If you’ve been a quilter for very long you probably have a growing pile of fabric scraps. Keep that pile from becoming a mountain — or if it’s too late for that, conquer the mountain you’ve already got. It can be easy and fun with the classic half square triangle block.
Half square triangles are simple to make and can be twisted, turned for endless scrap quilt possibilities. Try them in pinwheels, hourglasses, chevrons and more. Scale them big or small depending on your scrap size. 
Making the same block over and over again bores me, so I find half square triangles to be the perfect leaders and enders project. I’ll cut up a bunch for this purpose— sewing them first into HSTs, then into blocks — and before I know it, I have enough blocks for a quilt.
Half Square Triangle Sampler
There are many ways to make a half square triangle. The classic method: two squares, draw a line, sew and trim. No tools needed. This tutorial will show you how and enable you to make them in any size.
Another way is to use strips and the Essential Triangle tool. I like this method when I’m only making a few. I find it accurate, and it lets me cut other units — squares and quarter squares — all from the same strip. Learn how with this tutorial.
When making a lot of half square triangles I prefer to use my AccuQuilt. I can cut 36- 2 1/2″ half square triangles with one run through the machine. It’s fast, accurate and enables me to use up a pile of scraps quickly, while enabling me to start sewing sooner. See how I do it here.
Because my scraps are sorted by size. Learn my method. It’s easy for me to pull together a colorway and start loading up my dies. Whether I’m pulling masculine colors for the men in my life.
Jess’s Half Square triangle qult
pastel colors for a baby quilt. 
Or some other color combination I can easily load a project box with the number of half square triangles I need. 
If you’re looking for patterns to use in your half square triangle quilts, be sure to check out my Half Square Triangle Booklet. It walks through each of the methods I mentioned above for making your half square triangles, then offers 20 half square triangle blocks to play with. Each block comes with a suggested quilt in two sizes, plus I’ve included a bonus sampler quilt.
Ask your quilt shop for the booklet — shops can purchase directly from me or through Checker.
So turn your scrap pile into half square triangle quilts. I look forward to seeing what you create! Be sure to share it with me — use hashtag #HSTBundleQuilt and tag me @auntemsquilts.
