HST's -- an aha moment
 

I learned a tip at a class at my LQS a few days ago that I'm sure most of you know, but I didn't -- and I've been making quilts for a very long time. In the class we were making tons of very small HST's and the instructor preferred the old method of cutting squares on the diagonal and sewing the triangles together. That's never my first choice of constructing HST's. I prefer the two-at-a-time or four-at-a-time methods, but I always use the teacher's method in class. The measurements for the 1-1/2" HST's were 1-7/8" squares cut on the diagonal, and she did have us cut 2" squares, which is my usual habit. But here's the tip: Line up the triangles at the point instead of matching the side where the seam will be. They come out square every time with just the tiniest bit to trim because of cutting them over-sized.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]573489[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the tip katy!

Guess I'm not so dumb. I've always done it that way. ;)

I do it that way too... and you're right. They come out perfect.

thanks for the tip

Yes! I figured this out when my hsts were sewing up wonky. I do this for a lot of blocks not just Hsts.

Thanks for your post, it's always nice to have another tip in your back pocket. I'm definitely going to test it on my next hst project.

great tip!! Last Saturday on a Fons and Porter episode, they talked about this.

Wow. I've always done that wrong. Thanks for the heads up.

I can use that tip. Thanks!