Date: 11/4/09 7:15 PM

I have seen a new template that is available for cutting half square triangles. It helps you to mark them, sew them, square them up. It is made by Clover I think and costs around $20. I see that Joann handles them through its internet store and there are some quilt shops which have them. Has anyone used one of these "rulers" and is it worth it? I just wondered if the cutting and marking holes are the right size for accurate squares. Marian

Date: 11/5/09 9:28 PM

I didn't see any Clover half-square triangle tool on the JoAnn's website. The newest half-square triangle tool that I've seen is this June Tailor Perfect Half-Square and Quarter-Square Triangle Ruler. Haven't tried this one yet.

I did find this video on the June Tailor website explaining how to use it.

Eleanor Burns (Quilt in a Day) takes a different approach for squaring up HSTs and QSTs with this QIAD tool, which is "low tech" by comparison, as she demonstrates in this video. The full instructions for marking, sewing, and cutting the squares are in this PDF.

It's so difficult to state that any one tool is "better" than another. If a tool gives me the results I want and I can avoid do-overs, then it works for me, but it might not work for someone else. This is my hobby; I want it to be fun, not frustrating.

CMC

Reply to Marian Faupel
Date: 11/6/09 8:32 AM

I'm with CM Sews and Eleanor Burns; I'm not so much a tool oriented person, and rulers are expensive! To make my Half Square Triangles, I use Billie Lauder's way from Quick Quilt Tricks:

I add 7/8" to my overall finished square size. Then I take two squares, one light and one dark, and lay them on top of each other. Then I draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. It's next to this line I sew 1/4" (on both sides of the line). Then I cut on the line. The HST is sewn before it's cut on the bias, so there's no stretching while sewing. It's foolproof and works every time.

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"Having to squeeze the last drop of utility out of the land has the same desperate finality as having to chop up the furniture to keep warm" -- Aldo Leopold
http://tree-sister.blogspot.com
"Don't cry; don't be sad; make happy"--Peggy Jones. Rest your weary body, dear friend.

Reply to Marian Faupel
Date: 11/15/09 10:08 AM

Quote: Marian Faupel

I have seen a new template that is available for cutting half square triangles. It helps you to mark them, sew them, square them up. It is made by Clover I think and costs around $20. I see that Joann handles them through its internet store and there are some quilt shops which have them. Has anyone used one of these "rulers" and is it worth it? I just wondered if the cutting and marking holes are the right size for accurate squares. Marian

I don't know about that, but Quilt Pro has a program that will print out patterns - think thangles - for all sizes. I'm thinking about that.
Judi

Reply to JudithB
Date: 11/16/09 12:57 PM

Quote: JudithB

I don't know about that, but Quilt Pro has a program that will print out patterns - think thangles - for all sizes. I'm thinking about that.

Here's a link to the Quilt-pro HST software:
Quilt Pro Half Square Triangles

I've had this similar product for years - it works very well. I use my paper-piecing paper.
Triangulations

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Tess
Bernina 150QE (2, actually), Brother PQ1500S, Elna 945 serger, Janome CP1000
Vintage Singers: 221 Featherweight (2), 15-91, 201-2, 503

Date: 11/18/09 9:38 PM

I really like the easy angle and companion angle rulers by Sharon Hultgren made by ez quilting. I have a foot that has a little metal guide at the 1/4 inch mark and just line up the diagonal fabric edge against the metal railing edge and sew. The dog ears are trimmed off before I sew and the half square triangles are accurate too.

Good luck