Half-square triangles are the foundation for many quilt designs. Today, I’ll show you how to make super-easy 1/2-square triangle blocks the no-hassle way in my newest Sewing With Nancy series, No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks.
During the first episode on Sewing With Nancy, learn to create six different blocks, all made with 1/2-square triangles. During the second episode—next week’s feature—learn about 1/4-square triangles. Here’s a sneak peek into this week’s Sewing With Nancy episode!
The Box Quilt (1898)
One of the more streamline quilt blocks to create from 1/2-square triangles is the Box Quilt. First illustrated in print in 1898, it’s created with eight 1/2-square triangle blocks and a square. The design has great movement, reminding me of a pinwheel.
Shadow Play
Instead of making all the 1/2-square triangles from the same fabrics, stitch together three different color combos. I call this block, Shadow Play, where the fabric choices create the impact.
Godey Design
Godey’s Lady’s Book was a monthly magazine published in Philadelphia between 1830 and 1876. Before the Civil War, it was the most widely circulated magazine in the United States. Sarah Josepha Hall was the editor of the magazine from 1837 to 1877; she also wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” One of the designs featured in the magazine in 1858 was simply called, Godey Design.
Square in a Square
When researching quilt block names, I found literally dozens of quilt blocks named a Square in a Square. With seemingly limitless geometric options with squares, no wonder it’s a common name. Regardless, it’s an attractive block all designed with 1/2-square triangles.
May Basket
May Basket is another frequently used name for a quilt block. I also found this block named, Cactus Flower. Your fabric choice will dictate the name. This version combines two sizes of finished triangles: 3-1/2″ and 6-1/2″, giving the block a center focal point.
Nancy’s Spool
This block may or may not be an original arrangement of 1/2-square triangles. My guess is that it has been created before, but since I couldn’t find it in print, I boldly named it Nancy’s Spool.
How to Make 1/2-Square Triangles
During the TV episode, I share how to easily make the above blocks as well as basic 2-1/2″, 3-1/2″, 4-1/2″, 5-1/2″ and 6-1/2″ half-square triangles. (Next week, learn 1/4-square triangle tips!) There’s no hassle and no need to cut a single triangle! The measurements are printed on the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge that I designed for Clover.
- Reference the left side of the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge to select a half-square block size.
- Cut crosswise strips of two fabrics—the size is printed on the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge. Cut strips into squares.
- Lay the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge onto squares to double-check the block size. If the block set is larger or smaller than the confines of the gauge, re-cut the blocks.
- Mark a center diagonal line through No-Hassle Triangles Gauge die cut openings.
- Stitch a scant 1/4″ from each side of the center marking.
- Cut along the center diagonal line.
- Presto, there are now two accurate 1/2-square triangles!
Watch No-Hassle Triangles (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.
Make This Sampler Quilt at Home
The No-Hassle Triangles Quilt book shows exactly how to make the 12-block sampler quilt. Hint: the remaining six blocks will be featured next week. For best results, use the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge.
Bye for now,
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I love all the blocks, but I think the Godey Block is the best. I feel more creative with it and love how it looks. It make a beautiful table runner for fall. May make on for Christmas also.
I like the godey one really well. I like Sewing with Nancy so much.
The square n a square is my favorite.I received a sale catalog from nancys notions n September with santa signing a label on the back of a quilt made with this pattern so I purchased ur ruler and patern book to make this quilt.I*m in the process of making this square n a square quilt in the same colors I though it would be a lovely quilt for the season. Thanks Connie Hopper
Nancy,
My favorite is the square on square. Will have to try this new tool.
Thanks for a chance to win.
My favorite is Nancy’s Spool. Looks like it would make an awesome sewing room addition.
I like the Godey the best! I am going to make this quilt for a Christmas present for my daughter. I already have the fabric and I will start the first six blocks this week! I am going to make sure to watch next week for the other six blocks….
