"Half-Square Triangles"
Patchwork is the art of joining fabric pieces of various shapes and colors together to create a visually pleasing effect. While squares and rectangles can be most effective. The use of triangles adds a new and exciting dimension to quilt-making.
However, working with triangles can be tricky so, in this lesson you'll get all the tips you need to make working with triangles, totally trouble-free! I've compiled a few tips to help you make half-square triangles faster and easier.
It is important to maintain straight grain on the outside edges of each of your blocks.
Read on and you'll learn:
- What a "half-square triangle" is!
- How to make individual half-square triangle units.
- Quick-piecing methods to avoid handling the stretchy bias edges.
- How to make multiple half-square triangle units using grid methods.
- How to "calculate" the size of your cut squares in order to make accurate half-square triangle units.
WHAT IS A HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLE???
Many quilt designs that contain triangles will include the term "half-square triangle". Another weird quilting term, I know, but it can be very simply explained...
A half-square triangle is created by cutting a square diagonally in half!
By sewing two contrasting half-square triangles together you form a half-square triangle unit. Half square triangle units are one of the most frequently used components in pieced quilting blocks.
A Half-Square Triangle Unit
The correct construction of half-square triangle units it "very important" because it is essential to keep the straight grain of your fabric on the outside edges of each of your blocks. This helps to maintain accuracy in your piecing by avoiding the stitching of the stretchy bias edges.
HOW TO MAKE HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS
This method involves cutting the fabric triangles first and then sewing them together. It is ideal if you only need a few half-square triangle units.
- Cut squares from two contrasting (light and dark) fabrics.
- With your rotary cutter and ruler, slice each square from corner to corner to make two triangles of each color.
- Pair up light and dark triangles of fabric. Place the light and dark fabric with right sides together and edges matching.
- Stitch a 1/4" seam along the long edge. It is important to use a 1/4" foot for accuracy. Repeat with the second pair of triangles.
- Finger-press each pieced square open with the seam allowance placed towards the darker of the two fabrics, then carefully press each unit open with a hot iron.
- Trim the fabric points so you have a neatly finished square.
- You will end up with two identical half-square triangle units for each pair of squares you cut and sew.
- The straight grain of each triangle will be along the outer edges of the square unit.
Sewing individual triangles together like this, is both fiddly and frustrating! Once you cut the fabric along the bias, as you do when cutting triangles from a square, the bias edge stretches easily, making it difficult to sew accurately.
But do not despair -- help is at hand!
There are some "quick-piecing methods" that help you to make half-square triangles much more quickly and without handling the bias edge.
Click here to learn about...
"Quick-Piecing Half-Square Triangle Methods"
I hope you've found this information on "half-square triangles" useful.
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