Need help with larger image fabrics....

http://www.thatgirlthatquilt.com/2011/11/half-square-triangles-3-ways.html HST is half square triangle. Where the square is in half with two different colors..making 2 triangles in the square. THe above link is to a site that has 3 ways of making them. I don't know why the one to Missouri Star Quilt Co in the discussion above didn't work, but try this one. I prefer to make them by cutting 2 squares same size...lay them right sides together and draw a line diagonal corner to corner. Then you sew 1/4 inch from each side of the line, cut the line and open the pieces and press...you have a square..with 2 triangles in it or a square, "cut" in half, forming triangles! I am rather addicted to them...quick and easy and the sky is the limit on what designs you can do..just like a puzzle...move them around until they fit the design you want!

Making the Northern Star is a favorite block of mine. Also making Flying Geese to make a differnet style of star. I made the 9 patch last night with the fussy cut center of the santa but the same size squares made it look to small. I prefer 3,1/2 inche squares (finished they are 3") small enough for the point of quilting but big enough to make something of them. I am thinking I might make Northern Star block with the fussy cut santa in the middle and red/green points to the star, with a white or cream background. HST is half square triangles...http://www.psiquilt.com/2010/02/half-square-triangle-tutorial.html I am addicted to these as there is so many things you can do with them. LIterally, just rearranging them, using different colors the patterns are endless! It is also a great way to use up scraps. I dont' go smaller than a 3,1/2 inch square. I am currently cutting 2 inchers out of scraps..just can't bare to toss the smaller pieces! But I am intending to make a "postage stamp quilt" once I have enough 2 inch squares collect..and that will be alot! You just sew them all together and which makes the quilt nothing but 1,1/2 inch squares. NOt exactly looking forward to it, but hoping htat by the time I get enough to do it...I'll be more talented at quilting and it won't be such a chore! Like this one.... http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2012/04/postage-stamp-quilt-tutorial.html This is one of my favorite sites..she is so inspiring and her quilts are amazing!

HST is "half square triangle" that I am currently kind of additcted to as the options are endless as to what design you can make with them. It is where you sew two different color squares together, cut them in half and you have 2 squares with 2 different color "triangles" on it! http://www.psiquilt.com/2010/02/half-square-triangle-tutorial.html Just rotating or rearranging these little guys give you so many amazing patterns! You should try it! Probably every quilt I have done has them in there somewhere! I also make "double HST's" where you make them and the put two HST's together, and do the same sewing/cutting thing and get what I call a "double HST" or other call it an "hourglass". I cut last night so "fussy cut" of the main santa in the pattern to make that the middle of my 9-patch, but the surrounding patches make the center look so small, even tho they are the same size. So I think if I make HST's to surround it, not only gives more color but breaks the border up enough to make it appear not so large.

I did fussy cut the santa for the center of a 9-patch. But the outer squares, made the center look so small. I used 3,1/2" squares. I think I will make the outer squares HST's and that will make them look smaller as well as adding more color..that was another issue I had...nothing but solid large squares of red and green and white! But a HST of two colors might help the appearance. I am going to work on that today.