Jan posted a lovely graphic of my favorite method. I've done 7 1/2" ones this way. 10" or maybe even 12" wouldn't be bad as long as you have a square ruler the correct size.

One of my favorite quilts is a large chevron pattern that I made with layer cake squares. I assembled it using the method of drawing a diagonal line and sewing 1/4" from either side and cutting down the middle. For larger squares, I trim using a 12-1/2" ruler, lining up the diagonal line on the seam. For smaller ones, I have a Quilt in a Day Triangle Square Up ruler. With this ruler, you leave it folded, line up the seam and trim 2 sides before pressing it open. It is quicker and less stress on my hand by doing half of the cuts. I frequently make half square triangles, so it was a worthwhile investment for me. The 12-1/2" ruler is very practical to have also. Shop around. I've gotten rulers at very reasonable prices on ebay, as well as some online quilt shops.

You can do this minus the paper...just draw that line on the fabric......eliminates paper steps, same results.

you might consider purchasing something to help you other than just the one ruler you now have. EBurns templates are good.....

Jan, you always make everything look so easy! This would be my style too.

I love this board, everyone is being so helpful, thank you so much!! I'm going to grab a 12.5 x 12.5 ruler if I can get to my LQS today, try some of these methods with scraps before I start with my nice fabric. Everyone is so nice, I mentioned my plans to someone local and they started to tell me that it wasn't possible and to make another pattern. Don't see why you couldn't make large HSTs ;)

Just one more thing. Starch and press your fabric before you begin. It will keep those bias edges from stretching as you go.

Pffft! Of course you can make large HSTs - check out this tutorial where she uses 18" squares for HSTs. http://www.incolororder.com/2011/08/...-tutorial.html

I think if you do huge HSTs, you don't have to worry as much about squaring them up. If I was making a quilt this way, I would probably use 14" squares (so that I could cut 3 from the width of fabric with little waste), then make them the way Jan described. I wouldn't bother with squaring up, though; on a 3" HST, being 1/8" off is a big deal. On a 14" HST, you can ease in that difference.

Do your big blocks, and have fun with it!

Edit: I agree, though: starch them first to minimize stretching.

I made a quilt with 10" finished HST's -- I used the 12.5" ruler to cut 11.5" blocks and trimmed (you get 2 blocks cut by most WOF, though I did go down to 11" cut on a couple of narrower fabric ad used a bit of the selvage). The beauty of 10" finished blocks is the arithmetic is easy (twin size 60x80 = 6x8=48 blocks, then add the borders). It was a lot of fun...

Wow I love that star quilt Jeni made in her blog Jennifer23! I read tons of blogs but I'd never seen hers, thanks for pointing me there! Everyone here is so helpful, thank you again, I'll do some experimenting with scraps and muslin and I'll post the finished quilt in the show-off threads, this is the best most relaxing hobby :)

When making big HSTs, I hate drawing lines, so I simply cut the large square, then cut diagonally and sew, even though it's on the bias. If you use Best Press, sizing or starch, you should have no problem with the bias stretching. Then I square up with a ruler (I have 10.5" and 6.5" ones but a 12.5" one is on my wish list).