Are you having problems with points getting cut off or shifting when you sew  half-square triangles or flying geese units together to make a block? This can be frustrating but there are a few tricks that can make it easier for you.

Place the units to be sewn right sides together with the seams’ edges matching. Then push a pin straight through the intersection of the point in the front unit.

Push the pin through the point

Hold the seam allowances slightly apart and push the pin straight through the point in the back unit. You need to keep this positioning pin vertical—do not let it slant or use it to pin the units together because things will shift!

Push the pin into the bottom point.

While holding the positioning pin vertical, use a second pin to pin the units together. Place that pin right next to the positioning pin. You can also place a third pin on the other side of the positioning pin to really secure the point. This is especially helpful for flying geese points.

Place the pin right next to the vertical positioning pin.

In their book Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins suggest that you keep the positioning pin in place as long as possible—right until you have sewn up to it—and then pull it out. It is a bit awkward to keep this pin vertical but will help ensure that your points are perfect.

Keep positioning pin in as long as possible.

Check your seam after you have sewn it to be sure the points are accurate. If they meet but the points are cut off, you may want to try sewing a scant 1/4″ through the point. Your seam line will then be just outside the intersection of the points and when the seam is opened the points will not be cut off.

Part of the Quilting Tips from the Tech Editors tutorial series

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2. Quilting Tips: Setting Triangles
3. Quilting Tips: For Beginners—Anatomy of a Quilt
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