Make 32 Half Square Triangles At Once

Great When You Need Lots of Identical Half Square Triangles!

Are you working on a project that requires a lot of half square triangles (HSTs) made from the same two fabrics? This technique will save time without compromising accuracy and can be scaled to work for HSTs of any size.

Start with two squares of fabric and mark them as demonstrated. Some of the markings are for sewing lines and some are for cutting. When you’re done you’ll have 32 identical HSTs (scroll down for the video demo and written instructions).

The finished size of the HSTs depends on the size of the starting squares. Calculate based on the following formula from Elizabeth Chappell of Quilters Candy:

“Take the unfinished size of your HST and multiply by 2, then + 1”, then take this number and double it. This gives you the size of the beginning square.

(Unfinished HST x 2) + 1”= X, then 2X = the size of your (2) fabric squares.”

For example, if you want the unfinished HSTs to be 3”:

(3×2) =6 +1 = 7. 2 x 7 = 14”. Your beginning squares need to be 14” to make thirty-two 3” unfinished HSTs (2 1/2″ finished HSTs).

Elizabeth provided the following chart to get you started.

Watch how the HSTs are made in the following video from Sugar Stitches Quilt Co. This is a super accurate way of making them and you may not even need to trim the HSTs. Or you might make them a tad larger than needed and trim them down to size. The time saved in using this method is a big plus.

Click here to watch the video at YouTube if it doesn’t play on your device.

Written instructions from Elizabeth Chappell of Quilters Candy can be found here.

You’ll find written instructions from Sugar Stitches Quilt Co. here (the photos are missing).

If you like the concept of this method for making HSTs but want to make more or less than 32, you may be interested in Triangles on a Roll. This pre-marked paper allows you to make as many as you want and most sizes work with strips of fabric rather than squares.

The paper produces accurate HSTs in less time and it easily tears away from the stitching lines.

You’ll find the full selection of Triangles on a Roll here and a cheat sheet for determining which paper you need for various sizes of HSTs here.

Kimberly Jolly from the Fat Quarter Shop demonstrates how it works in the following video.

Click here to watch the video at YouTube if it doesn’t play on your device.