HSTs Many at a Time

As a general matter, first you need to determine how many HSTs you need, what their finished size is (the size that they will be after they are sewn into the quilt), and what size pieces of fabric you have. At that point, it is just some simple math. Take the finished size of your HST and add 1 inch if you want to have room to trim them down to perfection, or add 7/8" if you don't want to trim them and you have a pretty good scant 1/4" seam in your repertoire. Then create a grid or array that has half the number of squares as the total number of HSTs you need from that fabric combination. You may need to make several different grids to efficiently use your fabric. I prefer to use arrays that have 1 additional row compared to the number of columns (or vice versa), because then you can more easily draw diagonal lines across your grid that allows for a continuous sewing line. I also like making them 8 at a time using this grid method with an "x" across the grid, as then your HSTs are not on the bias. I have posted a pretty long set of videos and pictures on my IG feed under the "Highlights" tab called "HSTs Many/Time" to try to show this better for visual learners, but I think when I show you the pattern, it will become easier to see. I'm including space to trim up the HSTs you will be creating below, but if you don't want to trim, adjust the measurements accordingly to make 12 squares that measure 6.875" (so your array would measure 13.75" x 20 5/8").

To make the featured quilt using 6.5” HSTs

- Gather 3 fat quarters OR a half yard and a fat quarter of coordinating prints plus at least 28" by width of fabric of background fabric. Press and starch your fabrics to make the fabric easier to handle

- From 2 fat quarters, cut a piece that measures approximately 14.5" by 21.5", and from the third fat quarter (or the remainder of the half yard), cut a 12.5" square and set aside.

- From the background (assuming that it is at least 42.5" width of fabric) cut a 14.5" by WOF strip, then cut (2) 6.5" by WOF strips. Subcut the (2) 6.5" strips into (8) 6.5" squares and set aside. From the 14.5" by WOF strip, cut it in half to have (2) 14.5" x (at least) 21.5" pieces.

- Place these two background pieces right-side together with your two print pieces that also measure approximately 14.5" x 21.5" and draw a centered rectangle using a mechanical (or sharp) pencil that measures exactly 14" x 21". The reason you want your pieces of fabric slightly bigger is to make turning easier as you sew. Inside your rectangle, draw lines 7" from the edges of 3 sides so that you have an array that is 2 squares by 3 squares.

- Then draw the shape shown in the picture below (basically an "x" through the top 4 blocks and a "v" through the bottom 2 blocks) so that you have a continuous line through all the squares. Pin the background to the print right sides together, and sew 1/4" from the diagonal lines that you have just drawn, turning the piece of fabric as necessary and using a slightly shorter stitch length (2.0), and as you approach the inside intersections where you will need to turn the fabric, lower your stitch length so that you can turn exactly on the grid line to maintain your 1/4" seam allowance. When you are done with your stitching, you will have 12 HSTs.

- Repeat with the other print/background piece combination.

- Remove your pins, and then press your entire piece to set the seams (don't iron or you could distort things...just press down and bring the iron up on all of the seams). Take the piece to your cutting table and cut off all the edges first, turning as needed. Once the edges are cut, you will not want to move the piece of fabric for the next set of cuts. Begin by cutting your grid lines, being careful to lift and place the ruler so that you don't move any of the pieces. If you do move something, try to line it back up if you can. After you cut the grid lines in both directions, cut along the drawn diagonal lines. Voila - you have 12 HSTs from each set of fabrics.

- If you have one of the rulers that allows you to trim your triangles before they are pressed open, you can use that and then carefully press them in your preferred way. Alternatively, you can now press the seams either open or to one side and then trim your blocks so that they are a perfect 6.5" square using a regular ruler or a Bloc-Loc ruler.

- Lay out the quilt on your design wall (or design floor) as indicated in the picture with the blocks you set aside at the beginning, and then sew your quilt top together. I sew the 4 blocks to the left and right of the center 12.5" square, and then sew the remaining 4 rows together and join it all together. You will end up with a really cute, quick 36.5" quilt top that can be made in a day. I'll have some ideas about quilting it next week.