No, they're not evil! The math can be tricky to work out, until you find the right formulas, also there are easy methods of putting together patterns that involve triangles. Just keep an eye on your points, and jump in and give them a try. Be fearless- at best you'll be happy with your accomplishment, at worst, you'll have learned something! : )

I don't like trianges. I'll do the draw the line on the square and make hst like that. I've been told that I don't change my needle often enough and that's what causes my problem with pushing the fabric into the feed dogs.

I like to put 2 squares right sides together, draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4 away from the line on each side, then cut between the sewn lines on the drawn line. Then trim to the correct size. Most will need little trimming if you cut 7/8 of an inch bigger than the desired size, though one inch is easier to measure and takes little trimming. I use this method because the bias seam is sewn without handling it and the edges you are left with are on the straight grain.

No, HSTs are not hard, just a little more time consuming.

Buy some cheap fabric and practice.

I have been sewing triangles for more than 60 years and never heard anything bad about them until I joined this board. I also belong to a very large quilting group, well over 100 members and have never heard anyone complain triangles, in fact one young quilt maker just showed a very large quilt made entirely of small 1/2 square triangles.Put your 2 pieces together properly before you start sewing, do not just fix one end and expect to match the rest while you have part of it under the needle. Feed your matched pieces gently and take a bit of care at the finishing end because they have a tendency to pull to the side and narrow the seam. Remember you are the master and it's just another piece of fabric you are sewing. It's very easy if you don't get yourself in a tizzy. I know you can do it!

I think there's a great tutorial on here for that.

I think that I'm scared too, after reading more. I also tried them and found them somewhat difficult. For me, the key is making them a bit bigger and then cutting them back down to size. IOW, I start with a square that is bigger than I need, sew those together down the middle, trim in half, press, and trim again.

Lots of work. I don't have starch available, that I've seen, so I'd have to make my own. I really don't want to do that as it gives me the creeps to basically soak my fabric in a flour/starch water mixture and then sew on it.

I suppose I pay the price for that feeling, but I suppose I lived in FL too long where bugs like flour....

I am making a mystery quilt with a LOT of HST and QST. I just finished 350 HST this morning. The instructor, Bonnie K. Hunter, recommended the Companion Angle Ruler and the Easy Angle Ruler. These rulers have made all the difference in the world. My triangles all turned out perfect.....try it. It was actually fun - and fast - considering how accurate everything was.

I use Thangles or just cut larger squares, sew and cut them apart. I don't do just triangle cuts, they stretch and are too frustrating for me

If you use the easy method for making half square triangles. it will open the door to a lot of interesting quilt designs. It is just a matter of arranging them in pleasing patterns.The method is in this tutorial link below:

http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...squaretria.htm