Make 8-at-a-Time Half Square Triangles with Cricut — Fast, Easy and Accurate

The only thing better than making 8-at-a-time half square triangles (HSTs) is doing it with your Cricut Maker! Whether you're a new quilter or just want to streamline your piecing, this method is fast, accurate, and fun.

Today, I'm going to show you how to make 3" HSTs (2.5" finished once sewn into a quilt block or other project).  Rather than marking and cutting the fabric like I used to with a rotary cutter and a washable fabric pen, now I let my Cricut do it!  While my Cricut Maker is marking and cutting my fabric, I can save time by working on another part of my project.  

Why Use Cricut for 8 at a time Half Square Triangles?

Using your Cricut Maker to make eight half-square triangles at once saves time and increases precision. Here's how:

✅ Precision

The rotary blade cuts fabric with consistent accuracy..

✅ Time-Saving

Let Cricut handle the marking and cutting while you prep your next steps.

✅ Customizable

Easily change the HST size or layout in Design Space to fit your quilt project.

✅ Consistent Results

Every piece is perfectly matched for accurate seams.

Cricut Mat, Cricut Washable Pen, Cricut Rotary Blade, and Cricut Weeding Tool

What You'll Need

• Cricut Maker

  
  

• Cricut washable fabric marking pen

  
  

• Pink Cricut Fabric Grip Mat

  
  

• Cricut rotary blade

  
  

• Cricut Design Space

  
  

• 2 squares of contrasting fabric at least 7"each (10" precut squares work great)

  
  

• Thread, sewing machine, rotary cutter or scissors, iron

  
  

Step-by-Step: Cricut Half Square Triangle Tutorial

1. Prep Your Fabric

Use two 10" fabric squares. Iron and starch both pieces for crisp cutting

2. Load Your Cricut Tools

Insert the fabric pen in the left tool slot and the rotary blade on the right.

Cricut Maker loaded with Cricut Washable Pen and Cricut Rotary Blade

3. Create the Project in Cricut Design Space

• Draw a 7" square

  
  

• Add:

  • 1 vertical line

    
    

  • 1 horizontal line

    
    

  • 2 diagonal sewing lines (¼" from center diagonals)

    
    

• Set lines to "Draw" and the square outline to "Cut"

  
  

• Add a second 7" square for the bottom fabric (cut only, no lines)

  
  

• Save your project

Pen and Cut Lines on 7" Square in Cricut Designspace software

4. Cut & Mark Your Fabric

• Open your saved project and click on "Make".

  
  

• Place the top fabric right side down on the pink Fabric Grip Mat

  
  

• Click "Continue", then select fabric type (cotton recommended)

  

  Select the Material You're Using. In this photo, it is "Cotton".

• Load the first mat and let Cricut mark & cut the first square

  
  

• Load second mat for bottom fabric (cut only, no markings)

Cricut Maker loads with tools and Pink Fabric Grip Mat Ready for Marking and Cutting

Here's a video so you can see how easy it is. For illustration purposes, only the first mat is shown in the video.

Video demonstration of the Cricut Maker marking and cutting fabric squares for 8-at-a-time half-square triangles

5. Sew & Trim

• With fabric squares right sides together, sew ¼" from both sides of each diagonal line

  
  

• Cut along vertical, horizontal, and diagonal blue lines

  
  

You’ll now have 8 half-square triangles ready to press!

8 HST's Ready to be Trimmed

6. Press & Finish

• Press to set seams

  
  

• Then press open or to the darker fabric—your choice

  
  

• Trim HSTs to 3"

  
  

8 Gray Half Square Triangles Ready for A Project

Final Thoughts

Using Cricut to make 8-at-a-time HSTs is a game-changer—especially when making lots of them for a quilt. Once you set it up, it’s easy to repeat the process with different sizes.

Want More Ideas?

Check out:

• How to Make 8-at-a-Time HSTs Without a Cricut

  
  

• Patches of Friendship Quilt Pattern

  
  

• SVG Files for Quilters