* This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for more info. * 8 half square triangles sewn at one time? Can that really even happen?
I am one that sews fast. The faster the better. I even have been accused to shaking the table with my sewing machine speed.
This is the neatest little trick ever! Half square triangles can get a little boring. Especially if you need a lot of them!
I am always on the lookout for new ways to speed up the sewing and this one is my current favorite.
Materials Needed:
1 background
1 other
It doesn’t matter what size you start with, just as long as they are equal in size. For this tutorial I used 2– 9″ X 9″ squares.
These ended up at 4″ X 4″ unfinished. They could also be squared up to a smaller size if needed. 3 1/2″ square would equal to a 12 1/2″ unfinished quilt block if you were to sew all 8 of them together for a quilt block.
8 Half Square Triangles at Once Instructions:
1) Lay your squares right sides together
2) With a ruler and pencil, mark a line from corner to corner. Repeat for opposite corner.
3) Mark the middle of the square on either side also
4) Sew a SCANT 1/4″ from the CORNER TO CORNER lines
5) Sew again on the other side of the drawn line
6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the other corner to corner line
7) Cut on the drawn lines
8) Iron and square to size
9) If you have a project for them to go into….you are set to go. If not, you can play with the layout of the squares.
Here are 4 variations:
Have you tried this method before? Have any suggestions or tips to share?
13 Comments
That is just to cool! The faster the better! Thank you for the tip 🙂
To mark lines on dark fabrics I use a Chaco Liner that I have refilled with iron away pounce powder. Works like a charm and leaves nothing behind! !
I love this method of making HST!! Thanks for a great photo reference to go along with the directions!
Yes I have tried this method and it is an awesome way to make up half squares triangles. I made a small table cloth last week laying out the triangles as pinwheels.
Have always had trouble with HST. This looks great, thank you so much.
Can hardly wait to try it.
I think these were originally called “Magic 8’s” when they were first introduced. Method makes great HST easy and fast. Thank you for the tutorial.
I didn’t know that! It is magic….makes sense!
Pam- I will have to try the chaco liner…..I haven’t yet! Thanks for the suggestion.
What a great idea! Thanks for taking the time to write this helpful post!
This shows drawing lines BUT – if you sew around all four edges then cut diagonally both ways then in half both ways you’ll get eight hsts. If you cut only diagonally both ways you’ll get four larger hsts. That eliminates the ruler and drawing method.
Great time saver. Thank you.
I like to do the method where you sew around all 4 edges and then cut on the diagonal both ways, faster and easier
I love this June Tailor ruler for trimming HSTs!
http://www.amazon.com/June-Tailor-Perfect-Quarter-Triangle/dp/B001TL2JIA
A problem I see with sewing all 4 edges and cutting on the diagonal instead is that you are then working with the bias when you sew them together. Becky’s way doesn’t involve those dreaded bias seams 🙂