I like the Box Quilt. Thanks!
The Godey design is my favorite. I like to arrange HSTs until the design is just right!
Hmmm . . . Shadow Play & Nancy’s Spool & Godey’s Design are in a 3-way tie!
The Box Quilt is my favorite. I like the twirly look.
I like The Box quilt. It reminds me of my mom. She made so many nine patch quilts. Thank you for always sharing your talents with us.
Hi Nancy, My favorite is – and always has been – Shadow Play. It reminds me of the Amish quilts I saw and loved a a very little girl. I have made this block many times in many, many different fabrics and never tire of it.
I like Godey Block because it has a clean bold feel that is not too fussy and cluttered looking. The design works well with the fabrics you have selected.
I use the Ohio Star most of the time, now I will start using the Godey design now that it is so easy to do. Thanks again
I like all the blocks, but the May Basket is my favorite.
My favorite is the Godey Block. It’s interesting and gives a large pin wheel look.
love your show and books. I like star quilts.
I like the Square in a Square. I like the way the fabrics play with each other.
I really like the May Basket block. I can envision it made with a spring flower fabric as well as a poinsettia fabric for the holiday season. Very versatile. Great job on the new gadget as well Nancy. Thank you for all you do for the sewing and quilting world. Love you.
I love the square in a square.. It is so versatile using different fabrics. Thanks for all your tips and education, Nancy.
My favorite this week is the shadow block but there is one in the whole quilt at the top (third down on the right) that I love.
My favorite is the May Basket, but I would love to make a sampler quilt with all of them!
I really love the Godey Design, I am a fan of star blocks and this one is new to me.
Dear Nancy, My favorite is Godey Design. I love your contest. The projects you bring forth are always neat! I have been enjoying your web site so much since I was able to get signed in. I have watched and taped so many of your shows and even recieved a book from one of your ” Nancy’s Cornner” guest. My best to you and all the crew. Jennifer Happy sewing.
Godey Design and Nancy’s Spool. Look’s like this may go very easily with your “No-Hassle Triangle Gage”. I can hardly wait to try. I love a “Sampler Quilt” and it looks like you are making it so easy.
A tie: The Godie Design and the Shadow Square.
I like the Godey Design. I’ve made a lot of quilts, but never a star design, to many small pieces. With the 1/2-square triangles I will definitely give it a try.
Square in a square… but they are all pretty cool!
I like Nancy’s spool. The two small triangles are in interesting twist.
Nancy spool is my favorite. But all of them in a quilt is beautiful.
l really like the Godey Block. I am a beginner and can’t wait to try this. Thank you so much. Enjoy your show and have learned so much from you.
The GODEY DESIGN is the most interesting design for me.
My favorite block is the Godey Block. I am a new quilter and have learned the hard way the importance of accurate cutting and sewing. Anything that makes this accuracy easier is welcome. The No Hassle Triangle Gauge looks like a valuable tool to help me.
I like the Godeys block quite a bit as well as the May Basket. All the blocks are wonderful and I’d like to make a smaller version of the quilt displayed and think the gauge and the pressing tips demonstrated will help get the best results. Thanks for putting this show together as an inspiration for me to use a group of fabrics I have on hand!
My favorite block is May Basket
Stars are my favorite so I like the Godey block.
Godey. I have not heard of it before and delighted to find a new star pattern which has so many possibilities.
I have always liked stars, so the Godey design would be my favorite!
I just finished a Quilt for my granddaughter, Taylor, and it is the Godey star. She is the star of my life and an angel from heaven!!!
I like the Box Quilt. It reminds me of a pinwheel or even a wagon wheel. I would like to make the Sampler Quilt. Its a great idea to practice ALL of the half-square triangle blocks! I might even come up with some different designs.
The Godey Block is my favorite! I can’t wait to try this ruler out the accuracy fascinates me!!
Just like many others have responded – it is difficult to choose!!
