Quilters Companion - AU (2019-11)

Half Rectangle Triangles

how-to

The method most commonly used for

HSTs is basically the same for HRTs.

Although, an HST can be rotated to

create the opposite diagonal while

HRTs cannot. Therefore, you need an

equal number of forward diagonal

and backward diagonal units.

The most common method yields

two identical units, without any bias

edges being cut or sewn. You will need

to make two identical units with the

diagonal running the opposite way too.

Forward HRT unit

1

Cut a 5in x 7½in rectangle from

two fabrics.

2

Place one rectangle right side up,

and mark ¼in from the top left

and bottom right corner.

3

Place the other rectangle right

side down. Mark a ¼in from the

top right and bottom left corners.

Draw a diagonal line between these

two marks. See Diagram 1.

4

Place the right side down

rectangle onto the right side up

rectangle, aligning the ¼in marks. Pin

in place. See Diagram 2.

5

Sew a seam a scant ¼in from the

drawn line on either side. Cut the

units apart along the drawn line to

reveal two HRT units. See Diagram 3.

Backward HRT unit

1

Cut a 5in x 7½in rectangle from

two fabrics.

2

Place one rectangle right side up,

and mark ¼in from the top right

and bottom left corner – note that

these marks are placed opposite to

the forward HRT.

3

Place the other rectangle right

side down. Mark a ¼in from the top

left and bottom right corners. Draw a

diagonal line between these two marks.

4

Place the right side down

rectangle onto the right side up

rectangle, aligning the ¼in marks. Pin

in place. See Diagram 4.

5

Sew a seam a scant ¼in from the

drawn line on either side. Cut the

units apart along the drawn line to

reveal two identical HRT units.

Note: When sewing HRT units together

across their shorter ends, you will need

to increase your seam allowance so

that the seam sews exactly through

the points.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

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Half Rectangle Triangles

Half rectangle triangles can be put together in myriad

combinations to create so many patterns — see the

following pages for variations and a Gallery. If you

love these HRT units as much as I do, you can make

my HRT quilt on page 52.