have you tried thangles? you just cut strips and then add the thangles to it for sewing and cutting guidelines and VIOLA!!!

When it comes to making HST's a lot of people have a hard time. They never come out right. I've had this problem too and stayed away from patterns that had HST's.
Until...I came across a method called the "Cut-Down Method" created by Rhonda Woodsmall. www.bitsnpiecesworkshop.com
With this technique your HST's will come out perfect every time. No more wonky squares. Your blocks will be so perfect that you won't have to square up the HST's.
I no longer shy away from any pattern that has a HST. If you don't believe me, just try it for yourself. Go to www.bitnpiecesworkshop.com

Wow this sounds like a commercial...lol.

Its always easier to show pictures so here goes with Eleanor Burns method using her triangle square up ruler.
For 2 1/2 in HST use 2 - 6 in squares for 8 triangles.
Just add 2 in for each size larger- 8 in for 3 1/2 in HST

I made a King size quilt out of HST. The instructions were to cut 9" x 21" pieces and draw a grid on the backside of the lightest fabric. It was two rows of five 3-3/4" squares then you drew a diagonal line and sewed 1/4" both sides of the line. It went fast. But thangles would be much faster

love love love thangles

Would the triangulations be the same as printing foundations for HST's in EQ?

Ditto

I hadn't heard of this way but I like it. It's similar to the way I make my 4 patches.

I usually do the square method that gives me 8 at a time. I probably won't explain it well but here goes....

To figure out the size of your squares you take the finished size of the square wanted - double - add two inches. ie; 2" finished squares 2 + 2 = 4 + 2 = 6" square.

Mark an X (corners to corners) and sew 1/4" on each side of marks, then cut square into quarters and along the marked lines to get 8 HST's.

oops, I just noticed that Rose Marie already explained it and has pictures too! I knew I should have read to the end before answering. :oops:

I am hooked on the Triangulations software for creating HST and QST. Only about $20 and the best $20 I have spent!

Dont you end up with all bias edges that way? Be sure to starch heavy.

ditto here

No, EQ prints foundations for paper-piecing. Triangulations prints a grid with a continuous line of quilting that runs all over the paper in a dotted line.

Press both sides to set the seams, then cut on the solid lines and press open toward the dark. The paper helps hold that bias seam and it comes right off with a little tug after your perfect HST's are pressed flat. :) Just a thumbnail into the seam and the paper comes right off.

*****

Oh and I love Jenny Doan's teaching videos - I even bought her series.

But I wouldn't use her two square method of making four HST's on a bet - even starched, all those bias edges are a nightmare for me.

I have trouble enough with HST's when my fabric is cut on or across the grain - no sense adding any further difficulties to the process. ;)

Here's a link to a tutorial for 8 HSTs at once. No specialty ruler required, but your ruler must be at least 12 inches for most sizes.
http://katiesquiltsandcrafts.blogspo...-shortcut.html

I've never seen a specialty ruler that I thought was too expensive. Not one has ever cost me more then going out to eat and the ruler lasts much longer! :lol:

For me $32 for an 8 1/2" square ruler is too expensive. I don't go out and eat either, because I can't afford it.

I'm sorry for your situation. :-(

I use Print and Sew but after reading here I ordered Triangulations...I got it today and was a little disappointed in it. It is not an executable file so you have to open it in Adobe and scroll down to the page you need and calculate how many pages you need to print. In Print and Sew, you click on the size HST/QST you need, tell it to print X amount of triangles and it prints the right amount of pages. The upside of Triangulations though is it has alot more sizes of triangles but I rarely want a finished block of 2 1/16th but if I do, by golly, I have it and you do have the Flying Geese option which Print and Sew does not.