• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Create Whimsy

Create Whimsy

Inspring makers and sharing their stories

  • Quilting
    • Free Quilt Patterns
    • Art Quilts
    • Modern Quilting
    • English Paper Piecing (EPP)
    • Foundation Piecing
    • Crazy Quilting
    • Improv Quilting
    • Quilt Tutorials
    • Machine Quilting
    • Hand Quilting
  • Embroidery
    • Hand Embroidery
    • Machine Embroidery
    • Sashiko
    • Embroidery Tutorials
  • Beading
    • Bead Embroidery
    • Off-Loom Bead Weaving
  • Sewing
    • Making Clothes
      • Costumes
    • Bags
    • Babies
  • MORE
    • Surface Design
      • Eco Printing and Dyeing
    • Appliqué
      • Fusing
    • Jewelry Making
      • Wirework
      • Handmade Bracelets
      • Handmade Necklaces
    • Mixed Media
      • Collage Art
    • Kumihimo
    • Weaving
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • DIY Organization
      • Decorative Containers
    • DIY Home Décor
      • DIY Throw Pillows
    • Recycle DIY
    • Felting
    • DIY Gift Ideas
    • Crafts
    • Occasions
      • Easter
      • Mothers Day
      • Fathers Day
      • Fourth of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
      • DIY Valentine Ideas
    • Paper Crafting
    • Metalsmithing
    • Painting & Drawing
    • Pottery-Ceramics
    • Toys & Games
    • Sculpture
  • Spotlight
  • ETSY

7 Ways to Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

7 Ways to Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

Free Quilt Patterns Quilt Tutorialsby Lynn Woll

Half square triangles are basic quilt blocks to use alone or combined with other quilt blocks to make complex designs. They are used in modern quilting, contemporary quilting and traditional quilting.

Here are the seven (7) methods to make half square triangles:

7 Ways to Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

Here are seven (7) methods to make half square triangles. I've got my favorites! You'll want to be cautious when working with bias edges, as they can stretch and then cause problems with your quilt later.

This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners. Your purchases via these links may benefit Create Whimsy. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

1

How to Make Half Square Triangle (HST)

Learn all about half square triangles and the basics of making them. Then try some of these methods for making these easy quilt blocks that you can combine with other blocks to create more complex designs.

2

Half Square Triangles Two at a Time

This is my preferred method for making half square triangles, if you need fewer than eight blocks.

3

Half Square Triangles Four (4) At a Time

I don't recommend this method. It's easy, but the outside edges of your block are all on the bias and can easily stretch out of shape.

4

How to Make Half Square Triangles Eight at a Time

I also prefer this method, especially if you need to make lots of half square triangles from the same two fabrics. It's so easy to sew a few seams, cut and voila - 8 quilt blocks!

5

Charm Pack Half Square Triangles

Making half square triangles from 5" charm packs is super easy if you are using only charm packs in your quilt. If you are making a quilt where you are using 3" or 4" finished squares, you can use this method, but you'll need to trim the blocks to size.

A quick and easy quilt idea is to get two charm packs, one solid and one coordinating prints. Sew them in the HST two-at-a-time method and then sew them all together!

6

How to Make Half Square Triangles from Jelly Roll Strips

The method I show in this post is used for half square triangles from a 2-1/2" strip -- uses just jelly roll strips! This is not one of my preferred methods for the reasons above -- the edges are bias AND then you need to trim the down the blocks if they are being used with other quilt blocks of common sizes. Other methods are easier and you have more flexibility in your finished block size.

7

Making Half Square Triangles From Layer Cake

Using 10" Layers Cake fabric cuts to make half square triangles has the same issues as using charm packs -- the blocks do not come out in commonly used sizes. If you've got a few layer cakes that work well together, use the HST two-at-a-time method for a quick and easy quilt!

Which are your favorite methods? Half square triangles make for great leaders and enders when you are quilting. Cut some squares from your stash and when you start piecing, use one for your leader and another from your ender. Then in no time you’ll have a pile of scrappy half square triangles!

No Waste Half Square Triangles

My preferred methods to make half square triangles are half square triangles from a strip using the first method above. I also like to make HST two at a time from squares or eight at a time from larger squares. With these three methods, you can make HSTs any size and you only need to trim up your final block. There is no waste of trimming off a lot of fabrics or having stretchy bias edges on your HST block.


Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy.


7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 7
7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 6
7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 5
7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 4
7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 3
7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 2
7 ways to Make Half Square Triangles PI 1
Facebook Comments

Sharing is caring!

0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Primary Sidebar

Create Whimsy Newsletter

Sign up now - don't miss the fun!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Newest Stories

Snowball quilt block finished sampler

Snowball Quilt Block

Close up of tan quilt

Spotlight: Amanda Nadig, Textile Artist

Can Only Hope

Spotlight: Lisa Goddard, Mixed Media Artist

Minions cake topper

Polymer Clay Project Ideas

Popular Posts

Make an EPP Mug Rug - EPP Mug Rug with Snack 4

Make an English Paper Pieced Mug Rug

Finished facing from the back of the quilt

How to Face a Quilt

Sashiko Stitching Complete

How to Sashiko Stitch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Embroidery Transfer with a Frixiron pen

6 Ways to Transfer your Embroidery Design to Fabric

Finished jelly roll rug

How to Make a Jelly Roll Rug

10 embroidery stitches finished 4

10 Easy Embroidery Stitches to Embellish Your Projects

Free Quilt Patterns

Antique tile block finished block

How to Make the Antique Tile Quilt Block

Double Hourglass 2 finished

How to Make the Double Hourglass Quilt Pattern 2

Double Spool 1 finished block

How to Make the Double Hourglass Quilt Pattern 1

Snails Trail finished block

Snail Trail Quilt Pattern

Swamp Angel finished block

How to Make Swamp Angel Quilt Block

Card trick final block

How to Make the Card Trick Quilt Pattern

More Free Quilt Patterns

Stiching Inspiration

Lisa Chin IMG_20210801_185459918_HDR

Spotlight: Lisa Chin, Surface Design Artist

The queen cross stitch pattern by David Hastings

Spotlight: David Hastings, Multidisciplinary Designer

River embroidery by Michelle Staub

Spotlight: Michelle Staub, Pet Embroidery Artist

Weather Bubble Temperature Quilt by Jo Avery

Spotlight: Jo Avery, Fiber Artist

Trick or treat creepy cross-stitch

Spotlight: Lindsay Swearingen, Embroidery Artist

Issue 15 Cover

Spotlight: Jamie Chalmers, aka Mr. X Stitch

More hand embroidery inspiration

Footer

Learn More

  • About
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Browse

  • Occasions
  • Destinations

Makers

Spotlight Stories

Marketing for Makers

Participate

Copyright © 2022 · Create Whimsy®

0 shares