Anyone who has read or followed my blog knows that I LOVE hand applique. But every once in a while I take a break to spend some time in front of my sewing machine doing some piecing. You know.. a change of pace, something different!
I started these little basket blocks (they are only 4" finished) before Christmas last year. The quilt is from the book Scrappy Firework Quilts by Edyta Sitar. I work on them when I feel I need some 'machine time'. Actually, I have seen this particular block also referred to as Cake Stand. What I am going to show you does make them a 'piece of cake' to complete. LOL
There are a lot of techniques and tools out there to make HST (half square triangles). But I find this way the easiest, quickest, and most accurate - especially when you need a 1" finished HST! And you need 400 of them!
Have you ever seen or used these Spinning Star Design template sheets?
They are really easy... Let's take a look.
So for the 1" finished blocks, you start with two 4" fabric squares (RST) and one template sheet. A pin in the middle to hold them together and you are good to go! Using a smaller stitch length, you just sew through the paper on the template, following the direction of the arrowed lines.
When you are done, you just cut on all the solid lines and pull off the paper. You have eight very precise HSTs all sewn in one step.
Easy- peasy!
Trim the tails and they are ready to be pieced together!
Before you know it you will have a pile of perfect HSTs.
I also use the 2" finished templates for the basket base.
Soon you will have a nice assembly line of basket blocks!
What a wonderful day of sewing!
Happy Stitching!
Deb
Linking up at:
WIP Wednesday @ freshly pieced
Let's Be Social
Fabric Frenzy Friday
Cabin Fever Linky Party
Linking up at:
WIP Wednesday @ freshly pieced
Let's Be Social
Fabric Frenzy Friday
Cabin Fever Linky Party
Your quilt looks awesome! Thanks for sharing the tool - I thought I had tried every HST method out there - this one looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am about half way done on the baskets. The templates are quick and easy to do! Enjoy!
DeleteGreat little baskets -- know the gal who first created that style of paper back in the early 90's and it's so useful!!
ReplyDeleteThis kind of creativity is amazing to me - to think of these templates and other tools! Thank her for me!!
DeleteI love using papers similar to get 1/2 square triangles. When you have a lot to make using the paper sure does make it go faster.
ReplyDeleteThey make it so easy! It's almost addicting... like most of quilting! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteLove your basket quilt! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIt's a very nice piecing project. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteOh your basket blocks are beautiful! I love Edyta Sitar quilts! Great way using papers to make HSTs. Making the ones I just made and you commented on at my blog I had placed two squares right sides together, drew a line down the center and then a quarter inch line on each side to the center line. I then sewed on the outer lines, cut in half down the center line. I still had to trim using a ruler with a diagonal line to place along the seam line! I would love to try making HSTs using the papers.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I always enjoy hearing what techinques everyone uses. Not sure how I foung out about the papers... maybe in a magazine. But always happy to share a techinique that works! I put a link to a website where you can buy the papers in my blog.
DeleteWow those are just tiny little things aren't they! They are really lovely and I can't wait to see this all come together! :)
ReplyDeleteWould love for you to stop by tomorrow and link this up to Fabric Frenzy Friday!
-Lindsey
Fabric Frenzy Friday
That's great! I'm like you. I mostly applique' but every once in a while I break out in pieces! Thanks for letting us visit. Please come by and have a virtual cup of something at Prairie Cottage Corner.
ReplyDeleteVariety is the spice of life - as they say! I checked out your blog - very nice. Thanks for the invite!
DeleteWow! That does look like a great way to do those...thank you for the link to find them. :) Glad you joined our party!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy - I hope you try them - they really make the process much easier and accurate. Thanks for the invite!
DeleteYour blocks are awesome. These templates look like this would make things easier. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove those baskets. They are on my list in one form or another. Thank you for sharing how you accomplished such accurate piecing. Nicely detailed post.
ReplyDeleteBasket quilts are among some of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWhat a great technique!
ReplyDeleteI love basket (and star) blocks for left over s and clippings - keep them on the side in tins as leader/ender projects.
ReplyDelete400 one inch HSTs is a lot of HSTs! And your point are perfect! This is definitely a project to keep cabin fever at bay!
ReplyDeletenever tried that hst method- then again I have never needed 400 of them either! I love your baskets- they remind me that spring is really coming!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty blocks.
ReplyDelete