Home Street QAL: Week 2 - Sew HST

Last Week: Cut HST

If you don't know what HST means, it's an acronym for Half-Square Triangle (picture a square with a line from one corner to the opposite creating two right angle triangles).

These are what the quilt is made up of (this and a few full-colour squares). These were fun. I haven't had a project that comes along with the motivation to get it done so quickly except for a few random Christmas quilts I've done in the past.

Erin at The Blanket Statement includes labels in her pattern so that everything is easy to keep track of. Both the pattern and Quilt Along instructions are easy to follow with a lot of tips for making things work smoothly.

Before I started anything, I changed out my needle for a new one, cleaned out my machine (yuck!), and made sure everything was working properly.

I lined up my squares and used my 1/2 inch ruler to mark the middle and a quarter-inch on each side which would be my sewing lines.

A friend of mine gave me this template years ago that helps line up your squares. I used it for a bit and then just used my drawn on lines. Both worked great.

Here's the finished batch of half-square triangles.

Next Week: Trimming HST!

Home Street QAL: Week 1 - Cut Fabric

Last Week: Intro

I got started on my cutting later in the week because of work. I decided to make the Bed-Sized quilt so it's a larger size of cuts and fabric.

I did finish and post to Instagram in time. I posted on Friday! I'm hoping I can keep up with staying on track for all the weeks.

Instead of surprising him, I submitted a few options to J for him to choose his layout. He picked a different one than I had initially chosen so I had to change up my computer mockup.

Here are how my pieces ended up...

 

 

Next week: Making Half-Square Triangles!

Home Street QAL: Intro

 I've picked my colours. I've been meaning to make my husband a quilt for years - his only stipulation is that it has to cover him from head to toe.

I'm going to use these solid colours.

I entered the colours into the pattern and the finished top should end up looking something like this...

I'm sure he'll just be happy to receive a quilt, no matter what it looks like. I'm excited to see how it'll turn out.

QAL Week 1 (January 10) : Cutting Fabric

QAL Week 2 (January 17) : Make HSTs (Half-Square Triangles)

QAL Week 3 (January 21) : Trim HSTs

QAL Week 4 (January 28) : Sew Rows

QAL Week 5 (February 7) : Assemble Quilt Top

After that comes the hard part of figuring out what kind of backing to use and getting the batting and backing ready. I'm thinking maybe fireside since it's nice and soft which will make it a quilt you want to cozy up with on the couch (#goals!).

Then the quilting part... I love straight line quilting and that's what all my quilts have had. I have quilted every quilt I've done. A lot of people pay someone to quilt them for them but we don't have as many options where I am (and I'm cheap ha ha).

And finally, the binding. I might want to do something fun or edgy, using the scraps to sew together into strips for the binding... I'm not quite sure yet. I want to play around with some ideas but I've got time for that.

Next Week: Cutting HST

New Year, New Goals!

 So it's now 2022, I haven't posted in a LONG TIME!

I'm working to try to focus less on having all the chores done and more on enjoying the things I like doing - family, quilting, sewing, my jewellery business, and other things besides laundry, dusting, sweeping, etc. Of course I'm going to do those things but I'm not interested in them running the show.

I've joined a quilt along from The Blanket Statement. See the link here: https://theblanketstatement.ca/blogs/the-blanket-statement/home-street-qal. I'm excited to get back into things.

I really enjoy quilting and I haven't done much for a long time. I have a closet full of fabric but haven't touched in far too long.

I'll post my QAL progress on Instagram and on here too. Wish my luck!

Happy New Year!