30 Free Quilt Patterns Using Half Square Triangles (HST)
Don’t pass up a quilt pattern just because you see cutting instructions for HSTs. Half square triangles (HSTs) really give you the freedom to make a quilt stunning. Make shapes like stars, pinwheels, snowflakes, and more. Use these free quilt patterns to make your own stunning quilts, and practice the art of using HSTs.
My friend Nikki is a new quilter (quilting retreats are a gateway to the obsession). She loves the different ways you can spin those triangles to add interest and even stability to all the different quilt blocks.
Half Square Triangle Tips
Here is a helpful post for HST tips and tricks if you want to get started with some information.
Pro Tip: If you are looking for a shortcut option, the Accuquilt fabric cutter is a game changer! HST pieces that have been cut using an Accuquilt sew together faster and more accurately than anything else. No rulers or rotary cutter needed!
Most of the quilts below are Accuquilt friendly, which means I wrote the patterns to consider how to cut your fabric. They all include other shortcut methods for sewing half square triangles as well. See all my Accuquilt friendly quilts.
These free quilt patterns (all free, with step-by-step photo tutorials) are a great way to use up scraps, coordinating fabric bundles, or fabric yardage.
Mosaic Tiles Quilt
Here’s a 3 yard quilt. The Mosaic Tiles Quilt pattern uses the Mosaic Tiles Number 2 Quilt Block. This pattern is great for beginners; you’ll have enough fabric to finish the quilt top (not the backing) including 20 blocks, one border, and double fold binding.
Summer Snowflake
The Summer Snowflake Quilt Pattern combines a pinwheel block and a star block to make a quilt that sparkles and shines! I made a special printable mat (and a short video) to help you layout your quilt blocks perfectly every time.
Big Star HST
How big can a star quilt get? It’s up to you with my free Big Star Quilt Pattern. I used huge 8” half square triangle blocks so the quilt above finished at 64” x 64”. However, this pattern is easy to adjust and make other sizes too. The diagonal lines in this quilt add exciting movement and give you lots of fun shapes to quilt.
Scrappy HSTs
My darling Scrappy HST Baby or Lap Quilt is the perfect use for coordinating scraps that you have left over from a fat quarter project. That’s exactly why I made it!
The finished 34 1/2” x 46” size can easily be quilted on a regular sewing machine, and this design is easy to adjust larger if you want to make it for your bed or sofa; just keep adding blocks.
Giant Star Picnic Quilt
The blocks on the Giant Star quilt, by Laura, are so big that it comes together super fast! Pinwheel in the middle and star points on the outside are a recipe for a perfect picnic quilt.
Five Patch Star
Make a traditional quilt block design look modern with the exciting 5 Patch Star Quilt Pattern. I sewed scrappy half square triangles cut from blue yardage throughout my stash. The Five Patch Star is my favorite picnic quilt!
Bonus: Even though I used my Accuquilt to cut the pieces right sides together (a great time saver), this tutorial shows the 2-at-a-time HST method with a line drawn on half the squares.
Criss Cross by: Nadra Ridgeway
Here’s my Criss Cross mini quilt. I absolutely love it! Nadra’s instructions are excellent so whether you choose soft colors (like she did) or bright ones like mine – I know you’ll love yours too. Finished size is 12½” x 12½”
Spools and Stars
Don’t you love the fabric I used on the Spools and Stars quilt? What colors will you use?
You only have to sew one block to make both the spools and the sawtooth stars which I consider a bonus. I love to play with different blocks to see what other shapes emerge. It finishes at 47” x 57”.
Friendship Star
The Friendship Star Block is a beloved favorite the world over! Sew a throw sized Friendship Star Quilt using this popular layout. The original design uses only 4 different fabrics, but you can use scrappy triangles to make it even more fun.
Mini HST Heart
Show love any time of the year with a darling HST Heart Quilt wall hanging. This pattern is also so easy to customize and make larger or smaller depending on the size of half square triangles that you sew. I love scrappy quilts like this! Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe to show me what you did with your scrappy heart!
Child’s Play Baby Quilt
Play with half square triangles in a fin way as you sew up the Child’s Play Baby Quilt Pattern. Everything you need to know to make this 42” square baby quilt is included in the blog post.
Star Baby
Star quilts are addictive! To save you from doing quilt math, I made a baby version of the Big Star Quilt (earlier in this post). The Star Baby Quilt Pattern is fast and easy and super impressive to give at a baby shower. It’s also Accuquilt and fat quarter friendly.
Pro Tip: For a different look, use a contrasting print for the background fabric.
Hugs and Kisses
You can sew a beautiful hugs and kisses quilt pattern with just 3 yards of fabric! The free XOXO 3 yard quilt pattern would make a darling baby quilt, Valentine’s wall hanging, or a snuggly throw quilt
Fat Quarter Fancy Star Quilt
My Fat Quarter Fancy Star Quilt Pattern is perfect for a fat quarter bundle or a pile of scraps! It is made up of simple 4-patch blocks with squares and half square triangles. Plus I’ll show you 3 amazingly different ways to arrange your blocks – all with stars!
