I am sure that most of you have seen this method of creating half square triangles, but perhaps those new to quilting have not. the pictures below, I hope, show how it is done very clearly. I made enough half square triangles for a full size quilt in one long afternoon - that includes cutting, sewing, ironing and squaring up the blocks.

That's a good one. Pictures speak a thousands word...or how ever that saying goes ;-)

Just be careful they don't stretch since all your outside edges are on the bias.

you are so right, thanks for adding that.

Starching profusely will help that.

I Love pictures..short sweet and definately to the point.

OK...why have I never seen this before?? That is TOO COOL!

I agree, I would starch the fabric and then start making these like crazy :D:D:D

Thank you for making this tute for us! :D:D:D

How do you determine the square sizes for the blocks that you want to make? For instance, if I needed 6 1/2 inch half square triangles, what size would the two squares need to be?

I cut 91/2 in squares and ended up with 6 1/2 in half square triangle blocks.

Very clever - thank you.

I'd forgotten about this way - thanks

Do you sew all the way to the end of each side or stop at 1/4 inch and turn and go up the next side? I can't tell from the picture.

I do both Sherri. Whatever strikes my fancy, but I usually stop 1/4 inch from the edge and turn the fabric, but it really doesn't make any difference. Have fun making the half square triangle.

How neat! Do you suggest the starching before sewing the edges or just before the cutting?
Thank you for posting this.

Ditto!! first time i'm seeing this.. hmmm guess i'm a newbie too then..

Thanks for sharing!!!

starch starch starch starch and then sew them together without too much delay.

Thanks!

I do not starch before cutting or sewing, but i do starch after I make the half sq. triangles. I should say "sizing" instead of starch. I use sizing on all my pieced blocks.

I use starch while the fabric is still uncut, that is to say, before there are any cut bias edges.
When I try to starch or steam AFTER the bias edges are cut, they always become unsquared and out of true.

One could cut the squares "on the diagonal" or "on point" and then sew them - then when cut, they would have "straight" edges

I will try sizing before I cut and see if I find any difference from what I am already doing. If there an advantage to doing it your way I most certainly will change. Thanks to you and to "toomuchfabric" who said the same thing. I have never had a problem, but learning from others is one of the great things about this board. Thanks again. I appreciate it.

Have you done this? I never thought of doing it that way.

It works - the outside edges are a bit "stretchy" when sewing them - but not nearly as "stretchy" as when sewing triangles.

This is so cool! Thanks for sharing!

thank you for this tip oma66

Thanks for the great idea! I have been quilting for about 7 years now and have never seen this way to make HST's.

I used this method to make 100 hst for a quilt I just finished. Took me about a hour. Yipee I just told someone else about this yesterday. Thanks for posting

I just saw this tute on the Missouri Quilting Site, I think it was. I am just a little apprehensive about all the bias on the outside. Quick work in the beginning may make for more work in the end. Time taken to starch, etc. and keeping all those seams from stretching. Still have to try it.

From newbie inOK
thank you so much for the tip on the triangles. I have not had any classes, and no family or friends to help me learn how to quilt. I get all of my help and ideas here. :thumbup:

This is fabulous! Thanks! I'm going to give it a whirl with smaller squares to see what size they turn into.

This is Wa-a-a-a-a-ay cool!!
Thank you for sharing.

Here's the chart we were given, but I have not tested any of them to see if the final is with or without the 1/4" seam.
2" sq = 1 " HST
2.5 = 1.5
3.5=2
4=2.5
5=3.5
6=4
7=4.5
8=5
8.5=5.5
9=6
10=7

Beautiful Arizona! I'm one step BEHIND you. I have been quilting for 4 years and still have trouble squaring up the fabric. It's the bane of my quilting existence. Do you have any great tips like this one for squaring up?

That is just so smart! Thanks :-)

I was just doing this last evening! I cut the scraps from a quilt into 5 inch blocks and this method makes a 6" pinwheel block. Eventually you get a great scrap quilt!

Oh wow, thanks! Hadn't thought of doing it this way. I'll definetily give it a try! Thanks too for the size chart on the blocks Jan.

Thanks for adding this tip. I have seen it here before and the on point cuts make it much easier to work with and no bias. If you are a newbie bias can cause you a lot of problems. MNM

How ingenious!!!!!! When I saw the first photo with the stitching all around, I thought "Someone made a mistake". But the next photos showed me how right you are. A great way to make this block. Thank you.

Thank you -- just what I need for making a border for a design- as-I-go quilt built around a 5 block disappearing 9patch --that is, after I finish my Christmas project