Hst
 

I thought I had these things figured out!

I am making my squares 3 inches and drawing the line down the middle, etc. It seems as though some of them have plenty of room to trim while the other half is almost too small. I must be shifting my fabric or something. They are still all fine to use but I sure do find them to be tricky.

I am making a small table topper from the Kim Diehl Simple Whatnots Club. It is going together fast.

I don't draw the corner to corner diagonal. I draw the 2 sewing lines. Line up the 1/4" marking on your ruler corner to corner, then draw the line. Turn your square 180 and draw the other one. I found that even though you have to draw twice as many lines, the result is worth it to me! There are several rulers on the market that are made for this, just a half inch wide.
http://generationqmagazine.com/2011/...iangle-part-2/

I use the little skinny Fons & Porter ruler to draw those 2 lines. It works better for me to draw the 2 lines too. It's quick and easy with that little ruler. That's what I am working on today. I picked it up at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. There was a short one and long one in the set. I use them all the time.

you can also put a pin in each side near those corners to help keep the fabric from shifting. I sew just a tad inside the drawn line. then press and trim. always place the 45 degree line on your ruler on the seam line, trim two sides, turn and trim the last two sides if necessary. That should work.

My favorite way to make hst. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L43Uc9H_RUA
So easy.

I too use the F&P little ruler. It comes in two sizes.

These are tricky for me, too! I don't have any good solutions for you, but you're definitely not alone in this. I'm awful with these.

I tend to not end up with the straightest seam (even if I draw lines to sew directly on) and so I end up with weird puckers and curved-up pieces when I try to press them flat. Argh! I think for ME, I'm better off cutting the triangles first and then sewing, so I can use my quarter-inch foot to keep me in line. Which is disappointing, so I keep trying to do it the more efficient way, telling myself I just need to keep practicing...but I keep getting aggravating results.

This is why most of my quilts are made with squares and rectangles! LOL

If you prefer cutting first and then sewing, I'd suggest the Easy Angle Ruler: http://www.amazon.com/Quilting-Angle.../dp/B005KC3L4U

You can find it just about anywhere and it's really helpful. Using the ruler, you won't need to add 7/8" to get the proper finished size. It's designed to cut triangles from strips. If you have 2 1/2" strips, you'll be able to get 2 inch finished triangles. One end of the triangle is blunt when you cut them, and you'll be able to feed that end into your sewing machine using your 1/4" foot. It avoids having to start sewing on a point.

Here's a video on this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKrTj-d5ryI

Oh cool, Lynda! I will definitely check that out, thanks!

Usually I start oversize and trim down, but it'd be nice if I could just get it right from the start.

This is the way I make mine. As a matter of fact, I'm making this quilt as we speak. This HST is sooooo very easy to make. :thumbup:

I have used the Easy Angle Ruler. It was the first thing I learned to use when I started quilting last October. I should give it another try as I'm sure my sewing skills have much improved.

I am currently using the Fons and Porter ruler. I did make the squares 1/2 inch bigger but still some are a little "off".

I use the Kay England version of the easy angle ruler but find I still prefer to oversize my strip a little and cut them a little bigger and trim. Love her Nifty Notions rulers. They are easier for me to read.

i use the fons and porter no problems

http://www.quiltingandwhatnot.ca/Hal...-Triangle.html

I use this method.

I also love this method

I'm working with HST now, too. What is the math for making them with this method?

I have one of the rulers. It takes the guess work out go the process and saves material.

I swear by triangulations. My hst are right on the money, but if you are making scrappy hst, I use the easy angle that Bonnie Hunter uses. Yes, some of mine aren't as perfect this way, but I just trim those down to the next size I use.

Sorry, I don't do math. LOL

I use Quilt In A Day's method using large sqs to make 8 hst at a time then sq up with the triangle sq up ruler with one cut. Perfect every time and so fast and easy. 6 in sqs for 2 1/2 in --8 in sqs for 3 1/2 in.
Just draw an x on the wrong side of top sq and sew down both sides of lines. cut in half both ways then on lines.
Sq up with their ruler with only one cut.

LOVE THIS RULER!!!!! It really does make these perfectly, with no need to trim down..........

When making scrap quilt units, I make my HST using pre-cut patches placed right sides together. Then I take a long emery board to use a straight edge diagonally corner to corner. Fabric is stabilized while drawing line. Sew .25 inch each side of line, cut on drawn line, trim to size. I do six or more at a time using chain stitching technique. Down one side of each, turn, down the other side, slash on drawn line. Ready to press and trim as needed. Almost instant gratification as pile of blocks pile up!

When you are making HST using the method of drawing a line and stitching and then cutting and trimming you have to be careful at two steps. Remember when you are drawing your line from corner to corner you are running along the bias grain of the fabric which is stretchy. Use a light touch when making your line. I like a fixon pen here because I don't have to press very hard to make the line therefore minimizing the tugging on the fabric.

The second place you have to be careful about is when you stitch 1/4" from that line. Here again you are stitching on the bias. Don't tug on your fabric or pull it through the machine. Let your machine gently move it along to minimize stretching. I stitch a skinny 1/4" away and I sew one direction going one way and the other direction going the other way.

If you are using the method of adding 1" to your square square beyond the finished size of your HST you won't have much to trim off when you square it up. If you are generous in your 1/4" stitching you may not have enough to trim. If this is the case then make your initial squares larger. You'll have more to trim. It doesn't make much difference how much larger your squares are beyond the 1" as long as when you trim you have the marking on the ruler going along the seam line. I use the Quilt in a Day where you only trim two sides then open it up and the square ruler where you trim four sides after you open it up. It just depends on which ruler I find first or remember I have. Both methods work great for me. My avatar quilt is almost entirely made up of HST.

HST made super easyn by just sewing 2 strips together and cutting, now bias cutting, use the wonder cut ruler see demo this ruler has more that paid for itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyKMiTCYWjM

buy triangle papers at quilt shop or thangles, or can buy cd program to print own triangle program

I made a quilt for a wedding a few weeks ago using this method. It was very quick, but I don't like having the sides of my blocks on the bias. In the end, the quilt looked fine. I prefer using the Magic 8 method to make my HST's. I've learned that I prefer to make them slightly over-sized, then trim down to the exact size needed. Takes more time, but I'm happier with the final product.