Matching HSTs to full squares
07-08-2025, 01:16 PM
#1
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Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 23
Matching HSTs to full squares
If I知 trying to match HSTs with full squares, what is the size difference? I cut everything the same size and now I知 trimming partial blocks on all four sides so they値l pair up with the HSTs. I couldn稚 find a pattern for the quilt I知 making, so I winged it when I did my cutting and cut everything the same size. This may still be the way to go because I知 trimming all the squares. I知 just wondering how much I lost on the HSTs.
07-08-2025, 01:55 PM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,261
The math of adding seam allowance for a triangle is 7/8ths an inch for the point instead of our usual 1/4.
That means when you cut a square on half on the diagonal, you basically need an inch bigger piece to make the square.
Depending on how far you've gotten in slicing and dicing, you may want to trim your solid squares down to the size of the HST.
Hope that is fairly clear and/or helps your quandry!
That means when you cut a square on half on the diagonal, you basically need an inch bigger piece to make the square.
Depending on how far you've gotten in slicing and dicing, you may want to trim your solid squares down to the size of the HST.
Hope that is fairly clear and/or helps your quandry!
07-09-2025, 04:42 PM
#5
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Posts: 23
07-19-2025, 08:39 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 200
Welcome, Tabinfla!
Sounds like you are making two HST's at a time, i.e. drawing a diagonal line across your square then sewing a scant 1/4 inch on either side of the line. Finally, a cut is made on the drawn line. This method requires larger squares for the two seams. Technically 7/8 inch, (1/2 inch for the two seam allowances plus 3/8 inch for the diagonal seam), but I prefer one inch over the finished size, so I have a smidge to trim for squaring up.
Another method would be to draw the diagonal line then sew on that line. This will produce one HST that is the correct size. One half of the square is your HST. The other half has the seam allowance, and the rest is cut away and discarded. It's not a preferred method because there is so much waste, you'd need a new set of squares for every HST, but if you've already cut everything one size, maybe it's an option to consider.
Sounds like you are making two HST's at a time, i.e. drawing a diagonal line across your square then sewing a scant 1/4 inch on either side of the line. Finally, a cut is made on the drawn line. This method requires larger squares for the two seams. Technically 7/8 inch, (1/2 inch for the two seam allowances plus 3/8 inch for the diagonal seam), but I prefer one inch over the finished size, so I have a smidge to trim for squaring up.
Another method would be to draw the diagonal line then sew on that line. This will produce one HST that is the correct size. One half of the square is your HST. The other half has the seam allowance, and the rest is cut away and discarded. It's not a preferred method because there is so much waste, you'd need a new set of squares for every HST, but if you've already cut everything one size, maybe it's an option to consider.
07-19-2025, 01:51 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2025
Posts: 23
Hst
Welcome, Tabinfla!
Sounds like you are making two HST's at a time, i.e. drawing a diagonal line across your square then sewing a scant 1/4 inch on either side of the line. Finally, a cut is made on the drawn line. This method requires larger squares for the two seams. Technically 7/8 inch, (1/2 inch for the two seam allowances plus 3/8 inch for the diagonal seam), but I prefer one inch over the finished size, so I have a smidge to trim for squaring up.
Another method would be to draw the diagonal line then sew on that line. This will produce one HST that is the correct size. One half of the square is your HST. The other half has the seam allowance, and the rest is cut away and discarded. It's not a preferred method because there is so much waste, you'd need a new set of squares for every HST, but if you've already cut everything one size, maybe it's an option to consider.
Sounds like you are making two HST's at a time, i.e. drawing a diagonal line across your square then sewing a scant 1/4 inch on either side of the line. Finally, a cut is made on the drawn line. This method requires larger squares for the two seams. Technically 7/8 inch, (1/2 inch for the two seam allowances plus 3/8 inch for the diagonal seam), but I prefer one inch over the finished size, so I have a smidge to trim for squaring up.
Another method would be to draw the diagonal line then sew on that line. This will produce one HST that is the correct size. One half of the square is your HST. The other half has the seam allowance, and the rest is cut away and discarded. It's not a preferred method because there is so much waste, you'd need a new set of squares for every HST, but if you've already cut everything one size, maybe it's an option to consider.
Thank you very much! All of the information is greatly appreciated. I just love this forum! I知 learning so much.
