The method the OP did sounds like sewing a square to either side of a rectangle. Yes you have to trim away the excess triangles in the corners but I have found the resulting triangles that are trimmed away can be sewn together to form HST. If your finished FG measures 2" x 4" your "scrap" hst will be 1 1/2" after trimming. I have loads of patterns that use that size and am saving them up to make a scrappy quilt in one of those patterns. It is only a waste if you toss the triangles bits you cut away. But if you save them in a ziploc baggie and sew them together ala Bonnie Hunters "leaders and enders" method they will accumulate quickly. And you will have them in perfect colors for more QOV quilts.

Well, I wouldn't have thought to do that. What a brilliant idea. Maybe next time. Thanks.

I made three borders using this method. Made almost 250. Works fantastically. I made the just a bit bigger and trimmed a bit off.

Here is the finished quilt

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...e-t247453.html

I use Accuquilt Go dies.

I love the Wing Clipper from Deb Tucker. This one ruler will make 11 different sizes - no waste method as described in other posts. The trim down cut is less than 1/8th. I met her at the AQS show in Syracuse, NY, had her sign a pattern for me and also had a pic taken!

I saw a blog post recently by Anita Grossman Solomon in which she sewed the square on with the diagonal seam then moved out 3/8" toward the corner and stiched another diagonal seam beside the first seam. Next, she cut between the two seams and had a square made from the leftover half square triangles. She saves them for other projects.
Hope that makes sense... :o

I use my Accuquilt, the only way I have been able to make good flying geese.

Which Accuquilt do you have? I have been toying with the idea of getting one. Any advice? It seems you have to make the same blocks all the time or invest in a lot of dies. And you have to use certain sizes. so what do you do to follow a pattern that calls for a different size?

It does make sense. I read that somewhere too. But after the fact. The pattern had two different size geese. So it would've made a lot of HSTs doing it that way.

I use Deb Tucker's Wing Clipper. Little waste and high in accuracy. Check out her video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7WQpzknLGg