bearisgray

Was your straight of grain on the longest edge? Which is why I would not make HST's that way if I wanted the straight of grain to be on the short sides of the triangles.

debquilts2

traingle paper if you need alot of one set or thangles paper to do just a few at a time.

happyquiltmom

Ditto this...takes the stress out and allows for better accuracy.

charmpacksplus

I use this handy little tool for HST. You can line it up diagonally and then draw a line on each side. Sew on the lines then cut down the center. It's called a Quick Qtr by Quilter's Rule. I also make my squares a little bit larger to start with, then square them up after piecing.

nativetexan

I use my quarter inch foot and place the metal guide on the drawn line, sew and then do the other side. usually i sew just inside that, meaning i place the foot just "inside/off" the drawn line. then press and trim if necessary. if you trim always place your 45 degree line on your ruler on the seam you sewed.
http://trishstuart.com/pdf_files/HSTconstruction.pdf
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...-triangle.html

ube quilting

I make a lot of HST from scraps and I love the little quarter inch ruler. Makes marking the sewing line go real fast. There are two lengths to choose from. I have both and love them.

They are 1/2" wide with a mark down the center length of the ruler. Just line this mark up on the diagonal corners of any size block and draw a light line on each side of the ruler. Sew on the lines and cut down the center.

I think they are from Fons and Porter and I love them!

peace

saperry

Hi I like to speed piece my hsq's. If I need 3.5" I cut my fabric 4.5" so if I need 2 my fabric would be 4.5" by 9". When I mark my pieces I use a half inch ruler. Place the center line corner to corner and only mark the 1/4 inch sewing lines. then cut down the center to separate them. then I will square them to the size I need. Wastes a little bit of fabric but......they're the right size when finished. I put all my tiny scraps in a bag that I'm saving for stuffing so even that fabric is not truly wasted.

coffeebreak

First time I did HST I had that same probelm. I cut the squares the size I wanted plus 1/2 inch for 1/4 seam allowance on each side. HOWEVER...in the case of an HST..you have to cut them 1 inch larger than what you want as that line down the middle and 1/4 on each side takes up 1/2. then the other half inch is for the seams that attach the HST to the other blocks. I was only allowing for the 1/2 larger for the outer seams...I was not allowing for the 1/2 needed for the inner seam. I make blocks THREE TIMES before I finally figured this out! I had enough blocks for 3 lap quilts! But nothing matched up because of I didn't allow that extra 1/2 inch.

Then.. I learned squaring up is a must. I use QIAD's square up template.. and it works great. Now...my HST blocks almost always are 100% matching.

Another thing that I learned that helps ALOT is to press the seam after you sew it as that flattens the threads in the seam which stops any "give" and gives you a specific and straight, flat seam. If you dont do this... your seams will be bulky, which means different sizes!

Plus what I learned in these 3 laps I ended up with...anytime you want an HST..you have to cut the squares 1 inch larger than what you want. But.. I was putting HST's together with a half square.. and was not adding the extra 1/2 inch to the square to accommodate the middle seam.

If you need help with a perfect 1/4 seam.. get a seam guide that attaches to the plate of your sewing machine. Or..take a piece of fabric with a straight edge...measure with a pencil 1/4 in inward and draw a line. Place your needle on the line and take couple stitches... then use a 1 in POST-IT note pad and place that at the edge of the fabric (while still under needle) and that is now your seam guide!

schelia

I use the quarter foot....draw a line down the middle....then put your quarter foot bar on this line and sew on each side. That way you only need to draw one line - and you can stay in a straight line.

jeank

I love my Loc-Bloc, yes, it was pricey, but it works so well and you trim a stack of HST so fast.

see it here http://www.blocloc.com/blocloc.htm

It has a grove in the plastic that goes over the seam so the template doesnt rock or slip, the edge catches the line so it is right down the middle. You cut one side, slide to the other end, cut and you are done.