Do you use Thangles all the time or just when you’re making tons? I have used them on and off.

  7. Looks like you are having fun with the half square triangles. We are on pins and needles waiting to see what you’re making.

  8. Looks like you are having fun with the half square triangles. We are on pins and needles waiting to see what you’re making.

  9. That sounds pretty easy. I have never used Thangles before – I must give it a go one day. And I agree – Thangles Galore does sound like she would make a good “Bond Girl” LOL

  10. That sounds pretty easy. I have never used Thangles before – I must give it a go one day. And I agree – Thangles Galore does sound like she would make a good “Bond Girl” LOL

  11. You are too cute, Nicole. Yes, Thangles Galore does sound like she should be wearing a leopard-print bikini in a James Bond movie!

  12. You are too cute, Nicole. Yes, Thangles Galore does sound like she should be wearing a leopard-print bikini in a James Bond movie!

  15. Thanks for the great tip since I am starting my first quilt soon and need all the advice I can get. Hope your quilt comes out great.

  16. Thanks for the great tip since I am starting my first quilt soon and need all the advice I can get. Hope your quilt comes out great.

  17. I love Thangles, too. I like them best for scrap quilts because you can use different fabrics. Triangles on a Roll are nice, too, but I don’t like them for scrap quilts. I don’t remember why, I just remember that I like thangles better for being scrappy.
    Thanks for adding my little blog to your list of blogs you like to visit!

  18. I love Thangles, too. I like them best for scrap quilts because you can use different fabrics. Triangles on a Roll are nice, too, but I don’t like them for scrap quilts. I don’t remember why, I just remember that I like thangles better for being scrappy.
    Thanks for adding my little blog to your list of blogs you like to visit!

  19. Good to know that you like the thangles…I just bought a couple of packages. I enjoyed seeing your photos of how to use them!
    Thank you!

  20. Good to know that you like the thangles…I just bought a couple of packages. I enjoyed seeing your photos of how to use them!
    Thank you!

  21. I’m with you on the Thangle love thing! I really got into hst’s last year and made tons. LOVE it when something is quick and easy. Your challenge quilt is looking good from here!

  22. I’m with you on the Thangle love thing! I really got into hst’s last year and made tons. LOVE it when something is quick and easy. Your challenge quilt is looking good from here!

  25. I bought some at Paducah last year to do this hunter star out of batiks. And I haven’t even touched it…sigh.

  26. I bought some at Paducah last year to do this hunter star out of batiks. And I haven’t even touched it…sigh.