Triangle Patchwork Template Sets: Pick the Right Size
By Madam Sew | Sewing Supplies & Tools Online – MadamSew | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Buying Guides
Compare the 3-piece large and 5-piece small triangle template sets, plus a simple decision rule for matching template size to block size and project scale.
Quick answer
Choose the 3-piece large triangle set when you are cutting bigger 60° blocks for a fast, bold quilt, and choose the 5-piece smaller set when your design relies on many small triangles or finer detail. If you are unsure, start with the set that matches the finished block size you plan to repeat most often.
Why two sets exist instead of one
Triangle template sets are sold by size because the template has to match the block you are actually piecing. A large template speeds up cutting for big blocks, while a small template gives you more control over intricate layouts. Buying one set that does not match your block size means you either trim every piece or abandon the template altogether.
The two sets also differ in piece count: three large templates versus five smaller ones. More pieces in the smaller set gives you more size options within that range, which is useful when a pattern mixes triangle sizes in the same quilt.
The trade-off: speed versus flexibility
Large templates are faster per piece because each cut yields more fabric area, so a quilt top comes together with fewer passes of the rotary cutter. The cost is flexibility: if your pattern calls for small accent triangles, a large template cannot produce them.
Small templates offer more size variety but require more cutting repetitions for the same quilt area. That is not a flaw, just a different job. Match the set to the dominant triangle size in your pattern rather than trying to cover every possibility with one purchase.
What the templates do not tell you
The catalog does not list a seam allowance or a finished block measurement for either set, so do not assume a specific finished size. Before cutting into your good fabric, test the template on scrap fabric and measure the resulting triangle against your pattern. If the template does not include a seam allowance you rely on, you will need to add it yourself when cutting.
Decision rules for choosing a triangle template set
- Match the template to your dominant block size: Look at the pattern you plan to make and identify the most common triangle size. If most triangles are large, choose the 3-piece large set; if most are small, choose the 5-piece small set. Count the triangles in one repeat of the block before deciding.
- Choose the small set when the pattern mixes sizes: A 5-piece smaller set gives you more size options within the small range, which helps when a single quilt combines several small triangle sizes. A 3-piece large set covers fewer sizes and is better for a consistent large-block design.
- Choose the large set for fast, bold quilts: If your goal is to finish a quilt top quickly with fewer cuts and you are working with large 60° blocks, the large set reduces cutting time per piece. Accept that it cannot cut small accent triangles.
- Test before you commit fabric: Cut one triangle from scrap fabric with your chosen template and compare it to your pattern. Because the catalog does not state a seam allowance or finished size, this test is the only reliable check. If the test triangle is off, adjust your cutting or pattern before cutting the quilt fabric.
- Confirm the size option at checkout: The set is sold in two size choices, and the size is selected at checkout. Check that the cart shows the set you intended before paying.
Product facts
- Triangle Patchwork Template Sets - Two Set Choices Available: Available as a 3-piece set of large triangles or a 5-piece set of smaller triangles, with the size chosen at checkout. You must pick the set that matches your block size before ordering, because the size option is the purchase decision.
Triangle Patchwork Template Sets - Two Set Choices Available - Triangle Patchwork Template Sets - Two Set Choices Available: The templates are designed to cut perfect 60° triangle blocks and to save time when cutting many pieces. They suit repeated 60° triangle units in a quilt, not arbitrary triangle shapes or other angles.
Who each set fits
Best for
- Quilters cutting many large 60° triangle blocks for a fast, bold quilt
- Quilters whose pattern uses several small triangle sizes and needs more size options
- Anyone who wants to cut repeated 60° triangles accurately without marking each piece
Not for
- Patterns that require triangle angles other than 60°
- Quilters who need a stated seam allowance or finished block size printed on the template
- Projects where every triangle is a different custom size rather than a repeated unit
