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I wrote this tutorial a long time ago. It is perfect for learning how to sew half square triangles. It is a bit monotonous and somewhat tedious, but it works. I sewed this entire farmhouse inspired quilt for my mom last year using that method.
It took forever.
Cut two squares. Draw a diagonal line on one square. Sew those squares together. Cut those squares apart. Iron. Trim. Bam. Two half square triangles done.
Let me remind myself (and you too), though, that so much of the joy in quilting comes from the perseverance. It’s like running. It’s not all peaches and roses huffing and puffing up the hill, but once you finish…beautiful.
Since sewing that quilt for my mom, I have seen a few images on Pinterest about cutting multiple half square triangles at once. Using my most recently purchased floral fabrics, I decided to sew a half square triangle quilt. I googled some key terms to try and find this method of cutting four half square triangles at once.
That’s when I learned you can cut EIGHT half square triangles at the same time. Is this possible? Why on earth am I always so late to every quilting party that ever existed? I guarantee I have learned a LOT in the last year and a half. I revisited many of my quilting books to hone in on some skills.
I am positive that I didn’t see anything about sewing eight half square triangles at once. This is a game changer, friends.
I had no idea this method existed, and I am here today to ensure you are well aware of this too. Believe me, it saves tons of time and cuts down immensely on some of the monotony of quilting.
Click HERE to learn this method for yourself. It’s a very simple and free tutorial I found on Craftsy (now known as Blue Print). You still have to trim and iron, of course, but this is an extremely efficient method compared to the two at a time method.
(I also recently found a similar tutorial at Blossom Heart Quilts.)
Since I am making five inch blocks to sew together, I started with a large 11.75 inch block. I have ample fabric to trim down to nice and square five inch blocks. It’s always fun sewing blocks together when they are perfectly sized.
You can kind of see my plan of sewing nine patch blocks together of half square triangles. I’m rotating between nine patches of floral and nine patches of denim.
The yellow above is from the Printemps line by Art Gallery Fabrics. It’s called the Perennial Multi fabric. The other creamy white with multi colored florals you see in a few of the images is also from the Printemps line. It’s called Luminous Field.
I bought mine from Needle in a Fabric Stash.
The green above is called Menagerie in mint by Cotton and Steel. This fabric is sold in rayon as well. So if you’d purchase it, be sure you are buying cotton. (Rayon is a good fabric for making dresses…not for making quilts.)
You can see the finished quilt top for this half square triangle quilt here.
Next time, my friends, next time you see me making quilts using methods that take twice as long, please tell me. 😉
When creating the 8 half square triangle, how do you determine the size if the two large squares?
Hi Denise, when I clicked through to the place where I learned how to do it, they have these following brief instructions:
1. Figure out sizing
This step requires a little bit of math. Start by figuring out how large your finished half-square triangles need to be, then follow this formula:
1. Let’s say you want to make 3” finished half-square triangles.
2. Add 7/8” to your 3″ measurement (Your total is now 3-7/8”)
3. Multiply your total of 3-7/8” by 2. (That equals 7-3/4”)
4. 7-3/4” squares are the size needed to make your 3” finished half-square triangles.
Maybe that will help you out a bit or at least get you going in the right direction!
7/8 for each so times two So 3 inch half square triangles would be 7.75 block
Where do you get the ninth square for your block since this method makes just eight?
Your blog and photography are well done and very attractive. I look forward to using some of your tips. Thank you.
Hi Denise! Since this was such a large quilt, I was making multiple sets of eight. But when I needed just one or two more half square triangles to complete a set of nine, I used this means of making a half square triangle instead: https://www.thewillowmarket.com/how-to-sew-a-half-square-triangle/
It only makes two at a time.
Hope that’s helpful!
Did you finish this quilt yet? Love the colours so much and would love to see it when it is completed. You will show pictures won’t you please?
Hi Claudia! I’m almost finished with the top! 🙂 If all runs on schedule, the top will be finished for a blog post on Monday the 19th. I can’t figure out what to use on the back yet! I’m kind of stuck on that currently. Any suggestions?
I know when I saw this 8 half square triangles at a time, I was amazed. I use it often. I am a retired home school mom of 4. I taught all of my children for 27 years. I started with 3 sons and at the age of 40 was blessed again with a daughter. May the Lord bless your efforts to teach your two little boys. They grow so fast. Now 2 of my sons are married and have sons of their own! I don’t regret even a minute of the time spent with them. I am sure you won’t either. 🙂 It is so worth the effort!
I can’t believe I didn’t find this method sooner! Just a time saver and it makes some of the monotonous parts of quilting more enjoyable. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement, Nancy! It’s good to be reminded that I’ll be glad I spent so much time with my kiddos! They’re such little blessings!