I finally have tried this technique and love it, especially when you need lots of small half square triangles. I learned this technique from Cathy U'Ren and I am sure it is out on the internet somewhere. I did this for my friends who keep saying they need to sit down and do it with me but we of course can't make our schedules work out to be able to sew together.
For this example the pattern called for 2 3/8" squares to be made into half square triangles (and I needed 20 squares, or 40 finished half square triangles!). I cut 5" squares to start out. These 5" squares will give you 8 half square triangles. Draw an X on the back.
Sew your 1/4" seam on both sides of your X lines.
Cut the square in quarters and then along the X lines.
Iron your seams flat and then trim to the square size you need (not the finished quare size, don't forget the 1/4" seams). So mine were 2" squares. (Not in this picture, I hadn't trimmed them yet.)
One final note, I added just a little bit to have to trim them down. My pattern said 2 3/8" squares so I just figured 2 1/2" per square and then you put four of them in a square, hence the 5" square to start with. It worked wonderfully. Yes each one had to be trimmed but I didn't have to sew 20 separate squares to get my 40 I needed. I only have to do the 5 squares! Woohoo! Happy quilting!