But because Nancy’s Spool is one that’s “new”, guess that’ll be
my choice this time around.
The Godey Design block is my favorite, although every one is lovely. Love the colors you chose.
I love pinwheel blocks so naturally The Box Quilt block is my favorite.
My favorite is the box quilt — I love that pinwheel! What about making a quilt of box quilt squares, each with a different “busy” fabric for its center/
love Godey block
I love the May Basket block, because I love any block that has baskets in it. I have two kits using baskets for all the blocks, they are waiting for me to get started on them. Using your new tool would make my job a lot easier. I like your color combination for your sampler.
Do you have tips to quickly make half-squares much larger than the 7″ capacity of your Clover tool? Thanks!
My son loves to star-gaze, so Godey Block will make a great quilt for him!
The Godey Design is my favorite block, although I like them all. Love the colors and print of the fabrics used in your gorgeous sampler quilt!
I love Nancy’s spool. Something to make soon!
Nancy, your sewing and quilting shows have been a special gift once I moved to WV hills in 1992. You inspired me to begin sewing & quilting again. Your shows can get the younger generation into enjoying fabric creations. I like the Godey and the square in a square. Thank You. JR
I love the Godey design, for the historical implications, as well as for its beauty. The tidbit on the Hall being the author of Mary Had A Little Lamb was just a great bonus!
I really love the fabrics you use in this quilt. The colors are wonderful! I always gravitate to star blocks so my favorite of these is the Godey Design. I’m looking forward to this series, I’m a very,very beginner quilter despite sewing for the last 45 years. This is going to be fun!
I’m torn between “The Box Quilt” and “Godey Design”. Do I really have to choose? I think I will have to order this book so I can make both!
Hi Nancy and team,
You had me at SPOOLS and then it was a NEW and IMPROVED version that I liked the best! Half squares of any size are difficult to piece…thank you for again, designing a better way!
i love all the blocks,the godey is my favorite,would love to make it.I love all your books and designs.try to watch a lot of the programs.thanks vonda
My favorite would be the Godey Design.
Stars are my favorite. I choose the Godey design. I love the tools you create, Nancy!!
My favorite is the Godey Block. I love anything with stars. Your new tool looks great. Would love to have it.
My favorite is Nancy’s Spool. I just think it is the perfect square for sewing enthusiasts. I want to make a whole quilt out of this block.
I have been following your programs and information since the middle 90′s. I am still using some of your patterns, so I would really get to learn more about making half block patterns if I were a winner.
The very versatile Square in a Square is my favorite and I like the one picture with a variety of fabrics in the triangles. I’ll have to try the gauge. Thanks, Nancy.
I like the Godey Block for the possible pattern changes.
Hi Nancy,
I love all of them! Since I have to make a choice I would have to pick the Godey design.
My favorite is the Box Quilt block. The simple, graphic nature of this block gives it an uncomplicated boldness that I like.
It is difficult to pick a favorite, but I’ll say The Box Quilt. That tool really looks as though it would come in handy in my quilting.
I like Nancy’s Spool. There are several others I like too, but thought the spool layout was very interesting. Something different.
I have two favorite blocks … the Box Quilt and the Square in a Square. It’s amazing how many different designs can be created with half-square triangles.
My favorite is Nancy’s Spool
What a great shortcut to make something “simple” that looks complicated. I can’t wait to try the square within a square. Thanks Nancy
My favorite is the May basket, but I’d love to make the Nancy’s Spool quilt, too.
The Godey is my favorite. As a beginner quilter, this block would make me look like I was experienced. All the blocks look great, can’t wait to try them all.
I think I like Shadow Play the best. I haven’t learned to do triangles yet. I’m concerned about stretching the bias edge.
Choosing one block was tough because I like three if them the same, so I think I’ll pick the Godey Design block as my favorite.
I would love to make the Godey Design. The fabric choices are awesome.
I like the Godey Design best – star blocks are always one of my favorites!
