Half Square Triangles are one of the most common building blocks for many quilts – traditional or modern. I thought I’d share my favorite tip for getting them done quickly and accurately.
How to Make Half Square Triangle Quilt Blocks:
My Hopscotch quilt is an example of a quilt with a lot of repeated half-square triangle pieces. Since this pattern has a bunch of half-square triangle blocks, we shot a video with some helpful tips for mass-producing lots of half-square triangles at once.
This video shows how to make 16 half square triangle blocks (HST) at once. You could make more or fewer triangles- just draw your grid with half the number of squares you’d like to make at once. (If you need 18 HST blocks, draw a grid with 9 squares, if you need 24 blocks, draw a grid with 12 squares.)
This method will work on any sized HST blocks. To modify for other sizes: draw your grid squares 1/2″ bigger than the size of the finished HST blocks. So for example: in this demo we need 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ finished HST blocks -> therefore we draw 5″ x 5″ squares. If you need 3″ finished HST blocks, draw a grid with 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ squares, etc.
Keep in mind: each drawn square only requires ONE diagonal line.
And sew the 1/4″ seam allowances on boths sides of the diagonal lines – not the straight grid lines.
Finally, this Quilt in a Day ruler* is still my favorite. It makes such quick work of squaring up HST blocks.
There is a 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ version as well as a bigger 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ option.
The ruler basically cuts your squaring-up time in half since you’re only cutting two sides, instead of four. Keep in mind as you use it that you are always lining up the corresponding marked measurement for the size you need on the seam of the block you are squaring-up.
So there you go! This half square triangle method is especially helpful when you’re making LOTS of HST blocks at once. I know it can feel tedious, but having an accurate HST block will make a huge difference when you go to piece your quilt!
Hopefully these Half-Square Triangle tips will save you lots of time and help you get quickly through that least favorite (but oh-so important!) job.
Thanks again Pattern Drop for helping me shoot this video. Pattern Drop is a fun, new pattern-of-the-month club. You can read all about Pattern Drop + get a discount code in this post!
16 Comments
dolores
December 8, 2017 at 8:23 pmBrilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!:)
xo
Mabel
December 9, 2017 at 4:48 amYou are the Best! Thank you for this tutorial. Thaks to you, I made my first HST quilt 3 years ago and Quilted too.
Wish you and your family a wonderful Holidays ???
Susan
December 9, 2017 at 4:49 amGreat video, allows you to make any size you need.
Patricia M Simmons
December 9, 2017 at 6:17 amGreat tutorial Amy!
Linda
December 9, 2017 at 9:32 amAwesome! So helpful. I have that lovely ruler and didn’t know that was how I can use it!! I’m starting a new quilt with lots of HSTs so this will help me tons! Thank you!
Abbie
December 10, 2017 at 3:06 pmSame here Linda! I had that ruler forever and did’t know how to use it until I took a HST class at Quilt Con last February!
Mommaknowsbest
December 9, 2017 at 3:50 pmExcellent, excellent, excellent! And pretty darned good, too!
BjoLiz
December 9, 2017 at 9:42 pmNice video. Thanks for the clever tips.
Adriene O'Connor Grzenia
December 12, 2017 at 7:18 pmI love, love, love your tip for squaring up. Awesome
SaraJane
December 12, 2017 at 10:39 pmGreat video! It was so helpful as I am a visual learner. I just added that ruler to my shopping cart.
Gloria Elswood
March 19, 2019 at 8:40 pmWILL this work with stripes and one way fabric?
Amy
March 20, 2019 at 7:43 pmIt will work, but the stripes will be going different directions.
Linette Stewart
April 27, 2019 at 7:07 pmYou always have the best tips and tutorials Amy – thank you!!!
Alvine
June 2, 2019 at 7:16 amThank you for this video I am going to try it now..you are great with sll your tips.
Anne Wheeler
May 2, 2020 at 5:14 pmYour blog is my favorite quilt blog: so informative and user friendly! Thanx!
Amy
May 2, 2020 at 8:31 pmThank you! I’m so glad to hear that!