A QuiltPlan piecing reference
Half-Square Triangles
the magic 8 method: eight units from one pair
Trade one seam for four and one cut for four more, and one pair of squares yields eight matching HSTs instead of two. Handy any time a block calls for a stack of identical units in the same two fabrics.
Add 1″ to your finished size, then double it. That's your starting square.
1 · Mark
Layer two squares right sides together. Draw both diagonals, corner to corner each way.
2 · Sew
Sew a scant ¼″ seam on both sides of each line: four seams total.
3 · Cut in quarters
Cut the square in half horizontally, then in half vertically.
4 · Cut & press
Cut each quarter apart on its diagonal. Press toward the dark. Eight separate HSTs.
| Finished | Cut squares | Trim to |
|---|---|---|
| 2″ | 6″ | 2½″ |
| 2½″ | 7″ | 3″ |
| 3″ | 8″ | 3½″ |
| 3½″ | 9″ | 4″ |
| Finished | Cut squares | Trim to |
|---|---|---|
| 4″ | 10″ | 4½″ |
| 4½″ | 11″ | 5″ |
| 5″ | 12″ | 5½″ |
| 5½″ | 13″ | 6″ |
The starting square is bigger and the seams take longer to sew, but you're piecing and pressing once for eight units instead of running the two-at-a-time method four separate times. Worth it any time a block needs a full matching stack.
Just need two? The classic two-at-a-time method is its own reference sheet.
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