The Mighty Half-square Triangle

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Berenice Short
5 years ago
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The Mighty Half-square Triangle Six different ways to make HSTs, with size options One of

These are squares made up of two 90 degree triangles.

Two-at-a-time Technique Both the Two-at-a-time techniques are perfect for very scrappy

Using measurements from your cutting chart, cut each square diagonally from corner to

You can draw the diagonal line in pencil first if you re not confident holding your ruler

Layer light and dark triangles right sides together.

1 The Mighty Half-square Triangle Six different ways to make HSTs, with size options One of the most frequently used components in pieced blocks is the Halfsquare Triangle (HST). These are squares made up of two 90 degree triangles. There are many ways to make HSTs see below to find the technique that works best for you. Two-at-a-time Technique Both the Two-at-a-time techniques are perfect for very scrappy quilts or when you need just a few in specific color combinations. Using measurements from your cutting chart, cut each square diagonally from corner to corner using a ruler and a rotary cutter. You can draw the diagonal line in pencil first if you re not confident holding your ruler in place. Each square will yield two triangles. Layer light and dark triangles right sides together. Sew a /" seam along the long Handle all your HSTs with care! Because they re cut on the bias, HSTs are vulnerable to stretching and distortion. Carolyn Forster, author of Hexagon Happenings and The Handmade Quilt, recommends that you heavily starch your HSTs to stabilize the bias edges.

Two-at-a-time Technique Using measurements from your cutting chart, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the lighter square.

Save time and thread with chain piecing.

If you re confident, you can even chain trim your squares while separating them.

2 Two-at-a-time Technique Using measurements from your cutting chart, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the lighter square. Layer a light and dark square, right sides together. Sew a /" seam on both sides of the drawn line. You can draw pencil in lines for guidance. Cut on the drawn line. Save time and thread with chain piecing. Begin each chain with a leader scrap of fabric to prevent your squares from being pulled into your feed dogs and sew up multiple HSTs in one productive sitting. If you re confident, you can even chain trim your squares while separating them. Four-at-a-time Technique If your pattern calls for many HSTs of the same color combination, this method is quick and easy. Use two square precuts or fabric that you have cut into squares with measurements taken from your cutting chart. Place right sides together. Sew a /" seam all the way around your square. You can draw your sewing lines for guidance or use your /" seam foot. Cut your square twice from corner to corner. Be careful not to move your square a rotary mat helps here. If you re using the Four-at-a-time technique, you can sew all the way around the edges of each square by keeping your needle down and rotating your square. Alternatively, you can sew each edge one at a time it doesn t matter because the corners will be cut off when you trim your tails.

The Magic 8 Technique Here is another quick-and-easy technique that provides eight HSTs of the same color combination.

Sew a /" seam on both sides Cut your square from side of the drawn lines. You can to side, from top to bottom draw your sewing lines for guidance and then from both diagonals.

Not only should you accurately sew a /" seam, you should alsos make sure that your Half-square Triangles are perfaectly square. Many quilters like to trim them with square-up trim tools.

3 The Magic 8 Technique Here is another quick-and-easy technique that provides eight HSTs of the same color combination. Use two square precuts or fabrics cut in measurements taken from your cutting chart. Pencil in two lines from corner to corner on the lighter fabric and then place right sides together. Sew a /" seam on both sides Cut your square from side of the drawn lines. You can to side, from top to bottom draw your sewing lines for guidance and then from both diagonals. Be or use your /" machine foot. careful to not move your square a rotary mat helps here. The most beautiful blocks are the ones with perfectly matched seams! Not only should you accurately sew a /" seam, you should alsos make sure that your Half-square Triangles are perfaectly square. Many quilters like to trim them with square-up trim tools. Sewing from Strips Method ½ ½ ½ Line up your ruler so that the marks for your unfinished square align with the seam. In the illustration above, we re making /" squares (for " finished HSTs). Trim around your ruler. Place two strips of fabric right sides together and sew /" down the long edges. ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ This is a great way to use up any jelly roll strips that you have in your stash. Careful cutting should yield 6 HSTs per strip pair. Flip your ruler to the opposite seam and cut again. Repeat down the length of your strip. according to your preference. Trim What size square should you start with to make a finished HST? It s all about geometry. One rule of thumb is that you just need to add 7/8" to your finished HST to know your starting size.

