Triangle Measurement Chart               $5.00 US                      No More Calculators- No More Drafting                A necessity for every quilter.  Cutting triangles from squares is the fastest and most common method, but we need to know the measurement of the outer edge of the triangle  If we are not working from a printed pattern, we usually only know the inner measurement, because that's the edge that is sewn to another shape, and we can measure that edge. This chart gives you both sides of a right triangle with two equal sides- the standard half-square triangle. If the length of one side of a right triangle is known, this chart will give you the length of the other side.  Each column has three sub-columns.  The center sub-column is the measurement that is known.  If the known measurement is the long side of a right triangle, the first sub-column is the short side.  If the short side is known, the third sub-column is the long side measurement of the triangle. Only two of the three sub-columns are used at a time.  The "+" behind some numbers is 1/16" more.  It's much easier to find 5/8+" on a ruler than to find 11/16".  These are the finished sizes.  See the back of the chart for directions on adding 1/4" seam allowances and cutting.  All measurements are in inches. The chart is laminated and has a hang hole.  The measurements in the known column are every one-eighth inch from 1" to 24" .  Directions for adding the seam allowance for both half- and quarter-square triangles are on the back, along with the formula to calculate larger sizes. There is also a fraction and decimal equivalent chart for calculator math.  A small section of the chart follows: Short         Known         Long 5/8 +         1             1 3/8 + 3/4 +         1 1/8        1 5/8 7/8            1 1/4        1 3/4 + 1               1 3/8        1 7/8 + 1 +            1 1/2        2 1/8   4 1/4          6             8 1/2   (see example 1) 6 3/8          9             12 3/4 +   (see diagonal) 8 1/2         12            17 +    (see example 2) Example 1:  You want to put four triangles on a 6" finished square to make a square in a square. The long side of the triangles you need will also measure 6" finished, but you need to know the outer, or short side, of the triangle in order to cut them from squares.  You either have to draw the whole thing out on graph paper and measure the short side, or remember the formula, then find the calculator, and do the math.  NEVER  AGAIN.  Now all you need is the chart.  Find 6" in the known column. Look in the "short" column and see that it measures 4 1/2".  Since you want the grain line on the short or outside edge, add 7/8" to the 4 1/2".  The fraction-decimal equivalent chart shows that .875 equals 7/8". The total is 5 1/8".  Cut squares that size, cut them in half diagonally, and they will fit your square perfectly.  If you want the triangles larger so the block or center floats, use a ruler to measure the desired length of the long side of your triangle and use the same procedure. Example 2:  You are designing your next quilt.  You want a diagonal setting, but you don't know how wide a 12" finished block on point will be.  SIMPLE.  The diagonal of your 12" block is the same as the long side of a triangle with a 12" short side (see The Diagonal below).  The chart shows that measurement is 17+".  Multiply the number of blocks by 17 and you will have the width of your quilt.  The + is so negligible in the planning stage, just forget it. Setting triangles:  The 17+" is also the figure you would use to cut the side triangles after you add the 1 1/4" for the seam allowance.  Cut 18 1/4 +" squares, cut them in quarters with two diagonal cuts, and you will have perfectly fitting side triangles with the grain line on the outside edge.  The Diagonal:  Whenever you want to know the diagonal of any width, block, or size, it is the "long side" of the measurement you have.  A 9" or quarter yard of fabric would give you almost a 13" piece of bias.  A 12" or 1/3 yard cut would give you a 17" piece of bias.  You can get 51" bias pieces from 1 yd. of fabric, but you'll never get more than about a 61" bias piece from any 44" wide fabric. This is a mathematical chart.  It works for quilters, seamstresses, woodworkers, stained-glass artists, and anybody else who ever needs to know the "other" side of a right triangle or the diagonal of any width.