Save Fabric and Money with This Simple Cutting Trick!
This tutorial shows how to turn what would normally be fabric waste into useful quilt pieces. By sewing a second stitching line a half inch away from the original diagonal line when attaching a square to a rectangle, you can create an extra half-square triangle from the trimmed section instead of throwing it away. The result is not only your main quilt block but also a perfectly sized 2½-inch HST made from scraps. It’s an easy, efficient hack that helps you make the most of your fabric while building up a stash of ready-to-use pieces for future projects.
Make the most out of your fabric scraps. That’s what I want to share with you today, a simple little trick that I absolutely love. You’ve probably made these units before: a rectangle with a half-square triangle added to one side. They’re so versatile, and I’ve created some really fun quilt blocks using this shape.
So, here’s how it’s done. Start with a rectangular piece of fabric; mine measures 3½ by 6½ inches. Then place a 3½-inch square on top. I chose white for mine. Lay the square on one end of the rectangle and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. Stitch along that line, and then, using your ruler, trim a quarter inch away from the seam. When you fold the triangle open, you’ll have a beautiful new unit ready to use.
But here’s the problem: all that trimming creates waste. Those cut-off corners are two perfectly good triangles that usually end up in the scrap bin. There’s a better way. Instead of sewing just one line, draw your diagonal as usual, then measure half an inch away from it and draw a second line. Stitch along both lines, and then cut between them. Now, not only do you get your main piece, but your leftover scrap turns into a usable half-square triangle.
Press that second piece open and you’ll have a 2½-inch square half-square triangle made entirely from what would’ve been waste. It’s such a satisfying way to make the most of your fabric and add a few extra HSTs to your stash for future projects.
If you’re making these blocks, keep this little hack in mind. Those extra triangles can come in handy for borders, scrappy projects, or small patchwork accents.
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