This page originated as a couple of posts from an old blog that I no longer maintain. I am reproducing it here as someone recently asked me for the directions to one of the quilts I made several years ago.
I love the blues in this one. I think it would look good in shades of purple too. I see a lap quilt in my future.
How to make Heather’s Quilt
This block is made using 4 colors from light to dark numbered 1-4. For the quilt I made I chose white for 1, light lavender for 2, a darker purple with a small black print for 3 and solid black for 4. Note #3 will end up being your background color.
A. Color 1 = 4 squares
B. Color 2 and 3 = 4 half square triangles
C. Color 2 and 4 = 4 half square triangles
D. Color 3 and 4 = 4 half square triangles
My blocks were 12″x12″ finished so my squares and half square triangles needed to be 3 1/2″ square. I initially made the half square triangles a little large to allow me to trim them to shape for a neater look.
HST Grids:
To make 24 half square triangles quickly…
Cut two pieces of fabric (colors 2 and 3 for example) 13.5″x18″ and lay them with the top sides facing each other. Using a marking pencil, divide the fabric into a grid 3 squares across the narrow edge and 4 squares down the long edge. Pin in the center of the squares.
Starting at the lower right corner draw the green line below. You should end up at the upper right corner when you are finished. Next sew along the red line 1/4″ from the green line, then do the same with the blue line. Both should start at the lower right and end up at the upper right. Once sewn, cut along the green line. You will end up with 24 half square triangles. These will need to be pressed and trimmed to the required 3 1/2″ square. I used a small square ruler with a diagonal line marked on it to line up the diagonal on the hst. I then trimmed the hst so that the diagonal was exactly centered.
My quilting is never fancy. I machine quilt and usually go for quilting in the ditch when I can.
Enjoy your quilt.
I love your quilts. I wish that you had a newsletter as my computer/server (not sure which) doesn’t do the blog feeds very well. I’ll keep checking back as I can. Thanks and love you site.
Wow, thanks for the instructions. That simple, yet looks so complex.