Scrappy Half Square Triangle Baby or Lap Quilt Pattern

|

Use fabric scraps to sew a beautiful quilt with my free half-square triangle quilt pattern that’s perfect for a lap quilt or baby quilt! This easy quilt pattern is perfect for a beginner or anyone who wants a fun weekend quilting project.

I’m including rotary cutting instructions PLUS optional AccuQuilt cutting instructions for the fastest, most accurate cutting and piecing ever.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Scrappy HST Quilt Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

I have added this pattern to my list of 10+ Scrappy Half Square Triangle Quilt Patterns. Check it out!

This Scrappy HST Quilt Pattern ticks off all the boxes for the perfect scrappy quilt project:

  • It’s fast and easy to sew.
  • It is designed for using up small fabric scraps
  • It’s Accuquilt friendly if you own an Accuquilt fabric cutting machine and the value die that comes with it.
  • The 34 1/2” x 46” baby quilt or lap quilt size can easily be quilted on a regular sewing machine.
  • You can sew more blocks to make it bigger if you want to use up more scraps and make a larger size.

What is a HST?

The acronym HST stands for half square triangle, a building block for many classic quilt patterns. For this scrappy half-square triangle quilt pattern, I used the fabric scraps left over from my Easy Signature Cross Quilt Pattern.

In this pattern, I’ll share two methods for sewing half-square triangles. The first is a shortcut method that instructs you to cut squares that will be sewn together and cut apart to make HST units two at a time. I’ll show this method first because I don’t want to assume everyone has an Accuquilt.

The second method uses the Value Die that comes with the AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter Starter Set. You can also use any other die that cuts 2” finished half-square triangle pieces

It doesn’t matter which method you use to sew your half-square triangles – you will love this fast and easy quilt!

How many fabric scraps will you need?

I cut all of the print pieces for this scrappy quilt while cutting out my Easy Signature Cross Quilt that I linked above. That’s why all my prints are from the same Florida Collection by Ruby Star Society.

If you want to cut up fabric pieces from your scrap bin, you’ll need enough to cut 72 squares 3” x 3”. You can use up to 72 fabrics or just a few different fabrics. To make the quilt top, you’ll also need 1 3/4 yards of background fabric (I used Kona Snow).

This is an AccuQuilt Value Die.

Another way to make the half-square triangles for this quilt would be to use the AccuQuilt Value Die or another die that cuts 2” finished half-square triangles. There are a few different dies for cutting 2” finished HSTs. I picked the value die because it comes with the popular starter kit. It also cuts 2 1/2” squares and 4 1/2” squares.

If you are using an AccuQuilt, use the value die (or a similar die) to cut 144 pieces that will make 2” finished HSTs (you’ll also need 144 pieces from your background fabric – see the cutting instructions below).

What is this Quilt Block?

Let’s break it down! This simple pinwheel block is a 4-patch design. Each block has 8 half square triangle units and 4 plain rectangles. You’ll put two matching half-square triangle units adjacent to each other to make an elongated pinwheel blade.

After you make 18 pinwheel blocks, we’ll sew them together on point together with setting triangles and finish the quilt.

So let’s get started!

How to Sew a Scrappy Half-Square Triangle Quilt

The finished quilt dimensions are approximately 34 1/2’’ x 46’’. Finished block size: 8” x 8”.

For this Quilt Pattern, You will need:

  • a bunch of scrap fabrics
  • 1 3/4 yards background fabric
  • 1/2 yard binding fabric
  • 1 1/2 yards of backing fabric
  • a 39” x 50” piece of quilt batting
  • a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and mat
  • a fabric marking pen
  • sewing machine
  • thread (I suggest thread matching the background fabric)

Cutting Instructions:

From your scrap fabrics, cut:

  • 72 squares 3” x 3”

From the background fabric, cut:

  • 72 squares 3” x 3”
  • 72 rectangles 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”
  • 4 squares 12 1/2” x 12 1/2” (for the side setting triangles)
  • 2 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” (for the corner setting triangles)
Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:
  • Instead of cutting 3” squares, cut 144 scrap fabric 2” finished HST triangles with the value die or die 55712 (in the 8” Qube set). You’ll need sets of 2 triangles out of the same fabric. Also cut 144 background fabric 2” finished HST triangles with the same die.
  • The 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangles may be cut with die 55715 (in the 8” Qube set).

How to Sew the Pinwheel Blocks

2 at a time HST Instructions for Rotary Cut Fabrics

Use a 1/4” seam allowance and medium stitch length such as 2 or 2.2.

1. Use the fabric marking tool to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of all of the 3” background fabric squares. You can draw these lines all at once or just a few at a time as you work. This is a cutting line.

2. Place a 3” scrap fabric square and a 3” background fabric square right sides together. Sew 1/4” away from the drawn line on both sides of the line.

3. Cut the piece in half diagonally along the drawn line. Press the pieces open. Trim each piece to 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” square.

4. Repeat to make 144 HST units using all of the 3” squares (scrap fabric and background fabric squares). Keep matching HST units together.

HST Instructions for Using Pieces cut with AccuQuilt Dies

Use a 1/4” seam allowance and medium stitch length such as 2 or 2.2.

1. HST pieces cut with AccuQuilt dies already have the corners trimmed. Sew 2 matching scrap fabric triangles right sides together with background fabric triangles. Press the HST units open.

2. Make at least two matching HST units from each scrap fabric. You’ll need 72 sets of matching HSTs (144 HSTs total).

Assemble the Pinwheel Blocks

1. Sew two matching HST units together as shown. Press. Make 72.

2. Sew a 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangle to the bottom of each piece as shown. Press.

Make 72 pieces.

3. Sew 4 different pieces together, rotating the pieces as shown. Press. Trim and square up to 8 1/2”, if desired.

Make 18 blocks.

Assemble the Quilt Top

1. Cut the four 12 1/2” x 12 1/2” squares in half diagonally twice to make 12 quarter square triangle pieces for the side setting triangles. You will use 10 of these triangles and save 2 for another project.

2. Cut the two 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” squares in half diagonally twice to make 4 half square triangles for the corner setting triangles.

3. Lay your quilt blocks and setting triangles out on a quilt design wall, a bed, or the floor.

2. Sew the blocks into diagonal rows. Then sew the rows together. Press.

Finishing your Scrappy HST Quilt

1. Cut a 39” x 50” piece of backing fabric and make a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting, and top.

2. Baste together with fusible batting, pins or basting spray.

3. Quilt as desired. Straight line quilting or cross hatch quilting with your walking foot would be fast and easy.

4. Cut 5 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

There are lots of scrappy and AccuQuilt friendly quilt designs out there, so if you make quilt using my free Scrappy HST Baby or Lap Quilt Pattern I would love to see! Post a picture on Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe so I can take a look.

Sew through your fabric stash with all my free quilt patterns.

xoxo,

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. 🙂