Modern HST Sampler #24: Nip Tuck

Oh my goodness, guys, we’ve made it!! We’re at the final block of the Modern HST Sampler!! This has been an incredible year, I’ve been so privileged to be a part of seeing you all grow in your skills. Thank you for coming along for the ride!

If this is the first time you’re reading this, fear not, you can still sew along at any time! The tutorials will always be here. Start with this one or go back to the beginning, it’s up to you. This year, we’ve made 24 modern half-square triangle quilt blocks, and now, you will not only have a beautiful sampler quilt, but you will have some well-honed HST making skills. If you need more information, you can find out more about:

This quilt along has been structured so that you slowly ease your way into half-square triangles. We started off with 4″ finished HSTs (4.5″ unfinished), and then conquered 3″ finished HSTs (3.5″ unfinished), before working with the 4″ and 2″ finished HSTs. This time, we’re back to making 3″ finished HSTs, but also adding in half-sized ones too that finish at 1.5″ (2″ unfinished)! We’re still using the same methods of making the half-square triangles – 2 at a time, 4 at a time, and 8 at a time – but now we’re smaller again.

Our final block is from the inimitable Molli Sparkles again, and this is the block to end all HST blocks! Stay tuned at the end of the post for how I adapted mine.

Hi hi hi! Molli Sparkles here, checking in for the second half of the Modern HST Sampler project. Last time I spoke with you I mentioned I had never made more than two HSTs at a time. Well, with this cray block, I up-sized, and now I’m making them eight at a time! What a time saver, and still so easy peasy. Now I know this block looks like there are a poo emoji load of pieces, and well, there are. On the plus side, Alyce shows you how to minimise some of the piecing with her version of the block. If you go my route, just consider how much love you are squeezing into those twelve and a half inches! Plus, this block is screaming out for you to use those 5” charm squares! Even though my block is a riot of colour, I think it would look super-smoking in a two-colour combo as per the illustrations.

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Nip Tuck by Molli Sparkles

Fabric Requirements

Fabric A (Colour or Feature Fabric)
5 – 5” x 5″squares
4 – 2” x 2″ squares

Background
5 – 5” x 5″squares
12 – 2” x 2″ squares
4 – 2” x 3.5” rectangles

Block finishes at 12.5” x 12.5”. Use a scant 1/4″ seam and press seams toward the darker print, or as directed.

Instructions

Step 1. Use the 5” squares of Fabric A and Background squares to make 40 HSTs using the 8 at a time method. Open the HSTs and press the seam towards the print or darker fabric colour. Trim to 2” square.

Step 2. Arrange (7) of the HST units from Step 1 and (2) of the 2” square background pieces as shown in the image above. Sew into three columns. Press all seams from alternating columns in opposing directions so that they will nest. Sew columns together. Create four of these nine-patch units and set aside.

Step 3. Arrange (2) of the HST units from Step 1, (1) of the Fabric A 2” squares, (1) of the 2” square background pieces, and (1) of the 2” x 3.5” background pieces as shown in the image above. Sew into columns and press the seams in opposing directions so that they will nest. Sew columns and 2” x 3.5” background piece together. Create four of these units and set aside.

Step 4. Arrange (4) of the HST units from Step 1 as per the image above. Sew into columns and press the seams in opposing directions so that they will nest.

Step 5. Arrange block units as per the image above.

Step 6. Sew units into columns, and press seams in opposing directions so that they will nest.

Step 7. Sew columns together to form final block.

Step 8. Press the block, and trim to 12.5” square if necessary, keeping 1/4″ between the outer HST points and the edge of the block.

Alyce’s Take

As we’ve mentioned already, I decided to take the cheat’s way out with this block. This block is actually PERFECT for using up all the leftover HSTs you’ve made throughout the year, trimmed to 2″ square, but I was wanting to keep it in theme with the rest of my blocks, so I went with light and dark prints of two colours.

If you want to do similarly, you’ll want to make 8 HSTs for each corner lot of small HSTs (cut only four 5″ squares) and 2 HSTs from each print for the big ones (cut at 4″ square).

Finished the blocks, now what?

First of all, congratulations! You did it! So now you’re thinking about how to finish the sampler quilt off, right? Well, here’s a blog post I wrote last year about how to finish a sampler quilt. Later this week, I’ll also be sharing how to set your blocks on point and the math you need to do so for blocks this size. I have also written about some ideas for how to quilt a sampler quilt if you’re looking for ideas like that too. I will also point you towards my Sampler Quilts board on Pinterest, as there are some different ideas there for how to finish your sampler quilt too.

In terms of the official QAL, I’ll be leaving the final linky until the end of January. It’s madness to even consider trying to coordinate that at this time of the year! Which means that not only will you have time to finish all your blocks, but there’ll be something on offer for those who have a finished quilt top too. Extra incentive to get those blocks put together!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/modern-hst-sampler-qal/" title="Modern HST Sampler QAL"><img src="http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/The-Modern-HST-Sampler-QAL-400x399.png" width="250" alt="Modern HST Sampler QAL" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I hope you have fun making Ribbon! You can share them on Instagram using #modernHSTsampler (and feel free to tag us too – @blossomheartquilts and @msmidge), or in the Blossom Heart Quilts group on Facebook. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments.

Click here for all the Modern HST Sampler quilt block tutorials