Welcome to our series exploring the basics of quilting! Last time, we discussed the peaky and spike block. Next time, we’ll be looking at the snowball quilt block. To see all the posts in this series, click here.
Today in the Quilter’s Alphabet series, Tammy and I are talking about quilting terms starting with the letter H! I will explain a hanging sleeve and half square triangles!
Hanging Sleeve
A hanging sleeve is a strip of fabric added to the back of a quilt so the quilt can be hung with a rod.
Hanging sleeves are made so the rod goes through the center of the sleeve and does not touch the back of the quilt.
If you have never made a hanging sleeve, I realize we have not covered that in our Exploring the Basics series, so I will be sure to add a How To post about that coming up soon!
Half Square Triangles
There are actually 2 things that can be called half square triangles- the triangles and the units made from them.
Triangles
First the triangles. Half square triangles are made when you cut a square in half along the diagonal to create 2 triangles. Each triangle is half of a square or a half square triangle.
Half Square triangles can be used to make HST units, or they can be used in other blocks. We used them in these blocks from the Luminous quilt to add triangles to the sides of the flying geese units.
HST Units
Half Square Triangle units are squares made from 2 half square triangles.
Most of us call them Half Square Triangles or HSTs but really they are Half Triangle Squares. So if you see them called that, it is the same thing!
In her Letter H post, Tammy will explain about hera markers and hourglass blocks. Click here to read more!
In our next Exploring the Basics post, Tammy and I will chat about the Snowball Block!
happy quilting!
Kate
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