As part of the New Bloggers Bloghop that I have been participating in this summer, we are each to design a quilt block using selected fabrics given to us by Fabri-Quilt. We each received fat-eighths of these luscious pieces.
Our task was to come up with a fun block that finished out at 12 & 1/2″. We were also to develop a tutorial in case anyone would like to make the block. Today is the first day of the hop and there is a great list of quilters that will blog about their block today. The hop continues for another three days (through Thursday) which means loads of block ideas. This week is a huge opportunity to pin upwards of 60 tutorials for fresh, new quilt blocks. Think of the sampler that could be made from this hop! I am so looking forward to seeing what my hive mates came up with. After making our blocks, we sent them to Stephanie at LateNightQuilter. One of the leaders of the New Blogger Bloghop, Stephanie is organizing the construction of several charity quilts from our blocks. These quilts will be gorgeous and will go to a few lucky recipients.
On to my block! I posted earlier that I had been playing with several ideas for a block. I made a modified plus block but didn’t like it in the 12 1/2″ size. It was too “chunky” looking to me. Then I played with a herringbone block. It was ok but not great. Finally, when I was working on my blocks for my row quilt, I took a stack of HST’s and kept laying them out in different patterns. This is the one I liked most. There are unlimited ways that HST’s can be assembled which is what makes them so much fun to work with.
Creating this block is so simple. Here you go!
Cutting List:
- (4) 3 & 1/2″ squares of background fabric
- (4) 4 & 3/8″ squares of background fabric
- (6) 4 & 3/8″ squares of middle fabric
- (2) 4 & 3/8″ squares of the center fabric
Process:
Start by creating the HST’s. Just in case you are new to quilting, HST is the acronym for a half-square triangle. There are many ways to create a half-square triangle. My favorite way is this:
Place one piece each of the background fabric and the feature fabric right sides together. Place your 1/4″ seam marker, on the diagonal, corner to corner, and trace a line along each edge.
This quarter inch seam marker is 1/2″ wide and give you two lines to trace, which you will then use to stitch a seam. (If you don’t have one of these handy little tools, they are very inexpensive. Here is a link.)
Once you have both seams stitched, slice it in half, right down the center of those seams.
This gives you two HST’s. Press them open. (Pressing open or to the side is a matter of personal preference. I usually press open.)
The block will need to be squared up (trimmed to size). Using a square ruler, trim the block to a finish of 3 & 1/2″.
Repeat this process with each of the half square triangles, giving you 12 HST’s that measure 3 & 1/2″ each. Look at the colors in that stack of trimmings, so pretty!
At this point you can lay your squares out in rows of four.
Assemble the rows and stitch each of the squares together.
Then stitch the rows together.
Ta Da!! Isn’t this the cutest? Double Diamonds!
Think of all of the inspiration to be had with all of these new ideas over the next few days. Be sure to pop in and take a peek. Pin as many as you like for future reference. I plan to! I have a board on Pinterest for quilt block inspiration. Feel free to follow it if you like. Today my blog hop partners are the following:
Host – Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Kelly @Quilting it Out
Martha @Once a Wingnut
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Andrea @The Sewing Fools
Silvia @A Stranger View
Wanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler
Sandra @Musings of a Menopausal Melon
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Jess @Quilty Habit
Diana @Red Delicious Life
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Margo @Shadow Lane Quilts
Renee @Quilts of a Feather
In addition to all of these tutorial posts, there will be several giveways this week for a set of 1/2 yard cuts of the fabrics we used. To enter the giveaway, go visit Quilting Jetgirl. While the colors in this set are lovely, they are very bold and saturated. Were you to win this set, I strongly advise that you prewash with like colors (e.g not red and white together!) and dry them. That way any possible color bleeding or fabric shrinkage will happen before you cut and sew!
Great job on your tutorial. I love that it is super easy to follow and the great pictures. And you are right, what a great chance to pin blocks to make a sampler quilt later.
Thanks Tish! Lots of posts to look through today! So many creative minds out there.
Take care,
Bernie
Very nice job on your tutorial and photos. This is a very striking block in the colour combination you chose. I have double diamonds in one of my blocks as well.Also with 1/2 square triangles but I get to them a different way.
Looking forward to seeing your block as well Lisa. Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great week.
Bernie
Great job with the block and tutorial. It is very clear and easy to follow.
Thank you Kelly!!
Great-looking block! Very bold in your colorway. Wouldn’t a bunch of these set on point make a really striking quilt? Have a great day!
Yep, setting these on point would be very pretty. Thanks for coming by Mari!
B.
I really like your double diamond block. It would look great in an on point layout.
Thank you Cindy!
Double diamonds indeed! I really like how this puts a block “on point” and I can see mixing this with a more square designed block to get a tilting and rotating feel in a quilt top.
Thanks Yvonne, both for the input and for all of your efforts in organizing this group over the past several months!
