Question I'm embarrassed to ask

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06-07-2014, 07:02 AM

#11

sewwhat85

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Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: missouri

Posts: 6,311

This is the way I look at it also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tartan

I usually assume they are talking about a half square triangle. The size would be for me, the size that the two triangles sewn together make into a square.

06-07-2014, 07:15 AM

#12

dunster

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Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: Lake Elsinore, CA

Posts: 15,144

Your question is not at all ridiculous. Triangles come in all shapes and sizes, and I would not automatically assume that you meant a HST, but since you do, I would agree with the others who would generally refer to it by the size of the finished square. For 60 degree (equilateral) triangles, there are actually differences in how rulers are made to measure them. Some measure from the base to the tip, and others measure the sides. http://www.frommarti.com/mm5/merchan...ategory_Code=R

06-07-2014, 07:16 AM

#13

ManiacQuilter2

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Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Southern California

Posts: 19,131

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShirlinAZ

I use it to refer to the short side. That's the way I learned it, so I've always assumed that's what everyone means. But there's that word - assume!

I agree. Usually, if I talked about a 2" finished half square triangle, it is the finished side of the triangle and NOT the diagonal edge. BUT you have to be careful remembering to ask the quilters if that is the finished or unfinished size. I have no ideal what the diagonal edge of an unfinished 2.5 measures.

06-07-2014, 08:06 AM

#14

ghostrider

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 4,688

Quote:

Originally Posted by dray965

I'm talking about the half-square triangle.

I'd be willing to bet that 99.99% of the time when someone says "half square triangle" or "HST" they actually mean a triangle square, the square formed by two 45º triangles. In that case, it would definitely be the length of the side of the square.

There was a whole thread about the HST mis-nomer recently.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...n-t243673.html

06-07-2014, 02:13 PM

#15

Jan in VA

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Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.

Posts: 8,562

For Half Square Triangles, you measure the side cut on the straight or cross grain of the fabric....or the short side of the triangle in this case. (The long side is cut on a diagonal.)

Jan in VA

06-07-2014, 03:26 PM

#16

dray965

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Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: at the foot of the Ouichita Mountains, SE Oklahoma

Posts: 273

Thanks for everyone's responses! I appreciate the info, now I won't feel ignorant when asking about them.

06-07-2014, 05:13 PM

#17

letawellman

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Blacksburg, SC

Posts: 731

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacQuilter2

... I have no ideal what the diagonal edge of an unfinished 2.5 measures.

Here's a link to calculate the hypotenuse of a triangle: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...ght%20triangle

06-08-2014, 03:45 AM

#18

Julie Baird

Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Plainfield, IL

Posts: 55

Yep, I agree, the finished size of the half square triangle block...dray965 the only question to be embarrassed about is the one you don't ask...good question!