Rhonda

Sorry I have a tendency to shorten HST to Half Squares or Half Square Blocks

Look under the Blocks section and click on the Half Squares button.

I didn't include this on the site but I did write it on a thread on the board somewhere? that if you are making a lot of the same color blocks (I do mostly scrappy stuff) you can use strips for each fabric. If you cut a 12" (or whatever size you want)strip you can sew the two differant color strips together - open and iron the seam open for a flatter look - lay the template on the seam and cut out your half square block. Continue to use the joined strips til you run out of room. Then pull the fabric apart and sew the other two sides together - open and iron and continue to cut out squares.

You can click on the cut down method in my signature below here and go to my free site to see the pictures of this method. Just follow the steps I mentioned above here.

This is quick and easy in my opinion and you don't have to buy anything to help you make them other than your fabric.

I use swatches for most of my piecing because the lady I sell to prefers the scrappy look and 90% of my stuff is scrappy so we do it in an assemblyline fashion with swatches.

My friend Dorothy makes them for me and she will cut enough swatches of just one color (one dark and one light) so she ends up with several hundred to a couple of thousand at a time. She used to work in a factory and she thinks in large amts!! She says if she is going to do it she has to make it worth the time!