This post originally appeared on Whip-Up.net.
Hello Whip-Up readers! It’s so nice to be back in this space posting while Kathreen is away. Today I wanted to share a really great way of making half square triangles (HST) that I recently found online and give you some measurements to help you with making them just the size you need for your own projects. Ahead of me I have a quilt full of half square triangles, and I was not looking forward to the prospect of making all of them in the way i’m use to. Then I remembered having seen this video by The Missouri Star Quilt Company.
Her ingenious method of assembling HST for a pinwheel block are perfect for most HST projects I can think of. You simply take your two squares of fabric (usually a print and a solid), place them right sides together and sew around all four edges with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Then you cut the square on both diagonals and you end up with four pieces.
When you open out and iron them you get perfect half square triangles! It’s amazing every time. I recently made a bunch of these in different sizes just to get a feel for the math. I have some of the sizes figured out to get you started, but the basic math is a HST that is roughly 64% of the size of your original square. So your math would be this:
Beginning Square Size x 0.64 = HST size.
If you knew the size you needed your HST to be, but wanted to find out how big to cut your beginning squares, you would use this equation instead:
HST / 0.64 = Beginning Square Size.
Of course it’s always a good idea to make a test square before beginning a project, as all of our sewing and cutting varies. Not every size is exactly 64%, but it’s a good place to start without getting too involved in the math. Below is a table that gives you the starting square size and the final HST size for sizes that I’ve actually tested. You may find as you make these that you can get 1/8″ to 1/4″ more from each size, but I like to play it safe. So many times when I’ve made HST in the past I find that I don’t have enough to trim away and get the size stated in the pattern, so i’d rather play it safe. Good luck and have fun creating!
Jeni says
:) I was SO happy this morning to wake up and find it was finally your turn over on whipup! I have really been looking forward to this post and it did not disappoint! Can’t wait to try out this method on my next HST project!
Live a Colorful Life says
My only question is whether you worry about the bias edges? Do these get very stretchy?
Jane McKay says
You don’t have to worry about the bias edges if you starch your fabric BEFORE you cut the first squares. This is a terrific method, and I’m so glad to get a chart for different sizes.
Little Bluebell (Adrianne) says
LOVE the size chart! I’m printing that puppy out and laminating it. Now if only it had a cute heart or bunny on it… ; )
Poppyprint says
The bias edges can be tricky if you’re making an entire quilt from 1/2 square triangles made this way, but a hit of MaryEllen’s Best Press helps!
Christina says
I didn’t notice any difference in working with HSTs made this way vs. other traditional methods. I just finished a quilt with various sized HSTs made this way (300 HST’s in total!) and I had no trouble with bias. I don’t use starch or anything like that either. I think as long as you don’t stretch and pull and make sure to accurately square your blocks before piecing them together you should have no trouble at all!
CraftCrave says
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [18 Mar 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Tiffany says
Hmmmm …. you know hst’s are the worst for me! I’ll give it a try :)
Betty Crocker Ass says
Awesome! Makes want to try them again!
Estela says
I just got done cutting a bunch of squares to make triangles for my nephews birthday quilt and this posting would have been great, had I not already started. I’m still WOW’d by it and will definately give it a try on my next one. Thanks again for posting it!
Sarah says
GENIUS! Thank you so much for posting that. It’ll be forever in my ‘favorites’.
Liz @ LivingMySweetLife says
I have been itching to try hsts!! I could never find a tutorial i liked. For such a simple looking block people seem to have so many ways to cut it! I am so excited by this tutorial that I am making some today, Thanks!!
DKB says
can you pls tell me what the linen-y looking solid isin your HST?
thanks
Dear Spring Green says
Yay! That is great- I am going to save that little list and print it out!
Lori McKay says
Thank you for doing the math on this method.
Linda Smith says
Thanks so much for this useful chart! I will be using this method on my next project that calls for HSTs.
Becky Collum says
Thanks !!!!
Patricia Johnson says
Very informative, since math is not my forte and I’m a beginner quilter. Hopefully this will help me. Thank You very much#
Carol says
Thank you for this info. I have a silly question. What is HAT.
I do quilt. I have some experience but still learning.
Christina says
HST is Half Square Triangle for short. :)
Ginny says
Thank you!
Carrie Appel says
Thanks for the HS triangle chart. Very helpful