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  1. #1
    Susan Long's Avatar Susan Long is offline Senior Member
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    Default New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    Ok, so i'm sitting here thinking, what if you took 2 strips of fabric width of fabric, and sewed them together lengthwise, up one side and down the other, iron them to set the seams, and then cut out triangles at a 45 degree angle, wouldn't that give you half square triangles? Or am I figuring wrong?

  2. #2
    sunnyQLDmum's Avatar sunnyQLDmum is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    I have seen them done this way. There is even a special ruler to cut the triangles, but I don't think its vital. Just sew both sides of your strip together like a tube then cut on a 45* to the stitching line on one side, then cut in the opposite direction on the other side. I'm sure there is a MSQC tutorial on tube quilting that will give you the directions.
    Find my creations on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/tinabartondesigns

  3. #3
    Jean Sewing Machine's Avatar Jean Sewing Machine is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    Sounds like a good plan to me! I did see that special ruler on the web, it looks like an interesting invention. I think it can also be used for making diamonds.

  4. #4
    els173 is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    If you do it this way, you end up with the outside edges being cut on a bias instead of on the grain.

  5. #5
    rebeccas-sewing's Avatar rebeccas-sewing is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    In that case, could you cut the strips on the bias so the edges of the HST's are straight-of-grain? I have the Wondercut ruler and I love it. I didn't think about the fact that the edges are then on the bias. I'm going to have to investigate that. It seems to work just fine when I cut strips the usual way, though. Hmmmmm!
    Rebecca in Baarn, Netherlands by way of Orange County, CA.

  6. #6
    Susan Long's Avatar Susan Long is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    Well, Jenny's way of cutting pinwheels is on the bias too, but it works for that project. I guess we would just have to be careful not to stretch them too much?

  7. #7
    sunnyQLDmum's Avatar sunnyQLDmum is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    Yes the edges are then on a bias. If you are careful though, it isn't a big problem. I actually prefer the bias as the points can be eased together better and I get better results. If you have trouble working with bias, you can use some starch when ironing to make the HST hold it's shape.
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  8. #8
    Jean Sewing Machine's Avatar Jean Sewing Machine is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    I have made a bunch of quilts out of half-square triangles, but they were big 8-1/2" square to begin with. I could sit and sew a whole queen size quilt top of triangles in an hour. I made many a quilt top in an evening doing it that way. I have an 8-1/2" square ruler from Omnigrid, I just fold my fat quarters, cut my squares, iron a diagonal crease and sit and sew while watching TV. It is relaxing and before I know it, I have my HST all finished.

  9. #9
    ttucsok's Avatar ttucsok is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    Thank God for Jenny's tutorials. I have been quilting for about a week now, and thanks to her videos I am able to read this thread and actually understand what you ladies are talking about!
    Tracy Tucsok

    Every artist was first an amateur - Ralph Waldo Emerson

  10. #10
    Davidsgirl08's Avatar Davidsgirl08 is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: New method for half square triangles, maybe?

    I would love to know if you have success with doing that method.I just purchased the magic triangle software I'm trying it out in the next few days. Was $15 and you print out the sheets from your computer. I figured worth it because any ruler can cost that much and it all different sizes up to 7inch. Here's the link if anyone wants to check it out. I looked into thangles and for as many as I'm doing for my daughters quilt it would have cost me $20 in thangles.

    https://www.quiltpro.com/page/productMain

    Rachel

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