How to Make Half Square Triangles - Two at a Time!

[@nanamona6386]

Thank you for these videos. Everything seems so difficult for me being Left handed, I’ve been watching you and I feel more confident now. I’m going to try doing this quilt top. Love you’re sewing videos 💞🧵

[@suneethaudayakumar8789]

Wow very nice .. Very much use for me. Thank u...

[@connieking9873]

Oh my goodness this was the best video. I am left handed and squaring up was so easy with you. Glad I stumbled onto today.

[@LeahDay]

Wonderful Connie! I'm so happy to help!

[@dawns.2492]

Great video! I didn't know it was unsafe to go across the top. I am glad to know this important tip!

[@LeahDay]

It's so easy to do because the ruler is right there and in the right place. Until it happened to me, I didn't think anything about it. Now every time I see the top of the ruler I think about the tip of my middle finger... and what it felt like to lose it! LOL!

[@dawns.2492]

@@LeahDay thank you because now when I see the top of my ruler I will think about you, it's an instant "connect" for me.

[@emilyking3291]

I definitely need to improve on my cutting! No wonder my half square triangles look wonky sometimes!

[@LeahDay]

Yep, cutting is 80% of the process with HSTs. Having the shapes exactly the right size is so important for piecing with cut squares so everything comes out with matching seams!

[@pamelatabor8839]

Great tip for squaring up the half square triangle. I am guilty of cutting 2 sides and you're right, it is dangerous. I will do it your way from now on. Especially since I have a rotary mat. lol

[@LeahDay]

That's good Pamela! I was all about taking shortcuts, until I cut the top of my middle finger clear off doing that! It was no fun and hurt really badly for a month. It really taught me a lesson about going too quick and what a time waste that ended up being. Getting hurt is not worth it!

[@PenClapp]

I noticed you pressed your seams open instead of to one side. Do you always do this or just for certain types of squares?

[@LeahDay]

Yes, that is the way I piece most of my quilt blocks. You can learn why here: freemotionproject.com/2017/10/the-great-pressing-seams-debate-podcast.html

[@hazelgiles7058]

What size is the square you first use

[@LeahDay]

That depends on the size of the finished square you need. For this tutorial I was demonstrating with 5-inch squares. You can find the cut and trim sizes for the half square triangles we're making for the Friendship Quilt Along in this pattern: leahday.com/products/friendship-sampler-block-of-the-month-quilt

[@MA_C24]

The rule of thumb for this method of half square triangles is to add 7/8” to the finished size block you want, to end up with half square triangles that do not need any trimming

[@LeahDay]

I don't like to piece HSTs that way Marie because if your diagonal seam is wonky or if your original cutting was off, then the resulting half square triangle will not be accurate. I prefer to cut a bit bigger so the finished units can be trimmed to exactly the correct size.