Thousand Pyramids Quilts: Day One

I love triangles, especially 60 degree ones. I have made several quilts in the Thousand Pyramids pattern as seen by this first one from 2001. These are 60 degree triangles and they appear to zig and zag across the face of the quilt. Bright triangles alternating with a light yellow print, then surrounded by a rainbow inner border and some great bug border print!

Bright Triangles with Dragonflies Border

 

This next quilt was made with more novelty fabric. These are the same rows, but they are staggered so that they make a zigzag with the light dotted fabric. Both quilts use a 5-1/2" triangle. They are pieced in horizontal rows. One row has the solid colors with the triangle tip at the bottom; the next row has the solid triangles with the tip at the top. And the solid triangles are NOT aligned with each other as in the quilt above. Fun, huh?

Zig Zag Safari baby quilt with matching pillows

Thousand Pyramids is a vintage pattern that is supposed to use 1,000 different patches of fabric for the quilt. Quilters would trade with their friends and family in order to get so many different prints. This would take years. I guess they weren't in a hurry!

There are no y-seams. All triangles are sewn into horizontal rows and then the rows together. I'll be back tomorrow with another quilt or two. In the meantime, go hunt down your multi-sized 60 degree triangle ruler because I'll be sharing some steps for you to make your own.

Here is my own triangle ruler. The key is to have a blunted tip - it makes the piecing go SO quickly and foolproof. You may have a Creative Grids or Fons and Porter one - go look for it! (BTW - mine is half the price)

8-1/2" multi-sized triangle ruler