HSTs are "half-square triangles", and they are jumping off points for many quilt designs. You can create both traditional and modern designs using these, often depending on the fabrics you choose.
Today I am going to show you how to make HSTs and tomorrow I will show you a bunch of fun things you can do with them. This little block is quite versatile!
I have always called them "speedy triangles" from my early days of quilting with Eleanor Burns on PBS. When my oldest girls were babes, I watched her in the afternoons while they took naps, and thus began my love for quilting.
To make one (generally you will need to make a bunch, but let's start with one) you will need two pieces of fabric, one printed and one solid measuring 3-1/2" each:
Now you need to take your solid piece and draw a line from corner to corner using a pencil:
You will now sew a 1/4"seam on each side of that penciled line :
Here is what you will have after sewing:
Now cut that piece in two right down the middle of that penciled line:
Here's what you get: two HSTs. You will need to open them, iron them, and clip the extra fabric:
Now I suggest that you go make yourself a stack of these and tomorrow we will play with them!
Happy sewing!
