half sq triangles
 

How do you make yours. I bought a ruler , however it does not seem to help much. I think I will have to square up most of them.

I just make them and use my regular ruler to square them up making sure to place the 45 degree line on the seam. works well enough for me.

It depends on how many of each type you need.

If I'm making a lot (more than 6-8 of any single combination), I draw a grid on my fabric and sew them all at once.

When I'm using scraps, I make them oversized on purpose and trim down. You want your finished size + 1" if you want just a sliver to trim. I usually make them 1.25" bigger since I'm going to trim anyway I want there to be enough to trim and if I'm off, enough fabric to still be usable even if the angle isn't exactly perfect.

So, if you want a 2" finished HST, I'd start with two squares each 3.25". Draw a line down the middle on the back side of the lighter fabric, and using your 1/4" quilting foot sew along either side of the line and then cut down the middle to make two usable HST units.

Here's a ruler I adapted for a current project where I had a lot of HST to trim down. The tape is 1/4" seam tape and shows my desired final size. The diagonal line lines up on the HST. On the bottom of the ruler, I cut a clear finger sized bandage in half through the middle of the pad part and stuck those on either side of the seam allowance to allow for the teeter-totter effect of the seam.

So, yes, I have to trim but it is fast and easy and super accurate!

I prefer the 2 at a time, oversized square, diagonal line down the middle, sew 1/4 in each side and trim down to size for accuracy. I’m just not one that can sew perfect accurate pieces, or cut perfect accurate pieces, so I prefer to oversize and trim down as much as I can for all the units I make.

This is how I do mine. I also starch the living daylights out of them so they are kind of like little pieces of paper. It helps with the bias problems.

I just made a quilt top from the Only One pattern and its all HSTs. I used a lot of starch and didn't have any problems at all with the bias stretching.

I alway make mine with enough to square them up to the size I need. In most instance I will add 1/4". I would much rather to large than to small. I can always make them smaller but not larger and then I have them perfect.

I’m always happiest when I make them larger. I figure I have to square them up anyway might as well do it to the exact size I need.

Thanks every one, I am using 10" squares and and i did not want to have the bias so I made eight hst triangles. That middle seem for four put together is a lot of work , I am pressing it open to avoid the bulk in the middle. I am making 82 pinwheel blocks. I will probably half to cut down to 8". I am with you girls that the next time I will make bigger because I have to cut down anyway. I was tring to make them perfect so I would not have to cut down but that is impossible.

If they are two inch finished or smaller, I use the paper templates from QuiltingandWhatNot. Larger, I use the Easy Angle ruler. They're quick and easy with Easy Angle but somewhat wonky; but not too wonky to use. (I hate to trim down.)