Cutting Half- and Quarter-Square Triangles

Use these tips to cut half- and quarter-square triangles. Instructions are provided for right-handed and left-handed cutting.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

1. Square up the fabric.2. Cut the fabric in strips as wide as the desired finished width of the triangle-squares, plus 7/8" for seam allowances. For example, for a 3" finished half-square triangle, cut a 3-7/8"-wide fabric strip.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

3. Square up one end of each strip.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

4. Using a ruler, cut the strip into lengths equal to the strip's width. In this example, the strip would be cut into 3-7/8"-long pieces.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

5. Position the ruler diagonally across a square and cut the square in half to make two equal-size right triangles.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

3. Square up one end of each strip.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

4. Using a ruler, cut the strip into lengths equal to the strip's width. In this example, the strip would be cut into 3-7/8"-long pieces.

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

5. Position the ruler diagonally across the square and cut the square in half to make two equal-size right triangles.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

1. Square up the fabric.2. Cut the fabric in strips as wide as the desired width of the quarter-square triangle, plus 1-1/4" for seam allowances. For example, for a 3" finished quarter-square triangle, cut a 4-1/4"-wide fabric strip.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

3. Square up one end of each strip.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

4. Using a ruler, cut the strip into lengths equal to the strip's width. In this example, the strip would be cut into 4-1/4"-long pieces.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

5. Position the ruler diagonally across square and cut the square in half to make two equal-size right triangles. Do not move or pick up the triangles.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

6. Position the ruler diagonally across the cut square in the opposite direction and cut the square in half again to make a total of four equal-size triangles.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

3. Square up one end of each strip.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

4. Using a ruler, cut the strip into lengths equal to the strip's width. In this example, the strip would be cut into 4-1/4"-long pieces.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

5. Position the ruler diagonally across square from corner to corner and cut the square in half to make two equal-size right triangles. Do not move or pick up the triangles.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

6. Position the ruler diagonally across the square from corner to corner in the opposite direction and cut the square in half again to make a total of four equal-size triangles.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

3. Square up one end of each strip.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

4. Using a ruler, cut the strip into lengths equal to the strip's width. In this example, the strip would be cut into 4-1/4"-long pieces.

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

6. Position the ruler diagonally across the square from corner to corner in the opposite direction and cut the square in half again to make a total of four equal-size triangles.

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Cutting Half- and Quarter-Square Triangles

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Half-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (right-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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Cutting Quarter-Square Triangles (left-handed)

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