Half Square Triangles using Biggie Size Triangle Buddy

Do we need another half square triangle tutorial? Probably not. This will be my new go-to method for HSTs, and I hope some of you find it useful.

Bonnie and I are calling this the Biggie Size Triangle Buddy.

In this business, there is never one right way to do something. (Unless you ask the quilt police!) My goal has always been to find the method that works best for me. For 20+ years, I've been making HSTs this way: cut 2 squares 1" larger than the desired finished size, draw a diagonal, stitch 1/4" away from the line on both sides, cut apart on the line, press and trim to the correct unfinished size. It works and is forgiving, but it can take forever to trim all the blocks to the right size and you are left with this colorful mess.

This new method is inspired by Bonnie Hunter's Triangle Buddies. She uses triangle buddies to make little HSTs from the bonus triangles left over from piecing other units. I thought I'd try to make full size HSTs the same way. It worked like a charm!

In my example, I want to make HSTs from charm squares that will finish at 4".  With seam allowances added, the unfinished size will be 4.5", so I need to cut a triangle template that size.  Cut a 4.5" square, then cut across the diagonal. This template is your triangle buddy.
 I cut a cardboard template from leftover charm packaging. If you are not as cheap frugal as I am, you can cut your template from template plastic. 
(Don't panic. I only use this old rotary cutter for paper and cardboard.)

On the wrong side of one 5" fabric square, lay the template in one corner and mark the diagonal. 

Flip and mark the opposite diagonal.
(I used a new Frixion pen. It erases with the heat of an iron!)

Layer right sides together with another square.  

Stitch on both lines. 

Cut apart. You have two options here. 

1. Make one cut down the middle and end up with about 3/8" seam allowances. 

2. If that extra 1/8" bothers you, make two cuts, 1/4" away from each seam line. 

 Press open and you have two perfect HSTs and you didn't have to stitch a perfect 1/4" seam or cut 4-7/8" squares! (If the dog ears bug you, snip them off.)

Just to compare, in the other method, you would draw one line across the diagonal,

stitch 1/4" away from the line on both sides,

and trim off 1/8" from two sides.

Not having to trim off that little sliver is worth it for me!
So what do you think about Biggie Size Triangle Buddies?