What is your preferred method when making HST's?
I am making these sweet little blocks for the January Le Petite quiltlet and I am not sure which method I prefer. Drawing diagonal lines takes time but is accurate, then I saw that marking with a Hera was quick too... Jackie was using a magic wand(!)...and lastly I have been playing with an Angler 2. The instructions weren't that great so I have scooted around the web...I am sure there must be some handy tips & practice makes perfect, but at the moment some angles are great & some a bit dodgy! I think it is operator incompetence and I am sure practice will make it better! How do you make HST's?
Cardygirl xx
23 comments:
hmmm yeh I do the same as Jackie, seems to work for me.
I stack up to 6 light fabrics and use the Hera marker, press firm and you can see it on all six, to me its quiet quick.
cheers
Christine
diagonal lines...but i'm not very good at them :)
Jackie's way is great. I've made HST that way. I draw a line down the center then sew 1/4" away from both sides of line and then cut on the drawn line. I always make the squares a bit larger then I can "square up" my triangle to the perfect size.
I use "Half Square Triangulations" by Bear Paw Products. Super easy, fast, and accurate!! It is a paper piecing method, but makes 8 hst at a time!!
I wish I could offer my opinion...but alas I do not know exactly what a half square triangle is! My quilting knowledge is very limited..lol But, if those are your pieces in the picture, then they look mighty fine to me...just saying....
I am making some right now using triangles on a roll- super quick, accurate and easy- even FUN! No marking at all....
my preferred method........well is that you making them for me....????
looks good though.....
The way Jackie does them....love yours Cardy the fabrics are gorgeous...
I make them exactly the same as Stephanie - line drawn down the center, then sewn 1/4" away from the line on both sides, cut in half and pressed open. I also make them a bit larger and then square them up to the exact size. It takes FOREVER if you are making lots of them, but the size is absolutely accurate.
Same as Greg & Stephanie above. I don't mind making HSTs because they are so versatile and fun to play with.
If I need to make a bunch, I also use the Triangulations. It's really great for mass production. Otherwise, I use Jackie's method . I have trouble with the math though, have to think hard, lol.
I use Jackie's method...but I love the Angler, too. I seem to use the Angler more for when I just want to sew down the diagonal of a square without drawing lines. And I trim the hst's by using the Quilt-in-a-Day triangle square up ruler!
I've used Thangles with great success. Makes good use of my pre-cut strips and no messing around with odd measurements.
Gotta get me one of those. I get fed up drawing lines, but if I don't draw ~~~~~~~~~~
I use the rival product 'Clearly Perfect Angles'. There is a tutorial on the designer's website - http://www.newleafstitches.com - it would be adaptable to your tool.
I love this block. I haven't seen this one before. I assume it makes a secondary pattern when the blocks are put together. I love the friendship star, but this gives it a new look. Don't forget to post a photo of the finished quiltlet.
I think I've made them every possible way you can: the Angler, special ruler, paper foundations, bias strips, etc. They all work, but usually I do what Stephanie, Greg and the others do because you can't beat the accuracy. There's no quick way to do something well.
I use a special ruler for them, but it requires strip piecing. Then you flip the ruler back and forth, cutting as you go, and feed the pairs into the sewing machine.
I was making HST last night. Drawing the line. It's my preferred method too. The blocks look great.
WOW! They look great but fiddly.... Look forward to see it finished.
When I'm making a lot with two of the same fabrics I used the old grid method....otherwise single squares with drawn lines. Think I will come out of the dark ages and try your method!
No matter how careful I am, I never seem to get my hsq perfect. So I have resolve to square them off every time. I make them a tad bigger and square.
When I have a lot of hst to make, I use the strip method. Math rule: finished size + 1/2 inch. I cut strips of light and dark, put them together and sew a 1/4 seam on both sides of the strip. I use a ruler (quilt in a day or Deb Tucker) and cut the size of the triangle I need. It's quick and easy. Of course this method would not work if you only needed a couple.
Glad to read that you are safe. It is devastating to say the least! Keep safe! Cheers
Hi Cardygirl,
I am new to the blog world and just came across your blog site. As I read along I came across your article about HST's. I live in Canada and we have this nifty ruler here that makes all your blocks exact! I mean exact...no word of a lie!!! It's called the SIS ruler....better known as the Square in a square ruler. Check it out on the internet. You will get a book with it that shows you all your options, great for flying geese and every other block you can imagine!! Please check it out, it is amazing! Good luck,
Holly
aka: nimble thimble stitchery-do
ps. I am new to Chookyblue's SAL
Post a Comment