Making half square triangles question
 

I have tried several ways on making 1/2 square triangles. Why do most of the helps like Thangles, Easy Angle & Tiger tape say to add 1/2" to strip measurement before cutting out? Then they come out too large, all have to be trimmed down. Isn't that a lot of extra work? I have used the Angler 2 in the past, that fits on the bed of my machine, and had fairly good luck but just wondering about trying one of these other methods. What is the method you use or what works best for you. Just curious. Appreciate your help.

Carol

When I do HST's I add a full inch to the FINISHED size of square that I want (i.e., 3.5" finished HST block gets CUT at 4.5"). I lay the two squares right sides together, draw a diagonal line down the center of the square and sew 1/4" on either side. Cut; press. Yes, I have to trim them down but whether it's my sewing that is not accurate or my initial cutting that is not accurate, I get a very accurate HST with this method. I've never had luck with Thangles and haven't tried the other methods that you mention. I place my 45 degree line on the sewn center line of the HST and trim to the correct size from that measurement. It's a very tedious process to be sure but it's the one that works best for me. But it was a good excuse to buy a rotating cutting mat!

Depends on how many I need. If I need a lot, I use the grid method. I draw my grid size 1" larger than my finished HST and trim down to size after sewing. This ensures the most accurate units. Very similar to NJ quilters method only I make multiples at one shot, not just two at a time. If I only need a few I do NJ Quilters method or use a strip. I have also done many HST as leader ender project using scraps from FG blocks which I make using a square and a rectangle.

When you sew HSTs, you are sewing on the bias. If you are really careful not to tug your fabric and your machine feeds the fabric really well, then you can just use an easy angle ruler (which in effect trims one point) or add 7/8" to the finished size and cut 2 squares and use your angler or tiger tape. Also you have to be a perfect presser.
No trimming needed!
Most of us are not that good :p, so we add a fudge factor, then trim. I use BlocLoc rulers and find the additional trim step well worth the effort for perfectly matching points.
If you are happy with the way your triangles come out without trimming, then go for it! There are dozens of methods and tools for making HSTs. Experiment a bit and find the one you like best. It's all personal preference.

I love, love Triangulations. It's a software that prints out a paper sheet that will make many, many at a time and they are perfect. No trimming needed. You put your two fabrics, right sides together, lay the printed paper (I use doodle pads, very easy to tear off) on top and pin, then sew. There is also some free online you can use to print out the grid. Most of the basic sizes. Depending on size you can make 24 at a time, but they are the same. I am a scrappy girl so I handled this by organizing a swap for 2" hst, saving 6 for myself I traded the others, making many sets with different fabrics. I have a postage box full of 2" hst after making an Ocean Waves which used 4,000 of them. I am now making 2 1/2" hst for a split nine patch and I am making them with the Easy Angle ruler by Sharon Hulgren. It has that 1/4" built in and works well, but they need to be trimmed. Those that don't make the cut go in the 2" hst box. I try and cut them a bit larger and I'm not losing too many of them. I think Triangulations is the way to go tho.

Even if you are not into special rulers, The Bloc- Loc HST ruler is amazing and worth having in your collection of useful tools. I was pretty good at making HSTs before I got this ruler and now my HSTs are perfect even if I do say so myself. This one ruler made a significant difference in my piecing.

Even if you are not into special rulers, The Bloc- Loc HST ruler is amazing and worth having in your collection of useful tools. I was pretty good at making HSTs before I got this ruler and now my HSTs are perfect even if I do say so myself. This one ruler made a significant difference in my piecing.

Here is a sample of the results when using the Bloc Loc HST Ruler:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...w-t230816.html


As far as HSTs being oversized and trimming them down, it is the usual method so that they are the correct size. When working with bias edges some distortion may stretch the fabric so making them a little bgger and trimming to size helps with accuracy.
peace

EDIT: There are lots of needs when it comes to making HSTs. If you need a lot of one kind of HST in the same color the strip method or triangulations is a great way to get alot of the same HST.

If you like scrappy quilts and are making alot of different ( fabric) HSTs then one of the other methods works great. Use the method that suits the project. I make a lot of single HSTS for scrappy quilts so the Bloc Loc works great for me.

Also, I double starch my fabrics so they are almost like stiff paper. It helps to control the bias edge.
peace

There are many methods to making HST. I like Thangles when I am doing a scrappy look. I don't mind making them bigger because I starch them and then press them with steam. I like the final cut because then I know they are accurate and go immediately up on the design wall. What is most important is WHAT WORKS for YOU !!

When I used thangles I didn't have to cut down the finished squares. But I prefer to just make them bigger and cut them down anyway.

That's what I do!!!!!!! MUCH easier and cheaper than buying all those things.

