Techniques
Dog Ears
The small triangular points that stick out beyond a seam intersection, usually trimmed away.
Dog ears are the small triangle 'ears' of fabric that extend beyond the edges of a sewn seam when triangles or diagonal cuts are involved. They appear most often at the tips of half square triangles, flying geese units, and any block with diagonal seams. Dog ears are almost always trimmed away before the unit is incorporated into the larger block — leaving them creates unnecessary bulk. A simple snip with scissors removes them quickly. Some quilters trim as they press after each step to keep their work tidy.
Related Terms
Half Square Triangle (HST)A square unit made from two right triangles of different fabrics sewn together along the diagonal.Flying GeeseA rectangular unit consisting of one large triangle (the 'goose') and two smaller triangles (the 'sky').Squaring UpTrimming a pieced unit to its exact finished size using a ruler and rotary cutter.
Practice makes perfect.
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