I love Nancy’s Spool as it reminds me of my dear mother who was an avid seamstress. It made me smile…good memories. Thanks!
hello out of all your blocks i enjoy the basket block.If fact it is the block of the day on another site and I had just printed it.Looks like an easy block and to me looks more like a finish pc? your ruler looks cute just another reason to go back into you nancy notion book and order it along with all the others I have already circle.lol Thanks nancy love catching you on my fx channel once in awhile! thanks for teaching,keep up the good work! luv ya kiddo!
Hard to decide on a favorite but if I have too (LOL) it would be the square in a square.
I like Nancy’s Spool the best because I love the spool motif.
I’ve always loved the square in a square design! Can’t wait for the PBS app to be available for Androids; then I can take Nancy with me everywhere!
I love Nancy’s Spool. All are lovely, and I will try all of them. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Really like what this tool does. Would love to have the tool.
It is hard to decide! I have not tackled a project like these but am inspired to go for it!
I like all six but if I had to choose a favorite I would pick the Box Quilt, thank you Nancy
Nancy’s Spool, is going to be a versatile block to rotate in the layout. It will give lots of quilting area to play with! Half square gauge looks great. Love the interesting history of Godey’s publication.
I love them all but if I has to choose just one I would pick the square in a square.
I love the Godey block. I’m a huge fan of the old fashioned patchwork blocks.
My favorite if Godey Block because I find myself always looking for Star Blocks and I love this history behind this block. Thanks for sharing !
The square within a square is my favorite. I haven’t made my first quilt and I enjoy learning all I can from these emails
I love the basket block. It makes me think of SPRING!
Since I’ve been wanting to make a spool quilt, I am charmed by Nancy’s Spool. Thank you for the opportunity..
I love the effect a half square triangle makes in a quilt, but mine don’t always turn out right. This looks like a much better way to accomplish half square blocks. I really want to give this a try!!!!!
My favorite is the Godey Star because it reminds me of my Grandmother who had several Godey’s Lady’s Books at her house. As a child, I used to love reading them and admiring all the fancy designs and clothing illustrations.
I have a block exchange coming up, and I’m thinking Shadow Play is going to be my option!
I favorite is the Godey Design. I like to make stars and my favorite quilt blocks are star blocks.
My favorite block is the Godey Design. I love quilts made with star blocks.
Really like the May Basket! The no hassle triangles gauge looks great!
I like the square in a square. I think I really need this tool to make sure my blocks are all the same.
I love the square in square.. your technique makes it look so easy.
I love them all, but I especially like the movement that can be produced with the Box Quilt block.
Love the Godey design; so much life and movement. The ruler is ingenious. Wow!
I think the shadow play block is my favorite. I would love to try using your new tool to make the blocks in two shades of blue. I imagine that you would get interesting secondary patterns depending on your arrangement of the darks and lights.
There are two that caught my eye. Godey Design and Square in a Square. Thank you for sharing.
Nancy’s spool! It will be the pattern for my sewing room quilt. I’ve been looking for the perfect block. It will be my first quilt and oct. 23 is my birthday!!
What an ingenious tool~ that is something that I would certainly use a lot! Love your sewing talents!! Thanks for the opportunity to win this tool.
I think Square in a Square is my favorite, followed closely by the Box Quilt, and the Godey Block. The triangle gauge may be just the tool I need to succeed with 1/2 square triangles. Thanks for the chance to win.
I like your way of making the square in a square block.
My favorite is the Godey Design. It is neat and clean and not too “Wild” for my taste.
My favorite is square in a square. Always loved these kind of blocks.
My favorite square is Godey Design
It is very hard to decide, but I think I like Nancy’s Spool the best.
My favorite square is Godey Design. I just love the way it looks. The others are very nice too.
I love the shadow play…such great possibilities!
Love them all. Looking forward to trying the new tool!
Oh my gosh! I love all of the blocks but my faovorite is the May Basket. I have always struggled with making 1/2 squared triangles and Am anxious to try this new tool!!!
