A blog post sponsored by The Fat Quarter Shop although (other than the Youtube Video) all of the words, opinions, images and instructions here are my own.
The humble Half Square Triangle (HST) has long been one of my favorite patchwork units to work with. It is versatile and can be made quickly and accurately using various different methods. One of those methods is by using Triangle Paper.
Triangle Paper is easy to use - all seam allowances are included in the pattern sheet and all you need to do is sew on the dashed lines and cut on the solid lines. Simple, quick and so accurate. See for yourself ...
How to Make Half Square Triangles by The Fat Quarter Shop
My Triangle Paper of choice was a 2 inch finished square and with it I have created the SuperNova Star Block. And so let's start making.
SuperNova Star Block Tutorial
The SuperNova Star Blocks is consists of 3 different units: 4 Corner Units made up of Half Square Triangles, 4 Flying Geese Units and 1 Center Unit.
Using 2 inch finished Triangle Paper and following the Youtube Video guide make 36 Half Square Triangles using a background fabric and contrast fabric in the following colors (or colors of your choice):
- 4 Blue Half Square Triangles
- 8 Black Half Square Triangles
- 12 Orange Half Square Triangles
- 8 Pink Half Square Triangles
- 4 Yellow Half Square Triangles
Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew together HSTs into four the same corner units as pictured.
Each Corner Unit Measures 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches.
Each Corner Unit Measures 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches.
Step 2 - Flying Geese Units
Fabric requirements for each Flying Geese Unit:
- 2 Squares (for wings) each measuring 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches - using a pencil mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of fabric.
- 1 Rectangle (for body) measuring 2.5 inches x 4.5 inches
1. Place square on top of the background rectangle - right sides together - and sew ON the marked line.
2. Trim off the corner leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
3. Press the seam allowance toward the small corner triangle.
4. Place another square on the other side of the rectangle.
5. Sew on marked line, and trim excess fabric leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
6. Press the seam allowance toward the small corner triangle.
Make a total of 12 Flying Geese Units each measuring 2.5 inches x 4.5 inches.
Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew Flying Geese Units into four sets of three units as pictured.
This unit measures 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches
2. Trim off the corner leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
3. Press the seam allowance toward the small corner triangle.
5. Sew on marked line, and trim excess fabric leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
6. Press the seam allowance toward the small corner triangle.
Make a total of 12 Flying Geese Units each measuring 2.5 inches x 4.5 inches.
Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew Flying Geese Units into four sets of three units as pictured.
This unit measures 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches
Step 3 - Center Unit
Fabric Requirements for Center Unit:
- 4 squares (green) each measuring 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches (with a pencil mark a diagonal line on each small square)
- 1 square (background fabric) measuring 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches
In the same way as the you have pieced the Flying Geese Units now piece the Center Unit.
The Center Unit measures 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches.
Step 4 - Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew Corner Units, Flying Geese Units and Center Unit together:
The finished SuperNova Star Block Measures 16.5 inches x 16.5 inches
The Triangle Papers were a revelation! I certainly didn't miss not having to trim the Half Square Triangles Units to size for accuracy, and removal of the paper super quick; a quick tug of the corner and the paper came away from the fabric without any residue. Having shortened my stitch length as suggested made it effortless. And as my roll of Triangle Paper makes 800 HSTs there are more 2 inch HST projects in my future.
And a Giveaway
The Fat Quarter Shop are giving away a roll of 2 inch Half Square Triangle Paper to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment on this post if you're ready to whip up a batch of HSTs the quick, easy and accurate way ~ no trimming required.
A winner will be drawn on tomorrow - Tuesday 19 March 2013 and announced by blog post. The winner will also be notified by email.
GIVEAWAY ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED
A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY
With thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring this blog post. Check out the Fat Quarter Shop's full range of Triangle Paper here: Triangle Paper
Rita
