3-D Half Square Triangle Tutorial

Here is how you can make a three dimensional half square triangle that will add real depth and delight to your quilts.

Fold your colored square in half diagonally, wrong sides together.

Lay your colored square on top of your background square, lining up the raw edges.

Baste 1/8" from the raw edges to secure the top fabric to the background fabric.  

When basting, lengthen your stitch as large as possible.  My machine goes to 4.  You could also baste by hand with a large stitch.

Remember to switch your stitch length back to your 'normal' length when assembling prepared blocks.  I use about a 2 1/2" length for my regular sewing stitch.

There is no need for squaring up and DO NOT press your folded edge!!  It is optimal to keep the rounded soft edge of the fold.

I've done some layouts of possible blocks using this technique. 

When assembling squares, use a 1/4" seam just as you would normally when putting squares together.  DO NOT PRESS! 

The above unit is a sneak peak on a special project I am working on!

The samples below are not sewn together, I just layed them out to show possible design.  The 1/8" basting threads would not be visible when you assemble the blocks using a 1/4" seam allowance.