By: fabric.com
Welcome the final week of the 2022 National Quilting Month Block Party! During this exciting series, we have created 6 free beginner-friendly quilt block patterns right here on the blog created by some of our amazing staff members. Featuring only half-square triangles and square pieces, they have each designed simple but fun quilt blocks - perfect for new and experienced quilters.
Last time, we created the Double Pinwheel and Peeping Cats Quilt Blocks with Elizabeth. Next up, we have 2 beautiful new blocks by Mariah S.!
Here's What You'll Need
- 1/4 yard of quilting cotton (Mariah used the 2022 Kona Cotton Color of the Year: Cosmos
- 1/4 yard of quilting cotton in contrasting color or pattern (Mariah used Kona Cotton Snow)
- Ruler
- Rotary Cutter
- Coordinating Thread
- Sewing Machine
Making Your Half-Square Triangles
For each of these blocks, you will need to construct a certain amount of 'half-square triangles' or 'HSTs'. They are an essential building block used in many quilt and quilt block designs. Depending on how many you need, you can cut fabric and construct them in a multitude of ways. If you are new to sewing HSTs, or would just like to learn about more efficient ways to make them, check out our blog post Sewing 101: 4 Half Square Triangle Methods.
For all of our block party blocks we created our blocks using 10" squares of fabric to produce 5" HSTs (before trimming). Then we trimmed each HST down to 4.5" each. Sewing each piece together using a standard 1/4" seam allowance created finished blocks of 16" x 16". Feel free to adjust your HST and square block pieces up or down though for your desired finished block size.
Block 1: Eclectic Arrows
Eclectic Arrows is a fun, bold, and somewhat atypical quilt block design. The variety of arrows and triangles in various directions give it a very striking, modern look - perfect for a framed wall art piece, or even a base for a table runner.
For this block you will need:
- (16) 4.5" x 4.5" Half Square triangles (trimmed)
To construct the block, sew each piece in the top row together piece by piece, adding on to the row from right to left - or however you'd like to work. Then sew each row together moving from top to bottom.
Block 2: Blast Off
The 'Blast Off' block was inspired by the stars and outer space. Mariah imagined it looked like a corner of a star or explosion, and that if you created a few more blocks and rotated them, if would make a sort of 'abstract, crystalized star shape'.
For this block you will need:
- (8) 4.5" x 4.5" Half Square triangles (trimmed)
- (5) 4.5" x 4.5" Purple Square blocks
- (3) 4.5" x 4.5" White Square blocks
To construct the block, sew each piece in the top row together piece by piece, adding on to the row from right to left. Then sew each row together moving from top to bottom.
And you're done! Enjoy your beautiful blocks by either framing them as wall art, or create more to make a wall hanging, table runner, or even decorative pillows.
