Tips for HSTs
 

So I am making a craftsy kit, Ladies of the Lake, where I have to make 700+ 2" finished HST. I found a great tutorial for making eight at a time. I tried it and love it. Check it out and the size chart too at http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/20...ght-at-a-time/.
I did do a few things differently from the tutorial. First, when using the chart, I made the Beginning Square Size 1/4" larger than in the chart so I could trim afterwards.
E.g
Finished HST size 2" Beginning Square Size I made 6", not 5 3/4"

i also cut cut them out in a different order (less movement). I stitched 1/4" on both sides of the diagonal lines, pressed to set the stitches, then cut on line A and B first before cutting the solid diagonal lines (see photo).

Another tip is to use painters tape after pressing to one side and when trimming. I have used it before and thought I should share it. You can do about 25 before you need to change the tape. It stabilizes everything when cutting, preventing movement, and it levelizes (if that's a word) the squares. I trimmed about 25 with the tape on the lower side first and then replaced the tape, putting it on the lower side but it will be on the opposite side when you turn the square around. Makes for great accuracy!! Last photo show my stacks of 2 1/2" unfinished squares. Now back to work!
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thanks for sharing the tip with us and good luck with 800 of them!!

Is that just one layer of tape?

Yes, it's one folded back onto itself to make a ring.

thank you for sharing the link, i am looking forward to trying the 8 at a time method. enjoy making your ladies of the lake quilt

Great tip for "leveling" when squaring up HSTs. You should send it in to Fons and Porter. They reward you with a free year subscription to their mag if used on program. I've never seen that tip before and know that pesky seam ridge makes squaring up a little wobbly sometimes. Thanks !

Thank you for the chart and the visual aids!

Thanks for the great tip with using tape

I love this method. I made 120 half square triangles in no time last night using this method. If you make a lot of these the Bloc Loc ruler is well worth the price for trimming them. I think it comes in 3 sizes. I bought the medium sized one and it seemed to be the best one to me.

If I had to make THAT many of the same fabric, I used Triangle on a Roll paper with all the marked lines:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-1-2-Triang...item3d0268bf3d
If I am making scrappy HSTs, I love Thangles. I use to mark my fabric but it just takes too much time.