The disclosure is directed to methods for forming a set of fins from a substrate. One embodiment of the disclosure includes: providing a stack over the substrate, the stack including a first oxide over the substrate, a first nitride over the pad oxide, a second oxide over the first nitride, and a first hardmask over the second oxide; patterning the first hard mask to form a first set of hardmask fins over the second oxide; oxidizing the first set of hardmask fins to convert the first set of hardmask fins into a set of oxide fins; using the set of oxide fins as a mask, etching the second oxide and the first nitride to expose portions of the first oxide thereunder such that remaining portions of the second oxide and the first nitride remain disposed beneath the set of oxide fins thereby defining a set of mask stacks; and using the set of mask stacks as a mask, etching the exposed portions of the first oxide and the substrate thereby forming the set of fins from the substrate.