The Carly Quiltalong - HST Assembly

Ok guys - we have a busy week ahead of us. We need to make our half square triangles and trim them (or at least get started on trimming them). 

We will have one post this week about making HSTs and one about trimming them. I will be discussing the HST construction method used in the pattern, but I will go over a few different options for trimming. Both of these tasks are pretty monotonous, so I like to break them up into stacks and do one at a time.

The HST method in the pattern might be different from how you normally make your half square triangles, but it's actually how I always make mine. I like that it is easier to make sure directional fabrics are all facing the right direction.

To start out, I like to lay out all of my blocks. This helps me make sure that I am happy with the fabric layout and I can position the directional fabrics. 

To piece each block . . . 

Place the triangles right sides together . . .

Pin - I like one pin on each end and one in the middle. Pinning will help you with accuracy but (more importantly for this block) will help keep your fabric from stretching since we are sewing on the bias. It also helps keep the seam allowances level with each other so the fabric in the back doesn't move.

Sew together with a 1/4" seam making sure not to stretch the fabric.

Then press. I like to press my seams open, but you can press toward the side if you prefer.

I like to pin a big stack of HSTs and then strip piece them all together at once. Then press. Then move onto the next stack. 

Later this week we will talk about trimming using a square ruler, a Bloc-Loc ruler, and a slotted ruler. Find a good movie or audiobook to watch/listen to while you work - it makes this go so much faster! If you feel like making all of your HSTs and trimming them this week is too much, trim half this week and half next week when we are constructing our blocks. I am making two quilts so I know it takes a while!