How to Make a Perfect Half Square Triangle using AccuQuilt
I’ve been using my AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine for nearly a year now, and hands down, my favorite thing about it is how EASY it makes Half Square Triangle quilt blocks.
The ever-popular Half Square Triangle quilt block is also referred to as a HST and is one of the most versatile and iconic quilt blocks out there – used in a variety of both traditional and modern quilt designs.

In this article I will show you why I love HSTs as much as I do, and how to get them pretty darn close to perfect without ever needing to trim them! The main secret to my HST success is the AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine. The are tons of ways to make a good Half Square Triangle without using a fabric cutting machine, but using my AccuQuilt has cut the time involved drastically and I am so thrilled with the results!
If you want to see my AccuQuilt Half Square Triangle tips in action, watch this video:

My Half Square Triangle (HST) Quilt
The quilt shown here is Aglow by Modernly Morgan.
Aglow is a beautiful, wonderful pattern and is Fat Quarter friendly or even scrap friendly! I chose to do mine with yardage and did it using my AccuQuilt 8″ Qube to cut out all the Half Square Triangles (HSTs).
The fabrics I selected are all PBS Painter’s Palette Solids. Here are the colors I used:

What AccuQuilt Dies do I need for Perfect HSTs?
AccuQuilt has quite a few dies available to make Half Square Triangles. I personally used the dies that came with my GO! Qube Mix & Match 8″ Block, but it would have been an even quicker process if I used this one to cut 12 at a time.

You might consider checking out these different dies for HSTs:
- GO! Half Square Triangle-2 1/2″ Finished Square Die
- GO! Half Square Triangle-3″ Finished Square Die
- GO! Half Square Triangle-4″ Finished Square
- GO! Half Square Triangle-4 1/2″ Finished Square Die
- GO! Half Square Triangle-6″ Finished Square die
- GO! Half Square Triangle-8″ Finished Square Die

Tips and Tricks for using AccuQuilt on Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
The tips and tricks I share below are divided into three stage categories: cutting out the fabrics using AccuQuilt, sewing together your fabric pieces, and finally, pressing the HSTs into final quilt blocks.
Tips for Cutting out HSTs with your AccuQuilt
First off, I like to iron and starch my fabric with Best Press to make them nice and crisp before beginning to cut. I find this helps them not stretch later when sewing on the bias.
When cutting, make sure your fabric is on grain with the edges of the shapes, not with the edges of the dies. This means your fabric will be placed slanted on the die in order to line up the edges of the fabric parallel to the blades themselves. I like to make my “rough cuts” about a 1/2″ wider than the die shape itself so I have a little wiggle room for error while not wasting much fabric.