Perfect Half Square Triangles Every Time

Quilters use half square triangles in every combination possible to create an endless variety of patterns.

You will be surprised to know that triangles are easy to accomplish with basic sewing skills. It is important to know how to handle them when sewing them together.

The simplicity of a triangle can be combined with appliqued techniques or by adding plain squares...

once you try them you'll be delighted with the richness they add to your quilts.

Making Half Square Triangles (HSTs) can be a bit of a challenge at first.

You will hear things like Slice-and-Sew or the Layered-square methods when creating triangles.

Avoid Bias Edges With Half Square Triangles

The grid-method alleviates dealing with bias edges or having to create a template.

Below are several tutorial demonstrations using some specialty tools and quilting rulers to help speed the process and develop your skills.

Accuracy in the cutting process is very important. When it comes to rulers you are allowed to have favorites. So, pick your special choice or try them all!

Tips for Half Square Triangles:

• Always use a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

• At the end of this tutorial, we’ll include the formula for how to calculate cut sizes for each finished size HST.

Basic Method for HST:

This is the most basic technique for Half Square Triangles found in many patterns.

• The pros: It’s quick and easy.
• The cons: Because you’ve cut your square into two triangles, the long edge is on the bias and could easily be pulled out of shape if you don’t handle the cut piece carefully.

You don't want the finished triangle to be out of square. What's worst, you won't know it is out of square until you advance to the next step in your quilting process. If you’re careful though, it’s a great method!

For more insight on how to cope with handling bias edges and avoid some of the pitfalls visit our page on quilting instructions that work. 

Connecting Threads.com  provides a great tutorial on HSTs. Please feel free to view, and print any or all of these great tutorials.

There are many quilting sites like "Connecting Threads" that share quilting ideas; some free and some are pay-per-view!

Free Tutorials

Take a look at the first FREE tutorial Pinwheels - Intro to HST's. When ready, just click on the back arrow key in upper left corner of Connecting Thread's page to return to quilting-tidbits.

To view the second FREE tutorial Pinwheels - Specialty Tools. When ready, just click on the back arrow key in upper left corner of Connecting Thread's page to return to quilting-tidbits

To view the third FREE tutorial Specialty Tools Continued. When ready, just click on the back arrow key in upper left corner of Connecting Thread's page to return to quilting-tidbits.

To view the last FREE tutorial Pinwheels Inspiration. When ready, just click on the back arrow key in upper left corner of Connecting Thread's page to return to quilting-tidbits.

Oh yes, one more thing, did I mention that Connecting Threads has wonderful fabrics and tons and tons to choose from, well maybe not that many but what they do have is all at the right price.

After viewing the tutorials click on the back arrow to come back to quilting-tidbits.com and look around our site for more inspirational tidbits.

Our site is dedicated to showing you all about quilting...it is easy and we promise you will have fun. It is also loaded with lots of free quilting instructions so look around and put us in your favorites so you can come back often.

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