Nifty Notions Half Square Triangle Tutorial

Do you use a lot of half square triangles or quarter square triangles? These simple units are the basic units for many popular blocks. If you do, then you’ll love this hand tool. It’s perfect for making half square triangles and quarter square triangles from a single strip without any waste. So you can bust through your scrappy strips to make blocks like the friendship star.

Half square triangles with a friendship star quilt block

Or a rainbow of pinwheels.

Fall scrap quilt with colorful pinwheels and appliqued leaves.

It’s great for flying geese Modern table runner with crumb pieced flying geese.

Which enable you to make scrappy maverick stars.

Scrappy maverick star quilt blocks set on point

Or one of my favorites, the Dutchmen’s Puzzle.

Laying out flying geese units to make a Dutchmen's puzzle block on a blue cutting mat

I also like to use it to make basket blocks. A quilted basket block with a pile of patchwork pincushions and a bias tape maker in use

Even this.

Whatever block you like to make if you make a lot of half square triangles have I got the tool for you. A couple of years ago I took a class from Kaye England. Kaye is the nicest person. I thoroughly enjoyed her class. And can I just say that what I learned in that class has helped me immensely. With her little tool my half square triangles go together so smoothly and my points meet just so. I saw Kaye at Quilt Market in Portland last spring and I just could not thank her enough for this wonderful tool. So are you wondering if I am just going to keep rambling or am I going to tell you about this tool. Well not only am I going to tell you about this tool, I’m going to show you how to use it.

First it is Nifty Notions half square triangle. Bonnie Hunter’s Essential Triangle Ruler does the same thing. It looks like this.