I like the shadow box
I can’t wait to try this tool. I have a friend who makes a quilt top every one to two weeks for her church. This would be a great help to her, also.
I like the Godey design.It is an easy way to make stars for any season. I am looking forward to making one with Crhistmas fabric for the up coming season
I like them all!
I love the square in a square.
I really like the May Basket & the Godey Star. Nancy’s spool would be a great small quilt to decorate a sewing room or machine cover.
I love the Godey block. I will be using that in a quilt for my niece. She is all about purple, so that is what color it will be.
I love Nancy’s Spool! What an intriguing tool – thanks for the chance to win one!
The Godey design is my favorite, but love the way you can make so many designs just by shuffling the fabric patterns.
What an easy way to mark the cutting and sewing lines for half-square triangles–the usual methods just don’t seem to work well for me.
I love using half square triangles and would love to use the new Clover tool to make them even easier. My favorite block is Square with in a Square because it has the effect of drawing you to the center and back out again as if the squares were increasing or decreasing in size. Life is good when quilting!
I like the Godey Design.
Hi Nancy. I like the Godey design and the box quilt. It is hard to choose between the two. I guess it would depend on who one was giving the quilt to. Thanks for all you do.
It’s a tie between Godey’s Design and Nancy’s Spool.
I really like Shadow Play the best.
The Nancy’s Spool block will be great for a large center block for a quilt for the bed in my sewing room. My granddaughters sleep in the room when they come to visit. The block looks like a spool with two butterflies in the block.
The Godey block is my favorite! I am currently making a Christmas quilt with this block and your No Hassles triangle tool would be a big help!!
My favorite is shadow play.
The Godey Design, I love the block overall.
I would love to try the May Basket. You make it look so easy. Now maybe I won’t be afraid to try it. Thanks
It really is hard to choose. The shadow play or the May basket. I like the whole quilt. Now that I see how to do it. It is a breeze. I am new to doing quilts, so this is great.
Nancy’s Spools is my favorite block. And the No Hassle Triangles Gauge looks like it would make sewing half square triangles so much easier!!
Thank you Nancy for this great opportunity. I love the “square. In a square” block. I love the play of color and pattern within the block. Please help my Bucket List Fullfillment Program by awarding me this great gift. I have always wanted to make a quilt.
I love all the techniques, as well as the blocks! Th color choices are amazing! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Nancy’s Spool, of course! thanks for the chance to win.
Square in a Square
I have always loved the the blocks that portray stars.
So in this case it is the Godey Design. It reminds me of the Hunters Star which I also love.
The Box Quilt design brings back wonderful childhood memories of summertime and pinwheels.
The godey block is my favorite. I hope to win so I can try making it.
Stars and more stars are found in my quilts. So the Godey design is my favorite.
I like the idea if combining the blocks in a project, but I think my favorite is the basket.
Nancy, you always make things easier. Thanks for the help on half-square triangles. My favorite is the Box Quilt.
My favorite square is the box quilt square, followed closely by Godey Design. I must be an old soul because I love all the old traditional blocks, but I do love them all!
Time for my first granddaughter’s senior year quilt. We think alike, we both love the Godey block. Now to agree on colors!
love the May basket. Perfect for a spring themed block exchange.
I love the Nancy’s Spool Block. Since I love all things sewing, I would love to make a wall hanging using this pattern for my sewing room! Thanks Nancy, for developing this block!!
I love the Godey design. Stars are my favorite and what a simple way to create them!!!
Hi Nancy
i love all the blocks but my favorite is the box quilt. Can’t wait to try it.
Pretty blocks–my favorite is the square in a square–love all of the color play and design going on. Nice tool with all of the reference info right on it!
Hi Nancy,
I love all the blocks, but my favorite is the Godey Block. I love stars, never had done one, you make it so easy to do. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for giving me a chance to win,