Thank you Rhonda! Your tutorial from 3 years ago is still helping people. The links you posted to what to do if you have trouble helped me figure out what I've been doing wrong too.
I cut myself a simple little 3 1/2" square template out of 1/8" plywood to match my unfinished block size and used your strip method to cut a couple trial HSTs. I sewed them together and got a nearly perfect point the first try with NO fumbling around.
You made it easy to get things right.
Thanks,
Rodney