I guess I am always the dissenting viewer/commentor. How is it harder to cut 7/8" than 1"? Why go the trouble of then having to square up your blocks before you use them? Ah - to each his own. Basic rulers work for me and my pocketbook. New "inventions" rarely grab my eye.

Amer. Patchwork & Q'ing has had that method out for years. I fail to see why you need to buy yet another ruler just to a square 1" bigger that finished HST size, draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4" on both sides of line and cut in half on the diagonal line! I've not been able to find this tute on the mag's web site anymore, so if anyone wants a copy, PM me your email. Also has method for 8 at a time. Pam Bono's grid method and those by others is also wonderful! All of these are accurate and none needs another notion!

I also have this clear blue ruler with the slit down the middle but if you use that ruler then you need to cut your blocks 7/8" bigger than the finished block. Cindy's ruler adds in the extra 1/8" for cutting blocks 1" bigger. also if you cut block 1" bigger and stitch 1/4 " on either side of the center diaginal line then you still have to square block to be finished size you want.

I have one of these and I don't think I have used it more than once or twice in 10 yrs. Years ago I did the grid on the larger pieces of fabric to make 1/2 square triangles. I think the last triangles I made were for a block of the month 3 or 4 years ago.

The only ruler I use for 1/2 square triangles is the Wonder Ruler. They are so easy, and they come out perfect every time. I used to stay away from anything that had triangles before I got this ruler. Here is the link with a video on how to use it.

http://www.connectingthreads.com/Too...r__D81315.HTML

Click the tab that says bonus media, and they have a video you can watch.

This puzzled me, too. Unless it's "doing the math" to add 7/8ths to whatever size you want. Anything I don't have to square up before use is what I'm going for since I hate squaring up!

I always just make my squares 1 inch bigger and use my 6.5 inch square to cut them down bought my half square angle ruler from nanacys notions years and years ago use it all the time

Well, I just ordered the magic ruler. If I don't use it, I won't be the first one I've bought and not used. But it looked handy. I enjoyed reading all of the other comments. And I would like to know more about the grid method some of you talked about. Could you tell me where to find more info. Thanks,

Here ya go, Jean! there are many other sites on the internet: google "HST grid". Here's one:
[url]http://www.patchwork-and-quilting.com/grid-pieced-half-square-triangles.html[/url

ps: if you are making many like I did, I drew my grid on template plastic, drilled a little hole at each intersection to poke a pencil thru to mark the grid on fabric.