Welcome to day 3 of the Minnesota Designers Blog Hop! The excitement and activity are only getting better each day! For more information about what this Blog Hop is about, click here.
Let me introduce myself, in case you haven’t stopped by before. I am a quilt pattern designer and have been in business since 2002. I learned to sew when I was about 7. My mom taught me while she made clothes for all four of us girls. I loved playing with the fabric scraps and making Barbie clothes from them 
.
As part of this Blog Hop, I am doing a tutorial on making Half-Square Triangle Blocks (HST for short). When I write my pattern instructions, I use the traditional (Finished size + 7/8″) measurements for cutting squares to make half-square triangle blocks. This measurement is just a starting point. You can use triangle paper, Thangles (TM), Tada Triangles, or whatever technique suits you.
The formula for cutting a square to make a Half-Square Triangle Block is: Finished size + 7/8″. For example, if your HST is supposed to be 2″ finished; cut the square 2-7/8″.
TIP - If you prefer to square-up your HST blocks, add 1″ to the finished size. The units will be a little bigger than they need to be and you trim them down to the right size.
Here we go….
Method 1: Sew Before You Cut
1. Square is 7/8″ larger than the finished size of the Half-Square Triangle Block (HST for short).
2. Draw a line from corner to corner on lighter fabric.
3. Sew a scant 1/4″ from both sides of the line. Scant means just a thread less than a full 1/4″.
4. Cut apart on drawn line to get two HST blocks! Press to the darker fabric and trim to size as needed.
Method 2: No Math Method
1. If you are using 3″ squares to make a block like this one and need to make an HST that will fit, simply use two 3″ squares; a light and a dark.
2. Place fabrics right sides together and draw a line from corner to corner on the lighter fabric.
3. Draw a SECOND line 1/2″ away – this will give you a bonus HST that is 1″ smaller than the large HST.
4. Sew ON THE LINES, actually just a hair inside would be even better.
5. Cut apart between sewn lines and press to the darker fabric.
6. The large HST will fit perfectly with the plain 3″ squares in the four patch block above.
7. The BONUS block can be squared up to 2″ and saved for a scrappy project.
BLOG HOP GIFT: Today only (June 24) if you order anything
from my website, you will receive an additional gift valued at $5.00.