This is how I do it too!

for 2 1/2 in I use two 6 in sqs. For each size larger add 2 in to sqs. Draw an x and sew down both sides of lines 1/4 in.
Cut in half both ways then on lines. Makes 8 HSTs. Just needs a small trim up. I use Quilt In A Days triangle sq up ruler that only needs one cut. Joanns with coupon.

One of my friends now used the Creative Grids 45/90 degree ruler only for HST's. I do believe she uses Best Press before cutting. She loves it as the HST's come out perfect.

You should purchase the Triangulation CD. Its wonderful for 1/2 sq triangles and others (flying geese, etc.). Its about $30 but well worth it. You will get paper piecing patterns for triangles in every size and you will have little waste. You definitely need to have a computer and a printer, and like to paper piece. They are fast and absolutely perfect every time. If I were to make them the traditional way, I would make them larger and square them up. I found to have better results that way. I would rather waste a little fabric then have my triangles too small and not so perfect.

Here's a method on Craftsy that many of us use - no rulers (except to draw a straight line) or special templates. No leaving bias edges to join to other pieces. I make a little larger and trim down.

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/01/...are-triangles/

Here's how to get from 2 to eight of the same 2 fabrics:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]469759[/ATTACH]

Yup, Triangulations is the easiest, most accurate (IMHO) and best at no trimming. What a time saver.

This is how I do it too. Yes I have to trim to get the finished square but I don't see it as a time waster because I don't have to spend extra time trying to make them fit or ripping out when they don't because I have perfectly aligned HST to begin with. Besides that, I'm not in a race to begin with. I'm making a quilt right now that is entirely HST and it is coming together beautifully. You don't need a bunch of special rulers to do a lot of things, especially HST.

This process is not a lot of extra work if you want your block EXACT. Consider all of the steps to making a block: Cutting, sewing 1/4 inch (precisely), pressing the block (not ironing, for God's sake!) After all of this, not matter how meticulous you are in your process, sometimes the block is just not spot-on. Maybe the fabric is is not of excellent quality, and it stretches a bit. Maybe your 1/4 inch is off a bit. Maybe your cutting was not exact. By making the pieces larger, when you're done, you can cut the block exactly to size.

Remember: Quilting is a wonderful journey, and each step is as important as the next. When everything comes together at the end, and you have a wonderfully executed finished product, all the painstaking care, (and sometimes seam-ripping anguish) is worth it! Enjoy the journey!

I love this method, too. I found the free template online. My only problem is I've never found the "doodle" paper that tears away easily, and regular copy paper is a nuisance to remove. My HSTs are perfect, though, when I do them this way.

I don't like the triangle paper. I use the way Jenny from MQC shows to make my HST.

I can't use that MQC method. I hate bias edges and to have 4 of them. **shudder**

I'm a beginner quilter and struggled with HSTs at first. Then I used Rhonda's tutorial here at QB: http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...t=hst+tutorial
Her method gave me VERY accurate results easily and with minimal waste.
If you want to try her method I'll make whatever size template you need.
Rodney

That one has bias edges too. I can do and handle bias edges. I just don't want to. I don't want to have to be so careful with them.

I recently did some HST's using the method that yields 16 blocks. Next time I do them this way, I will probably add about another 1/2" to the size of the initial squares. I would much rather trim my blocks down a little bit then end up with a bunch of finished blocks that are about 1/8" small. It does end up with straight of grain on the outside edges of your blocks which is nice.

This will blow your mind. take any two same size blocks...stack right sides together...sew qtr inch all around...
now cut corner to corner...do not take apart...cut opposite corner to corner...VIOLA 4 half square triangles...you will have
to experiment to get the right size. Check out Missouri Star Quilt Co for tute. Brenda from Wadesville

Place two squares right side together. Sew 1/4 seam around all sides. cut diagonally from corner to corner (two cuts) will have four pieces, open, press perfect hst. Hope this makes sense it's the only way I make them now.

That is a great way to make HST quick, but as others have also said, too many bias edges. The HST get wonky when they are pressed because most don't press they iron.

I dont understand why she does it this way when you make better ones by drawing and x sew and cut in half both ways then on lines to get 8 HSTs. Use six in sqs for 2 1/2 in triangles.

I also use the 8 at a time method. The math is easy and you don't end up with bias edges. For whatever unfinished size you want, double that and add one inch. So if I'm needing 3-1/2" unfinished (3" finished), I start with an 8" square. (3.5 + 3.5=7 + 1 = 8") It's a wonderful method and I rarely have to trim.

Thank each and every one for your wealth of information. Gives me lots of new ideas and now it's finding which one works best for me. Thanks again for taking the time to write and help me out. You are great and I am so glad I posted the question.