B.
Great block. I love HSTs. They’re so much fun to make.
HST’s seem unlimited in their use. So many combinations!
Thanks for stopping by Vicki!
Double Diamonds is a great block! HSTs are among my favourite units to make, though I hate trimming them 🙂
You aren’t alone…. I don’t often hear of anyone that loves trimming or squaring up their blocks!! 🙂 It’s worth it though.
Take care Leanne,
Bernie
I recently purchased one of the HST marking tools that you have and LOVE it. It sure makes the process of marking easy and accurate. Like you, I also cut my original squares a tad bit bigger and trim to size. This process ends with perfect HST that are then so easy to sew together and make a block. The block you chose is a great block. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!
Yes, I agree. That little piece of plastic ensures a great HST. Well worth the few dollars spent!
Thanks so much for coming by Brenda. Hope you also have a wonderfully creative day!
Bernie
Great color choices for this block! The diamonds all really pop.
Love your double diamonds block. Great color choice.
Thank you Margo. Your kind words are much appreciated!
Your tutorial is so well written, it’s very easy to follow. I’ve never seen one of those 1/4″ seam markers.
Stephanie, if you like making HST’s, buy a seam marker. It is the easiest and makes for such a quick process.
Take care and enjoy the day.
Bernie
a great tutorial, clear and easy to follow. Love the double diamond
Thank you Helen!!
I like the boldness of this block. The lime (?) and dark blue color combination is very striking. Would be a great addition to a very masculine feeling quilt.
That is so true, Brenda, and I hadn’t really thought of it. It would be a nice “guy’s” quilt.
Thank you for coming on by!
Bernie
Nice job Bernie! Easy-to-follow tutorial, and I really admire that. I love the pattern with those saturated colors. Will you make yourself a Double Diamond quilt?
It’s “on the list” Linda. Such a huge list this is becoming. 🙂
The colors are so pretty – I am looking forward to seeing the donation quilts that are made out of these 60+ blocks from this project.
Happy Monday!
~~Bernie
Good job once again proving the amazing versatility of HST’s! They can make endless arrays of design. Nice job.
Thanks Carrie. A basic HST is such a great building block. Do you follow Victoria over at Silly Boodilly? She has been doing a fun series on Instagram playing with HST’s and coming up with endless number of combinations. She is a very creative artist.
Take care,
Bernie
Great job on the great tutorial! Super easy to follow. That is a beautiful block!
Thank you Sylvia – glad you liked it!
Yummo!!!
I love a clean and summery block, and yours is perfect!!!
XX!
Lori
Thanks Lori! This has been a fun project to take part in. Thanks for coming by.
Bernie
I just love blocks you can make with HSTs. This one is great!
Thank Diana. I have had so much fun looking at all of the posts today. Tomorrow I have a much busier day so I won’t have time to indulge. Lots of great ideas though.
B.
Great job on your block.
Thank you Anja!
Just think how many diamonds you will have when made with multiples. Simple and chic
Yes, Wanda, it would look really nice as a full quilt. Lots of diamonds to create.
Glad you came by!
Bernie
Great block!
Thank you!
Love the flexibility of those HSTs. Your piecing is perfection! I gotta give those open seams a try!
Far from perfection, but so kind of you to say so. I like making each HST a bit on the big side and trimming it down. Helps with the points.
Take care,
Bernie
That’s so great! I really like it, and it’s such simple construction. Thank you for cutting off the “ears”!
Thanks for Tutorial! Great job! & your Block is Super!
Double Diamonds!, I love the block. Yes, a sampler quilt of all the blocks will be fun.
Such pretty fabric colors and your block does them justice! 🙂
Gotta love those HSTs! My block used them too. Unlimited layout possibilities! I like the colours you’ve put together here.
Thank you Bernie for your great block tutorial. I love your color combo.
I’m glad you like it Lu! Thanks for coming by.
Bernie
This block is such a great use of half square triangles- Lovely design!
Beautiful work Bernie and thanks for the 1/4″ marker tip, definitely getting one of those!
Hi Jinger,
The 1/4″ marker is a great investment – so inexpensive and I have used it a million times. Enjoy!
Bernie
Another winner. great for my monthly block swaps. thank you . I follow you and Inspired by Fabric by Bloglovin and newsletter.
Thank you Debra! I appreciate my followers so much. Nice to know someone is out there reading these posts. 🙂
Have a great week.
~~Bernie
Your tute turned out great, Bernie! I knew you’d do fine with it. I really like the graphic nature of the design and colors. It will make a really striking quilt.
Thank you Janine!
I am so glad you and a few other bloggers have HST based blocks. I’m a bit obsessed with how versatile they are and quick for making these big blocks. Thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
I love your color choices and your very clear tutorial!
Thank you Malinda!!
Oh how pretty! It looks like a stained glass suncatcher!