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Sunday, October 9, 2011

Making lots of Half Square Triangle Squares ............

I wanted to show you a bit of my (insert object here) for (insert name here) for SSCS 2011


sorry... mouse jumped in the way in spite of it being well stabbed

(NOTE:  no living creature was hurt for this photoshoot)

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I recently made a 12" block which required quite a few Half Square Triangles in the same colour..... 

There's lots of different ways.....

.... like sewing diagonally across a charmpack square like I did HERE....

or sewing all around a square like HERE....

This quick tip is an extension of the sewing diagonally but instead of cutting up the squares I left the fabric as a long rectangle....

draw up the squares (where usually you may cut and then draw diagonally.... on the WRONG side of the lighter colour you are using for your squares

and then draw your diagonal lines but go up and down so the diagonal lines are continuous ....

.... like this......

I wanted to end up with 3 1/2" squares made from the 2 triangles.....
so I drew up squares as 3 7/8's for stitching and slicing

then pin your 2 colours together RIGHT sides together ....


double check you have pinned RIGHT sides together ... if you want to avoid this....


sew 1/4" to the side of the diagonal line.... all the way across, pivot and go across the next diagonal..

.... all the way down the length of fabric on only one side of each diagonal line ...


when you get to the end... pivot all the way round and come back sewing 1/4" on the other side of the diagonal lines....


when all the diagonals have been sewn 1/4 " on both sides

cut through the lines to make your squares....


... now cut on your diagonal lines....


lots of half square triangle squares.....

as you can see I did a red bunch and a green bunch ....


.... saves a bit of stopping and starting ....

Hope you are having a happy weekend

I'd better get back to work.... I have this to finish...


this one is part of my Santa Sack for Sherry... but she can't see any more than this for now ...

18 comments:

  1. Thanks - I have sewn the single squares but not in a line like that... will have to try it out..the mouse obviously likes the project you are working on..

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  2. That's a nice easy way to make HSTs!

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  3. A great way to make those blocks. So many of us are doing swap pressies that we have nothing to show - haha. Poor voodoo mouse!Tracee xx

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  4. What a fabulous idea. You are so clever. I plan to make a couple of Farmers Wife blocks tonight so I'll try this out. Thank you so much.

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  5. thankyou Fiona for the tutorial,funny post,glad that mouse wasnt hurt,lol

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  6. what a nifty way to sew the triangles.
    Poor mouse! The one that lives at my house has a less prickly life. ouch.

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  7. Thanks for the tip Fiona. Have a lovely week.

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  8. Thanks for the tutorial....cute mouse!

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  9. Great tutorial Fiona , I should have done this last week when I was making all those triangles . It is similar to using TaDa's but you iron those on and sew on the preprinted lines .Thanks ,I'll remember this for next time I am making a few triangles.

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  10. You always do such a good job at teaching....Thanks!
    Mama Bear

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  11. What a clever girl you are - that's brilliant! You are too funny with your sneak peeks, lol...

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  12. You are such a rascally tease!!!

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  13. I've tried this method and it is okay but I like the sewing around the square method the best. So fast and easy but you do have to start with bigger pieces of fabric. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  14. Thank you for a great tip, I need all the help I can get with piecing! You are such fun with your swap glimpses!

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  15. Thanks;great post,I`ll try to remember! Love the mousse:-)

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  16. I knew there had to be a good reason why Marina had you on her blog list and this post is a very good reason. I must try this method. Thanks.

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  17. Now that's a fast way to make those! Woo hoo!
    xx, shell

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