When I first started out a very savey quilter told me to just make Half Square Triangles. They make so many designs with just that one square.
Make 2 1/2 inch ones. Then put them togather in any design to make an 8 1/2 square.
If you use El Burns method you can make 8 at a time.
Just cut out 2 six inch squares, one light one dark.
With right sides facing draw a line from each corner to make an X. Sew 1/4 inch from each side of the lines.
Cut your sq in half at 3 inchs on both sides of sq. Like a + then cut on drawn lines. You will have 8 triangles that will need to be squared up to 2 1/2 inchs.
They will be perfect.