HST question
 

I saw a great sale on Crftsy and bought my first kit. I downloaded the pattern/instructions and in looking at them it looks like the pattern is full of half square triangles. That's fine but the cutting instructions call for cutting them 6 7/8" and I'm wondering if you know the best way to cut them for accuracy without doing the 7/8 thing. I usually cut slightly larger and trim them down a bit after the blocks are sewn but I don't know if there will be enough fabric. And then even with that I'd rather cut squares, draw the line and sew on each side so I don't have to deal with the bias edges. The problem is I have no idea what size squares to cut to make them come out right. Any idea what might be the best way to do this?

If they ask to cut 6 7/8" you can cut 7" square and sew the two diagonal lines,
cut and trim to 6" square.

Funny you should ask. I just now heard rave reviews about a nifty tool called the Folded Corner Clipper. It eliminates the need to draw anything, and corners turn out perfect every time. Can't wait to order mine. YouTube has demos.

I recently invested in the Easy Angle ruler and love it for making HSTs. There is no trimming down and you start with strips. There also is no dog-ear trimming (well, maybe one)

Lol... I think we bought the same kit! Hedge Maze quilt with Rowan fabrics? It's so beautiful.... I cut mine out already and had no problem with the 6 7/8" measurements, but it would be fine for you to cut at 7" and trim later. There's plenty of each fabric for you to cut 7" squares. Just don't go any bigger! I had leftovers of every fabric. Sometimes just a strip, but from most of it I had big pieces leftover.

I bought one to do a Bonnie Hunter quilt and I LOVE it! My HSTs come out perfect with no need to trim!

I don't like to correct someone else, but I think you should start with a 7 inch square and trim to 6 1/2 inches to give you a 6 inch finished square. I sure don't want you to end up with the wrong size. I think the rule is to cut your fabric 1 inch bigger than your finished square. The amount that you trim off will be very little, just enough to square up.

half-square triangles are probably the only thing that i would cut up to the 7" and trim down. I am working on a log cabin type quilt and w/ accurate cutting, sewing, and careful pressing, I did not need to trim anything.

I always cut my square adding the 1/8", then starch & press them carefully, then sliver trim the excess off. That way they come out perfect every time.

I have the omnigrid triangle ruler and if the HST call the finished block to be 3inches or 4 inches or what ever I cut a strip !/2 inch bigger than the finished size of the block and use the triangle ruler to cut them out and they turn out perfect every time. I learned this in a class many yrs ago. So I no longer deal with the 7/8 measurement and they turn out perfect.