Mastering Half Square Triangles: A Journey Back to Quilting Basics

Hey there, fellow quilting enthusiast! I'm Rachel, the face behind Journey Back Quilts, and today, we're taking a step back to the basics of quilting by diving into the world of half square triangles. So, grab your fabrics and sewing machines, because we're about to embark on an adventure of creativity and precision. If you'd like to see the progression of how to make half square triangles, you can check out the other blog posts here.

To start our journey, we'll need two pieces of fabric, each measuring 11 and a half inches. Now, these may seem a tad oversized, but trust me, it's intentional. I prefer having a bit of extra fabric to trim around my blocks later on, ensuring they end up perfectly square.

Once we've got our fabric ready, it's time to draw a line from the center crosswise. I use a water-soluble marker for this task, ensuring my markings stay put until I'm ready to iron. Now, remember, not all markers behave the same, so it's crucial to choose one that won't disappear with heat.

With our lines drawn, we stack our fabrics right sides together, aligning the raw edges meticulously. Then, it's off to the sewing machine to stitch a quarter inch away from each drawn line. Following the lines with precision is made easier with the help of a quarter inch seam guide foot.

Once the first set of lines is sewn, we rotate the fabric and repeat the process, ensuring we're sewing on both sides of the drawn lines. This method might seem familiar if you've tackled half square triangles before, but here comes the twist.

We're about to combine the eight-at-a-time method with the four-at-a-time method to create 16 half square triangles simultaneously. To achieve this, we sew all the way around the fabric pieces at a quarter inch seam allowance, akin to sewing a pillowcase. It's important to gently push the fabric into the corners as we sew to avoid any pesky bumps or wiggles.

Once the sewing is done, we set our seams by ironing everything flat, preparing the fabric for the cutting stage. Now, get ready for the fun part—cutting! We carefully cut along the drawn lines both horizontally and vertically, ensuring not to move the block.

Then, we slice diagonally from each corner, creating smaller triangles within each block. With precision and patience, we cut diagonally once more on each smaller block, resulting in a total of 16 half square triangles.

Now, it's time to press those seams towards the dark side. By laying the light side of the fabric on the ironing board and gently peeling the seam over, we ensure a crisp, flat seam without accidentally folding it in half.

With the pressing done, we move on to squaring up our blocks. Placing the diagonal of the ruler on the diagonal of the block, we trim any excess fabric to achieve perfectly sized blocks measuring three and a half inches on each side. Repeat this process for all 16 half square triangles, ensuring uniformity across the board.

And there you have it—a beautiful set of half square triangles, ready to be incorporated into your next quilting project! But before we part ways, I want to extend an invitation to join us at Journey Back Quilt Society, where you'll gain access to exclusive tutorials, tips, and resources to elevate your quilting journey.

In our next adventure, we'll be crafting the timeless Birds in Air block using some of these newly created half square triangles. I can't wait to see you there!

Thank you for joining me on this journey back to quilting basics. Until next time, happy quilting!