These scrappy Half Square Triangles are a great way to use up scraps and you can incorporate them into your next quilting project. Or check out these fun tutorials:
Today we’re going to use the 2-at-a-time method to create 5.5” finished half square triangles. Finished size is the size when they’re sewn into your project. If you’d like to make a different size, or use a different method, I have a handy calculator that determines what size squares you need.
I’ll show you three different ideas for creating scrappy HSTs, but feel free to get creative with the scraps you have around! I’ll show you a stripy HST, a courthouse-steps-inspired HST, and a full improv HST. Each of these is made with one scrappy square and one solid background square. This helps to break up the scrappiness with some breathing room.
You’ll need your background fabric and a whole bunch of scraps that coordinate to get started. You’ll also need a ruler, rotary cutter, cutting mat, iron, and sewing machine.
You can watch the whole tutorial or keep scrolling for the text version!
Scrappy Half Square Triangles How-To:
How much background fabric you need is dependent on how many HSTs you want to make. With the size we’re making today, you’ll get 12 half square triangles from one width of fabric strip.
We’ll start by prepping our background fabric. Cut out a 6.5” x WOF strip and subcut it into 6.5” squares. Then use a hera marker or water soluble marker to draw a line diagonally from corner to corner on the back of each background square.
Once our background squares are ready, we’ll set those aside and start on our scrappy pieces!
The Striped HST:
Dig through your scraps and find a whole bunch of long, skinny pieces. you can decide if you want them all to be the same width or varying widths, or perhaps your scraps will dictate that for you. You’ll need all your strips to be at least 6.5” long. If your strips are not straight, you can trim them to be even, or embrace the wonk. To make an evenly striped block…
Sew all 6 rectangles together and press seams open to form a 6.5″ block.
The Courthouse Steps Inspired HST:
For this block, we’re going to need specific pieces. Look through your scraps and find pieces that are bigger than the measurements listed. We’re going to cut them down to size, then assemble.
Sew the (2) 2″ x 3.5″ rectangles on each side of the 3.5″ square. Press seams open. Sew the (2) 6.5″ x 2″ rectangles, one on top and one on the bottom of the block and press seams open.
The Improv HST:
This one is my favorite. I’m going to dig through my stash and find a whole lot of pieces that I like, and just start sewing them together! I’m going to keep going until my block is at least 6.5” square.
Scrappy Half Square Triangles Assembly:
With all the scrappy blocks made, it is time to make our half square triangles! Place one scrappy square right sides together with the background square, and sew on both sides of the drawn line, 1/4” away from the line. Cut on the drawn line, trim, and press the seam. If you need help creating HSTs, check out this post.
For trimming HSTs, you can do that either with a square ruler or a slotted trimmers ruler. Check out the two methods here!
You can press your HSTs open, being careful with the scrappy seam to keep it from unraveling too much, or towards the background fabric.
And there you have it, three scrappy Half Square Triangles to try to make! Go dig in your scrap bin and see what you can come up with!
Thank you for sharing these simple & fun ways to use scraps! You’ve inspired me!
You’re welcome!