I'm Easy . . An Easy Angler . .

So, in addition to working on my latest quilt project, I've also been creating half square triangle units for a future project, Belle Meade, by Paula Barnes, which requires 656 of them.

This pattern was also on Nicole of Sister's Choice Quilts' list, so we decided to work on the quilts together, after the holidays. We thought it would be a good idea to get a jump start on the hsts now.

Carol, at Brown Quilts, thought she would sew along with us, then realized she had an even better method for completing this quilt. Start it, put it away, and forget about it. Carol's already finished her Belle Meade, click here for a looksie.....it's beautiful!!

A real motivator for me...it's not too late for you, if you want to join in!

It's been fun making the hst units and reporting my progress on my blog. I'm about a third of the way through them, they've accumulated quickly.

I've gotten several questions about my method for making these beauties, so I figured a tutorial was in order.

I'm using the Easy Angle ruler by Sharon Hultgren. Here's a link to her website that has a great tutorial. I noticed I do mine a little differently, but it works for me, so here's the Thelma method......

First off, you need an Easy Angle ruler, they're everywhere online and in quilt shops.

You also need two strips of fabric the same width as the hsts units you're wanting to make, unfinished. Since my hsts need to be 2 1/2 inches, my strips of fabric are 2 1/2 inches. It's very important that the strips be the required width, any smaller, even a smidge, and your unit will be too small.

So you stack one strip on top of the other, like sides together,

and trim the left edge

to create a clean straight starting place.

See all those number on that ruler, I don't know what they're for, I don't use them.

All I do is line up the straight edge on the left side of the ruler with the left side of the fabric, the flat part of the top of the ruler with the straight edge of the top of the fabric,

and the bottom edge of the fabric, with whatever line on the ruler that fits. I have no idea why the ruler says 4", all that matters is that that line is straight across the bottom of the fabric.

Then I cut right along that diagonal edge of the ruler,

and get this.

Then I spin the ruler around, line up the 3 edges, and cut on the 4th.

Added Later - OK, I guess the reason the numbers make no sense is that I'm using this ruler upside down!! How embarrassing...but what a ruler, you can use it wrong and still get perfect half square triangle units!! This is so me, my first tutorial and it's all backwards....but I like lining up the flat edge! I think I picked that up from using the Marti Michell templates, try both ways and use what works for you!!

Then you sew right down that diagonal edge.

I start sewing on the unit with the flat corner, not the pointed corner....I'm not sure why.

Press the unit open,

and here you go. A perfectly square unit that just needs the ear trimmed off.

If the unit doesn't look wonky, I just trim off the ear and move on, I don't square them all up.

If you're they type of person who just has to make them a little bigger and then square them up,

just cut your strips 1/8 inch wider.

and align the top and side of the ruler to the fabric.

This is what I trimmed off to square up the unit.

Here are the units, side by side. The one on the left was not squared up, the one on the right was. I used to be a "make it bigger then square up" kind of girl, no longer. This ruler is too accurate, why waste the time?

If I only have a few units to make, or need to mix up my colors, I still cut my squares, draw my line, sew on each side, cut, then square them up. But for a huge number of units, where you don't mind a having a few identical ones, you can't beat the Easy Angle.

Nicole is making her units using a paper method and is giving a tutorial on her blog today for that method, be sure to check it out.

Don't have an Easy Angle ruler?

I'm giving this one away, just leave a comment by 5:00 am Central Standard Time, tomorrow, Thursday, November 11th. No restrictions, if the post office will deliver it, you can win it. I'll announce the winner on Thursday along with the winner of the Fresh Palette fabric and rulers.

I hope this tutorial was helpful to you. I'm sure this ruler does all kinds of amazing things that I haven't even thought of, plus those numbers have to mean something.........

oh well, it works for me!!