Half Square Triangle/Tips for more perfect
 

I just abandoned a quilt project that was all half-square triangles made from pre-cut 5" squares. I used the drawn line method and all was well until assembly took place and some points were off. Now if these were all the same size, is that supposed to happen? Is accuracy hard to achieve w/ these and if so, what do you do to maximize accuracy with those points? I read a little bit online and it seems many make them larger to start with and then later trim to size. Is that step i missed that would've yielded better results?

mea

:) I have had good luck making four 6 1/2 inch hsts from a 9 1/2 square (got tutorial from QB here) -- the secret seems to be accurate cutting of squares, using starch and pressing, accurate sewing of 1/4 inch seams, accurate cutting of diagonals, and then pressing the seams -- mine have come out fairly well -- I made a carpenter's wheel and a flyfoot in large blocks and was pleased with the results -- I wanted something easy and liked the idea of 4 hsts from one square -- good luck!!

Someone posted a chart for making 4 smaller hsts from a square -- starching before may have helped too -- sometimes things just don't work out like planned!!

When making HST's from squares, you want to allow at least 7/8" "loss, I always allow an inch. So if I want for example to have a 4" HST, I would cut my squares 5". You can do the same "method" for quarter square triangles, except you need to add 1 1/2".

I find that precuts are never accurate - I always get better results when I cut the squares myself. I know that a lot of tutorials out there recommend making them bigger and trimming them down. I have never had a issue - I use the drawn method. Your issue was probably with the pre-cut.

That's my thought. I have found precuts very often are varying in size

try cutting some five inch sqs and making hst's and see if they are much better. if so, it's the pre-cut ones that are at fault. if you trimmed, you must always lay the 45 degree line on the seam before trimming, turn the block, line up again and trim more on the other sides if necessary.

I have not had good luck using pre-cuts and find that cutting my hsts down from a larger block work out the best. I will also add that it is just not the pre-cut squares that can be off. The jelly rolls are notorious. It's unfortunate because the reason so many of us buy the pre-cuts is to save time and fabric waste. So, if you have a pattern that is forgiving, pre-cuts are great...otherwise reconsider, avoid frustration and buy fabric off the bolt.

Untill I started using the "make larger block, trim to size needed", HST were nothing but frustration for me. It's the only way now for me.:)

i find that even with an accurate consistent square to start with i must use the scant 1/4" for accurate results. Otherwise they are too small