Learn how to make prairie points and get some ideas for using them in your quilting projects. Prairie points start with squares of fabric that are then folded into triangles. There are two primary methods of folding the fabric into triangles that we’ll cover in this article.
Prairie points can be used to add texture and visual interest in a quilt by being placed in seams, and can be used on a border of a project. They can be made any size. The size of the square you start with will determine the size of your finished prairie points.
What are prairie points?
Prairie points are fabric folded into triangles. The straight prairie point edge is inserted into a seam or along the edge of a quilt.
How to Make Prairie Points
Prairie points are great for adding texture and visual interest to your quilts. Perfect project for beginners, and experienced quilters, too! Cut your scraps into squares, press them and use them to add more interest in your quilts.
Use prairie points inserted into seams on your quilts, or as a border.
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Just start with a square of fabric, fold twice and press. I used these for making Pinwheels with Prairie points. A perfect quilt block for making a baby quilt that has texture and fabric folds for them to play with.
There are two primary methods for making prairie points. I used this method when I want to sandwich the triangles together in a seam or along an edge of a quilt.
Materials
- Fabric cut into squares. I used 3-1/2 inch squares for these prairie points. You can make prairie points of different sizes. Just start with different-sized fabric squares.
Tools
- Iron
- Pressing surface
Instructions
- Start by cutting your fabric into squares. I used 3-1/2 inch squares for these prairie points since I was using them in a finished 6-inch pinwheel quilt block.
TIP: If you are making quite a few prairie points, cut strips of fabric the width of your cut square. Cut the squares from the strip.
Fold the fabric in half diagonally with the wrong sides together. .
- Press this fold. Fold the two diagonal corners together along the center fold line, making an equilateral triangle.
- Press again and you have a finished folded prairie point.
Notes
This method to make prairie points makes it easy to slip one into another for sewing.
Prairie points can be used tucked into stitching lines between quilt blocks, used to make a pinwheel quilt block and used to embellish the edges of your quilt.
Or, go all out and make a pine cone quilt like Betty Ford Smith with a bundle of prairie points!
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Another way to make Prairie Points
A second way to make prairie points, results in the same size triangle from a same size square. The difference is the fabrics come together on the wrong side of the final triangle instead of along one edge. This method might be preferable for inserting into seams, as long as you don’t want to dovetail the triangles.
Start with a square of fabric.
Fold it in half to form a rectangle with wrong sides together.
Fold one corner from the fold line to the center, aligning the raw edges.
Fold the other corner to match in the middle, forming a triangle with all of the raw edges at the bottom.
Press.
Here is the finished prairie point version 2.
How do I insert prairie points into a seam?
Start by laying your prairie points along the edge of the fabric that will be the seam line. Make sure that the raw edges match. I like to use the traditional prairie point where one side is open and dovetail the closed diagonal side of one point into the open side of the next point. You can space them to get different effects.
Note: Make sure the positioning of the straight edge of the straight side of the first prairie point is at least 1/4-inch from the outside edge of the seam line. This way, the points won’t get cut off when you sew the binding (or another seam).
Pin the triangles in place.
With your sewing machine, begin sewing the triangles to the right side of the fabric with a 1/8-inch seam allowance. This will secure them to the fabric while sewing the seam so the prairie points don’t shift while you are sewing your seam.
If you’d like you can use a hand basting stitch to hold them in place until you are ready to sew your seam.
Here is another picture of sewing the triangles to the fabric in progress.
The triangles are all secure and in place so they won’t move when sandwiched to sew the seam.
Next, put your other fabric right sides together with the prairie points sandwiched between them. Sew the seam with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. You can see in the image below that we are now sewing on the outside of the prior seam. The prairie points won’t be able to shift and will stay in place.
Here are the prairie points inserted into the seam and pressed in place.
How to use prairie points as an edge finish
To make a prairie point border, just like above, line up the triangles with raw edges together where you want the prairie point edge.
Here are the points dovetailed together along the bottom of the piece. I added them to two sides of the mini quilt. It’s a great way to add some visual interest to the edge of your quilt.
Next, I stitched 1/8-inch on the two sides to secure the triangles, just as I did above.
Now we’ll add facings. For more about facing a quilt check out our article.
Start by placing squares that have been pressed diagonally in each corner on the right side of the quilt.
Next, cut strips of your facing for each of the sides. The facing should be folded in half width wise. Match the raw edges. Note: Do not go all of the way to the corner. Stop about 1/2-inch from the corner. This reduces the bulk of fabrics in the corners when you turn the facing to the back.
Pin around the edge to hold the binding and corner units in place while you sew. Sew with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. I start at each side from the edge and sew. This way the sewing lines cross each other at the corners, making it easy for accurate stitching.
Once you’ve sewn all four sides, trim the ends off of each corner. Trim close to where the seams overlap, but don’t cut through the threads.
Now turn the facing to the back of the quilt. Using a corner turner or other tool, carefully poke out your corners. Don’t push too hard. You don’t want to stretch out the corner or poke a hole through. See how the triangles seem to just want to pop out?
Press the facings to the wrong side all around the quilt. And, make sure the prairie points are pressed to form an edging to the outside of the quilt. Hand stitch the facing to the back of the quilt. Give it one more press.
Here is a mini quilt with prairie points in a set in a seam and used as an edging.
Tips for quilting around prairie points
Lift the triangles as you quilt so that you have even quilting on your piece. The beauty of the prairie points is the added texture they give to a piece. You don’t want to sew them down.
Another option is to make a prairie point strip by sewing the prairie points together in one long strip and then inserting the strip into a seam.
Use them in pinwheel units to make 3D pinwheels. See our article on the Prairie Point Pinwheel quilt pattern.
There are so many different ways to have fun with prairie points to dress up your quilt blocks. How will use them in a project?
Browse through more quilt tutorials on Create Whimsy.
See also how to make a prairie point pinwheel quilt block and how to make a pine cone quilt.
