Useful trick- how to turn a rectangle/square quilt block into a triangle

This cute little block is one of the designs of my latest quilt patterns.
This is such an easy and quick and fun sewing! The result? Rectangular blocks. You can join a few blocks into a table runner (I made one and I adore it!). But what else can you make?

You can turn the block into an equilateral triangle.

And six triangles will make a beautiful hexagonal design.

Isn’t this little quilt gorgeous?

You may want to read:
How to quilt spirals

All you need to turn ANY rectangular or square block into an equilateral triangle is a paper template, bigger than the block.  You place the block over the template and calculate what pieces you have to add to increase the block’s size and make it suitable for the cutting into a triangle.

Sew below how my piece looks like with all the extra pieces.
Then you have to adjust the height of the block (make it the size of the template)  and use this adjustment for all your blocks, because you want your motif to be placed in the same spot on all your blocks.
Then you need to vertically mark the center of your motif (with a Hera marker or air soluble marker).

Fold the triangle paper template in half and align the fold with the center of the motif.

Open the template and with a long ruler, cut along its edges.

If you have an equilateral triangle ruler, use it instead of template for cutting (you still need a paper template to calculate the size of the pieces needed to increase the size of the block).

Center the ruler over the motif as shown, use a long ruler to make the first cut (see the green marking line).

For the second cut, to make the cutting more accurate, align the 60 degree line of a  long ruler (see the yellow marking line) with the bottom edge of the piece. Slide the ruler along the bottom edge until the right edge of the ruler touches the top corner of the piece (see the yellow arrow). Cut along the right edge of the ruler.

Repeat these steps for other five blocks. In practice, it is easier and quicker than you think!
All the instructions needed, the template, the measurements are included in the new pattern- you just have to follow them!

I hope you like this idea!

Here are some of my favorite projects made with my latest Christmas patterns.

Happy sewing!