I recently came across the "time-saving" hint for making triangle pairs.

Take two larger (let's say 5") squares, contrasting colors.

Place them right sides together (or as one youtube instructor says: "pretty sides together").

Sew 1/4" all the way around all four sides.

Then cut diagonally from corner to corner twice. Open up to right/pretty sides out. Result: 4 half-triangle squares.

Sounds like a great idea. I just tested it out and found that I spent more time squaring the resulting squares. So I'm not sure I'm saving any time.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

I'm always for time-savers, unless they require more time! ;-)

Thanks.

-- Jillaine

This can be a quick way if you cut and sew accuratly but it also give you bias edges. These can be difficult to deal with. There are other ways to do quick and accurate HST that don't end up with bias edges.

i don't care for this method because it puts the bias edge on the outside giving that area a lot of stretch.

the traditional method doesn't have bias edges

http://www.psiquilt.com/2010/02/half...-tutorial.html

If I have a lot of hst to do, I still prefer to use the Wondercut Ruler.

Looks like the wondercut ruler ends up with bias outsides as well. Okay, just tried the HST tutorial and it works; she doesn't make it clear about the initial size of the squares though. I have to make sure that part is correct.

(I still wish there was a faster way... i have a lot to make...) ;-)

Thanks!

Although I don't have the Wonder Cut Ruler I do use the wonder cut ruler method from time to time just depending on my mood. I also use the method posted in the link above.

I haven't tried the four at a time method however a tip is to use a TON of starch prior to cutting your fabric. spray press, spray press, and even if you so choose you can spray and press again or you could just do like I do and spray them till they are soaked let them dry till damp and then press! This will help a TON when working with bias edges!

If your talking about the HST tutorial where you use two sqaures to make two triangles and you draw a line down the center and then sew on either side of it. You add 7/8 of an inch to your FINISHED size of your HST. So if you want a 5 inch HST cut your squares 5 7/8" or 6 inch squares and trim. 4 inch finished HST 4 7/8" or 5" and trim the extra 1/8 inch off when done!

Even with the Wondercut ruler the bias is cut before you sew. For me it's slower than the method jillaine describes, with the same results. I like the method where you put two squares together and sew 1/4" in each side of the diagonal because your bias edge is stable before it's cut. It's better to use a walking foot to be sure the sewing process does not stretch the bias. However, if you use enough starch before you cut by any method, it helps stabilize the fabric.

I also don't like doing them this way, but here's a quicker method than doing them individually. I hope this helps. I also starch liberally.

http://www.blockcentral.com/hst/hst-2inch.pdf This is my favorite.

Same here. Bias is not my friend.

I use the Nifty Notion rulers, and they have a HST that's SUPER easy and quilt, and cut from a strip of fabric.

It's really easy and you save a bunch of fabric. Here's an online tutorial I found. http://emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/2008...y-notions.html

I just started quilting and this is the only rulers my LQS stock, so I was surprised when I was shown the traditional way...much more complicated IMHO. :)

Why don't you use Rhonda method she is on the board here. I used it and it was easy and everything fit and turned out perfect. Look it up and give it a try.

That is why it is nice that there are so many methods available. I like the Wondercut because it is faster than the others and if I am making a quilt with a zillion hst's I don't want to do each square one at a time.

Lynn Roddy Brown has a method for making HSTs that is quick and easy. She uses the Quilt In A Day Triangle Square Up Ruler. I like that ruler because you square the block up before you press it open.

I also have the June Tailor Perfect QST and HST ruler. I like it for drawing and cutting the center line, but I don't use it for squareing them up.

I don't like bias edges either. I think those would take me longer in the long run having to be all careful with the edges. I just got the triangulations cd so I'm going to use that the next time.

Rhonda's method has bias edges also. You could try this method for 8 HST at a time. There are no bias edges when you do them this way, and no special tools to buy.

That's similar to the grid method (in which I always have to square up so I make them bigger and then trim to size).

I made a lone star using all hst's and I just don't remember any problems with the bias edges, I will watch on my next one and see.

I LOVE this board. Thank you everyone! What a great collection of tips!

I wondered what the down side was to this easy method.