Using HST Paper There are lots of good reasons to use HST paper. Perhaps you need to whip up many HSTs in the same color combination or you re concerned about the accuracy of your /" inch seams.

There are many commercially available HST papers, including some on convenient rolls. Landauer Publishing has FREE downloadable and printable HST paper here.

Sew along the fabric and then cut along the solid dashed /" seam lines, backstitching lines. at the beginning and end to make sure that you loosen your paper when you tear it off.

4 Using HST Paper There are lots of good reasons to use HST paper. Perhaps you need to whip up many HSTs in the same color combination or you re concerned about the accuracy of your /" inch seams. Using HST paper, which is essentially foundation piecing, provides accurate seams while creating many identical Half-square Triangles. There are many commercially available HST papers, including some on convenient rolls. Landauer Publishing has FREE downloadable and printable HST paper here. Place starched fabrics right sides together. Pin your HST paper to the Use a trim tool and scissors or fabrics in a hopscotch pattern, a rotary cutter to trim off excess avoiding dashed lines. Sew along the fabric and then cut along the solid dashed /" seam lines, backstitching lines. at the beginning and end to make sure that you loosen your paper when you tear it off. Carefully fold the paper back at the seam to crease it and then tear off. according to your preference. Trim off the fabric tails. An advantage of commercial HST paper is that it is printed on thin paper making it easier to tear off. If printing your own, use as thin a paper as your printer will allow. Decreasing your stitch length can also make paper removal easier. It is also helpful to adjust your thread tension to account for the paper s thickness.

Bonus: No Math! What size should your HST be?

Many quilters add an additional /" when they plan to trim their HSTs with a square-up tool.

-/8" -/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" -7/8" " 5-/8" -/" 5-7/8" 5" 6-/8" 5-/" 6-7/8" 6" 7-/8" 6-/"

-/8" -/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" Half-square Triangle Cutting Guide: Magic 8

5 Bonus: No Math! What size should your HST be? Generally, all you need to do is add 7/8" to your desired finished size. Many quilters add an additional /" when they plan to trim their HSTs with a square-up tool. Another exception is when you re using the Magic 8 Technique, which doubles your sizes see below. Half-square Triangle Cutting Guide: Two-at-a-time and Four-at-a-time Techniques -7/8" " -/8" -/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" -7/8" " 5-/8" -/" 5-7/8" 5" 6-/8" 5-/" 6-7/8" 6" 7-/8" 6-/" 7-7/8" 7" 8-/8" 7-/" 8-7/8" 8" 9-/8" 8-/" 9-7/8" 9" 0-/8" 9-/" 0-7/8" 0" -/8" 0-/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" -7/8" " -/8" -/" Half-square Triangle Cutting Guide: Magic 8 Technique 5-/" " 6-/" -/" 7-/" " 8-/" -/" 9-/" " 0-/" -/" -/" 5" -/" 5-/" -/" 6" -/" 6-/" 5-/" 7" 6-/" 7-/" 7-/" 8" 8-/" 8-/" 9-/" 9" 0-/" 9-/" -/" 0" -/" 0-/" Looking for more tips, techniques, and quiltmaking know-how? Visit LandauerPub.com for the best!

Half Square & Quarter Square Triangles

1 Block Lesson #3 March, 21st 2013 Half Square & Quarter Square Triangles March Skill Builder BOM Technique Before we begin, here are the tools you will need. TOOL LIST // basic piecing 12.5 x 12.5 Ruler