I prefer cutting the right size and sewing and not trimming down after as I don't like doing that. It is just necessary to cut accurately, and to sew a "scant" 1/4 " to allow for pressing. Everyone has their favorite way of making triangles, or using gadgets. For smaller triangles, I do like using Thangles papers, but only use them for triangles 2" or less...but they do make them all the way up to 6"...I have several friends who have bought the "Triangulations" program that you can use to print off your own triangle papers. I haven't yet felt I can justify the cost of that.