I think that fabric_fancy was referring to the method in the first post and the link that she gave, for the psiquilt, is the more traditional method which does not leave bias edges unsewn---they are sewn before they are cut.

Not sure if you have a longarm machine, or a friend that can line these up for you..... but I did a TON of HST's in just minutes on my longarm:

http://www.candyapplequilts.com/appl...at-moms-quilt/

I made a pinwheel lap robe using that technique and it worked great for me. I'm wondering if it's because I starch my fabric heavily before cutting the squares first.

I am trying that technique now, making a backing from large HST. It will be the broken dishes style....and yes, the bias edges are already giving me grief when I press them.

I love all these methods of doing the HSTs that don't leave you with bias edges. Thay are wonderful time savers. Thanks for all the ideas.

I use the Tucker Trimmer from Deb Tucker. Make them bigger and square them up. Takes a little longer, but they are all the same size and no bias edges.

I think this is like the Easy Angle ruler, which I discovered on Quiltville.com.......Bonnie Hunter's site. I love it! And the best thing is that you can use the same size strip to cut both squares and HST's that finish at the same size.

Well, I might just have to buy a longarm just to make all these HSTs!!! (Not likely; NO room -- much less budget -- for such a machine!). That said, your "tutorial" demonstrates to me how I could do it on my "new" 40-year-old Signature machine. I'd still have to mark the fabric but it MIGHT save time.

Robin, I *love* the "Summer at Mom's" quilt. I can't find the pattern anywhere. It's no longer free at McCalls. The paid link is broken. And ebay sales are all ended. (Is that legal to resell a pattern cut out from a published magazine?) While I could figure out the bulk of it myself, I'd need a) fabric requirements, and b) applique pattern.

And I *love* that you made it with florals sent to you by friends. LOVE it. Love it!

-- Jillaine

the basic square is figured out by adding 7/8th of an inch to the size of the half square triangle you want to end up with..there is also software programs where you can print out sheets of paper with grids on it and then layer with paper and sew then cut on the marked lines or you can buy Thangles from a quilting store which is good; these last two are great if you have alot of 1/2 sq triangles to do instead of just a couple

Kat Sews' sample is a good way to make more HST and one does not need to be concerned about bias. A walking foot is a good tool to use with this example.

I use Eleanor Burns Quilt-in-a-Day method and I have her triangle square up ruler and it is wonderful. I was making a hugs and kisses quilt which called for lots and lots of half square triangle blocks and this method and ruler worked wonderful. I was finished with the the quilt top in just one day (50 x 60).

Following is a link to some of her videos. They show several ways, but the American Barn series uses lots of half square triangle blocks.

http://quiltinaday.com/theater/qbab/qbab1.html

Cherry

I have tried every method to make half square triangles and finally found one I love. With the GO cutter all your half square triangles come out perfect, and when you sew them together there is no need to square up and cut off the dog ears.
It works so great!

Paperpiecing is probably the easiest and quickest way to make a lot of HSTs. If you only have a few to make you can print out your own templates; however, if you're going to make a lot Thangles are much less expensive than toner and paper for your printer. This is what I use for 2 inch finished HSTs.

I hope this works. I have a handout that I made up for the quilting classes I teach. I will attach it to this reply. It makes a lot of hst pretty fast and accurately.

I use Tri-angle paper or Tri-angles on a roll for making HST's. The paper is a lighter weight than copy paper for the roll and a newsprint paper for Tri-angle paper and both tear off easily. Just make sure to use a smaller seam allowance than normal. To tear off the paper, I put my thumb in the middle of the seam allowance and tear off the large piece of paper. The seam allowance paper then comes off easily.

Great tips -- thanks everyone. I may now try pinwheel blocks again.

The way I do them is for instance, take two 5inch blocks & place them face together. Sew 1/4 inch all the way around all four sides. Then cut them from corner to corner both ways & you end up with four perfect 3 inch half sq triangles. I have found what ever size half sq triangle you want, just add two inches to the size of block you sew together. For me they come out perfect every time & all the same size.

There are so many ways to make HST but my favorite is the Omigrid 98 ruler-uses 2 strips of fabric right sides together and after the cutting and sewing one of the dogears is already cut off for you

Yes, Rhonda's way is another good way.. She has some great ways to sew blocks. :)

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-115548-1.htm