HRT :: Finished and Happy!

I've had my Half Rectangle Triangle quilt finished for a while, but only recently was able to get some photos of it.  It's always a challenge finding the time and getting the right light these days.    

HALF RECTANGLE TRIANGLE
51" x 67"  

If you remember from my previous post Stash Busting HRT,  I discovered how simple making HRTs is when you have the right tool.  I used my HRTs using the Creative Grids Perfect Rectangle Ruler,  seriously a game changer for me.  Trying to line up HRTs can be a challenge for some of us!  By using this ruler I achieved perfection with each block and didn't have to trim a single one!



When it came time to quilt or to make a decision on how to quilt this, as always I went back and forth with ideas.  In the end I went with my usual tried and true favorite solution...good old straight lines.



After quilting in the ditch vertically between the blocks, I randomly selected rows where I added 1/2" lines.  I really like 1/2" lines!  However, I didn't want to do the entire quilt.  So, I again randomly selected rows and added lines from 3/4" to 1" or more just for filler.  



Just when I thought I was finished I had a brilliant idea!  For added interest and I guess because I hadn't punished myself enough, I went wild and added some diagonal lines here and there.  Now I was really done!

At least done with the quilting!

There was the back that needed addressing.  I had a good stack of blocks leftover decided the best place for them to end up was on the back of the quilt instead of the back of the closet!  The perfect solution in my opinion!  

 

I still had scraps of the Alison Glass Handcrafted fabric leftover, which I will tell you were not wasted!  I'll share that project after it's quilted...spoiler alert...it looks much like this quilt!



It feels good to work through my stash and while this fabric I love, I didn't want it hanging around any longer.  I say it, you say it, we all say it...I'm determined to use my stash.  

My next stash busting adventure is going to involve a bucket of woven stripes!  Can't wait to deplete that stack!

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A Softer Side :: Pastel

I'm going soft!  In the never ending exploration of quilting I've decided it's time I try a different color avenue.  One that I really haven't done, but have always wanted to.  I'm testing the waters so to speak.  Don't get too use to it, I'm still a huge fan of bright, bold and saturated colors!

It isn't that I haven't thought about making a quilt in pastels, because I have.  Maybe I had to have the stars line up, but actually I didn't know what quilt design to go with!

'SWEET DREAMS'
30" x 41.5"

Then one day out of the blue, it hit me.  There was no reason to reinvent the wheel, so I decided to stay in my comfort zone.   The good old Half Square Triangle!  

This quilt is one of my go to designs.  Bright and bold with a neutral gray border.  I always match the center blocks with the same color but different shades and top it off with the center accent.  Completely opposite from the soft pastel quilt.  



One of my favorite things about this design, besides the simplicity of the block, the uncomplicated layout and the color options, is the quilting options!



If you have followed along with my adventures, you know that quilting is the one area that stumps me!  Mostly with free motion, but I've had my battles with the old walking foot too!  With this design I know the only thing I'm going to do is geometric straight lines.   



That philosophy works with my usual color combination, but it wasn't going to cut it with this one!  I think it had to do with the fact I used Kona Snow with the pastels and it created a very loud and proud grid!  What to do, what to do?!  

Well, to start with concentric 1/2" lines in the white squares of course!  I used Aurifil white thread in those blocks.

The blocks with color needed a bit more pizazz!  I hunted for thread in six magical pastel colors before I knew where I was going, but it happened.  I don't know what you call the quilting design, I'll call it Sun Rays until I know differently!  

Twist & Shout

I've had this quilt hanging on my design wall far too long!  It seems like a long time.  Back in I decided it was time to wrangle my hand dyed scraps.  It started here:  Scrap It Out.

I was playing around with Half Rectangles Triangles and came up this a block:  HRT With A Twist.  Because I was messing around...I ended up with two different sizes and didn't really have a plan for either.  This is a fun block for me to make, I really couldn't help myself. 

Before I knew it, there was a little stack of these!

They hung on the wall for weeks while I pondered their fate.  What can I do, what should I do, what will I do?!

I added a frame around the smaller blocks which paired with the larger blocks, gave me a stack to work with.

That worked!  A seemingly complicated and busy block became a little quilt after all!

HRT WITH A TWIST
31 1/2" x 38 1/2"

The addition of the border increased the size and neutralized the design.  

I machine quilted a geometric grid design.  I'm loving the little grids in each center square!

For the back, I used Kona Honeydew.  Honeydew has such a fresh clean look, I love it! There are still plenty of hand dyed scraps lingering in my bin.  Won't there always be?! Most have been cleaned up and cut into squares for future use.  You know, just in case a brilliant idea comes knocking at my door!

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HRT With A Twist ~ Block Tutorial

Half Rectangle Triangle With A Twist Block 

I've been having lots of fun making this block using my hand dyed scraps.  There are HRT's and a couple of partial seams involved, but don't let that scare you away!  It's super easy!

The block will be 8 1/2" square unfinished and 8" square finished.

HRT WITH A TWIST
8" x 8" FINISHED BLOCK

You will need 4 HRT's and one 2 1/2" square for each block.  Another method of making HRT's is by Latifah Saafir for The Modern Guild. 

  

I began by cutting half triangles.  I lined up the center line on the edge and the bottom of the template on the bottom of the fabric, and cut. 

Because I want my rectangle orientation to be the same, this method will ensure that I get exactly what I need.  

Pair two pieces together being mindful that the orientation of each set is the same.  I like to pin mine before I sew just to make sure!

Stitch using 1/4" seam.  Press seams.  I usually press my seams toward the outside (in this case the grey fabric).

Trimming the blocks.  I line up the 30 degree line from my ruler with the seam and trim the long edges.  Trim your HRT's to 5 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Perfectly rectangle!

On one side of the 2 1/2" square you will want to mark 1/4" from both edges.  This will be your partial seam guide.  You really only need one dot marked, but I find it easier to have two dots ensuring that I place the square correctly. 

Line up both edges with your square and HRT, right sides together and pin.  Start by placing your needle in the down position right on the little dot where my finger is pointing to.  Back stitch and continue sewing to the edge.  Press. 

This is what you get.  A 1/4" that is not sewn down.

Place another HRT on the left edge, sew from top to bottom, press.

Repeat with the third HRT and press.  This what we have so far.  Now the tricky part, which isn't all that tricky!  Maybe the way I explain it will be!!

Pin the final HRT.  Here is a great tutorial for partial seams by Faith at Fresh Lemons.    

The pin is placed through the dot on the square.  This makes it easy to know where to stop. Start at the edge and sew towards the center.  Backstitch when you get to the dot. Press.  

It will look like this, meeting up at the dot.

The final seam!!  Flip your final rectangle so the edges meet (right sides together). Sew along the edge, press and viola!  you are finished. 

I've made a few different sizes with my hand dyed scraps.  Soon they will become something! See the small block on the bottom?  The HRT orientation is going the 'other' way.  

Looking for different sizes? 
16" Square:  4 ~ 10 1/2" HRT's, 1 ~ 4 1/2" Square
12" Square:  4 ~ 8" x 5" HRT's, 1 ~ 3 1/2" Square
7"   Square:  4 ~ 5" x 3" HRT's, 1 ~ 2 1/2" Square
5 1/4" Sq:     4 ~ 4" x 2 1/4" HRT's, 1 ~ 2 1/4" Square 

There are always options...

Thank you for stopping by!  If by chance you try this block, let me know how it turned out. I'm still learning the fine points of pattern writing, I try and make every effort to be as accurate as I can!

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