Adalee’s Garden
Adalee’s Garden uses small panels and Shoofly Blocks in a precious design. Half Square Triangles add the colorful elements in an interesting way. I hope you enjoy sewing this beautiful quilt.
Ninja Stars Quilt
Here’s the bold HST quilt pattern you’ve been looking for! It’s perfect for the hard-to-sew-for person on your list. This free pattern is for two sizes; a huge Full or Twin XL size (do you have a kid heading to college?), and a fun throw size that’s perfect for watching TV at night.
Charm Square Spools
What do you get when you combine black and white HSTs with a charm square bundle? The Charm Square Spool Quilt! This amazing quilt will turn out scrappy looking whether you use a charm square bundle or simply cut a bunch of 5” squares from your scrap bin.
Bonus: No square ruler required for this quilt. (But I love having them in lots of sizes anyway.)
Tumbling Pineapples
Have you ever seen a scrappy pineapple? My Pineapple Fruit Quilt has pink, turquoise, yellow, and orange pineapples. I love how this turned out, and so do my friends! The colors work well in so many ways, and you can use what ever colors of scraps you like. Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe to show me how you made your pineapples.
Little Trees
Scrappy HSTs turn into a forest of trees in my Little Trees Quilt. It’s a great beginner quilt, and you can gift or display it for any occasion depending on the colors you use!
This quilt pattern uses big blocks for fast piecing; I love a good shortcut and sometimes you just need to get it finished.
Fussy Cut Stars
Fussy Cut Stars quilt is a sweet design; I would sew it into a darling baby shower gift. Friendship Stars frame out small print elements and make for a fun and exciting project by Riley Blake Designs.
Sawtooth Star Quilt
Use your choice of fabric to make a patriotic, fall, or even Christmas quilt with this Sawtooth Star Quilt Pattern. You will only need 3 yards for the top, and it finishes at a perfect size for you to be able to quilt it on your own machine! Enjoy the process and tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe if you want me to see how you made your quilt.
Four Modern HST Quilt Designs
This design is a Four-in-One; it’s like a BoGo but better.
You’ll love how quickly you finish making these Modern HST Quilts. The diagonal seams will be easy when you sew the hst units two at a time. You can easily adapt this pattern to make quilts in different sizes too.
Sailing Away
My oldest son loves sailboats, and I had so much fun with the ocean part of this quilt. I’m excited to share it with you!
Sew an adorable modern baby quilt with sailboat blocks and a gorgeous ocean pieced with quarter square triangles! This easy baby quilt pattern includes tips for sewing fast and easy HSTs and quarter square triangles.
Star Panels
Do you have some square fabric panels that you love but you don’t know what to make with them? I have that problem (what a blessing to call it a problem, right?). Here’s the perfect quilt pattern for that! This simple design will highlight your panels and make them look beautiful.
Chunky Star Quilt
I really love the look of bright floral with black and contrasting white on this Chunky Star quilt that I made. The stars make me think of origami as if the corners are folded in showing the back of the paper.
Grab your favorite fabric and coordinates and sew one for your home!
Golden Pineapple Quilt
This is a design that I love where I use the Pineapple Block with a twist! Check out the free sewing pattern on my website, and enjoy piecing this fabulous quilt! It finishes at 71″ square.
Friendship Star Mini Quilt
I designed this mini to be the first one in my Monthly Mini Quilts series, and I’m calling it the ‘Friendship Mini’ because there’s a classic mini Friendship Star in the middle.
If you’ve never made a quilt before, this is a great one to start with. All you will need is 16 HSTs and 9 squares.
Bear Paw Quilt Pattern
This free quilt pattern with half-square triangles and squares on point is perfect for the fall and winter seasons. The Bear’s Paw quilt mainly uses the Art Square block and HSTs. Sew a few for your next log cabin vacation!
Kitchen Sink Quilt Pattern
The Kitchen Sink Quilt Pattern was a block-of-the-month quilt, and now all of the blocks are available! Get the first part of the Kitchen Sink Quilt Pattern.
Le Buddies!
When I took Nikki to her first quilt retreat, I tossed this to her and cheerfully declared, “Le Buddies! It’s my new car quilt.” It really is a perfect size for a car-ride lap quilt.
Here is the free pattern to add a border and stars to any panel to make it into a usable (and fun) quilt.
You’ll also love:
- How to print foundation paper for perfectly accurate HST’s (free printable)
- How to sew half square triangles two at a time using the drawn line shortcut method
- How to make Flying Geese (another shortcut method)
More from SewCanShe:
60 Delicious Table Runner Patterns to Help You For the Holidays!
Sell Out at the Craft Fair
32 Free Fat Quarter Quilt Patterns You Will Love!
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