Over and over again, half-square triangles (aka HSTs) are explained. Over and over again, beginning quilters continue to have trouble making them. I will add myself to debunk the HST myth. It’s not magic, it’s just MATH!
![006](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2NTAiIGhlaWdodD0iNDMyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjUwIDQzMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Start with two equal-sized squares*. On the back side of the lightest square, draw a diagonal line, corner-to-corner, ONE (1) time.
![007](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2NTAiIGhlaWdodD0iNDMyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjUwIDQzMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Diagonal line.
![008](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2NTAiIGhlaWdodD0iNDMyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjUwIDQzMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
With right sides together, sew 1/4″ on either side of the line you drew.
![009](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2NTAiIGhlaWdodD0iNDMyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjUwIDQzMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Using a ruler and your rotary cutter, cut the square into triangles, ON the line you drew.
![010](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2NTAiIGhlaWdodD0iNDMyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjUwIDQzMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Two triangles.
![HST](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2NTAiIGhlaWdodD0iNDMyIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjUwIDQzMiI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
Open them up and press toward the darkest fabric. You have now made two HSTs!
*A little quilter’s tip – cut the squares a tad larger than your pattern calls for. Once you have pressed your HSTs, you can then square them up to be the exact finished size your pattern requires.