Welcome to A Very Merry HST BOF – mini style! Since participating in In Color Order’s HST BOM, I’ve grown quite fond of HSTs and the marvelous designs they can create. But there’s not enough months to complete something Christmassy, so it’s a Block of the Fortnight!
Over the next few fortnights, I’ll be sharing 6 different blocks I have designed that will make up a mini quilt perfect for a Christmas wallhanging or gift! Every second Tuesday, I’ll share a quick tutorial showing how to make a 10″ unfinished block using HSTs – each one looking like a different Christmas tree decoration hanging on the tree! The final size will be approximately 20″ x 29″ without sashing, or bigger if you decide to sash/border.
What you’ll need
– 1 yard total of print fabrics OR 2+ charm packs OR 1 layer cake
– 1 yard of background fabric OR 2+ charm packs OR 1 layer cake
– 1/2 yard of sashing fabric (optional)
– 2/3 yard of backing fabric
– 2/3 yard of batting
– 1/4 yard of binding fabric
How much total fabric you need depends a little on which HST method you choose to use – I have written a tutorial on how to make half-square triangles for both the traditional and alternative methods. The alternative method requires larger squares to start with, but whichever method you choose, this BOF is pre-cut friendly, I promise!
Choosing your fabric
This BOF is perfect for pulling fabrics from your stash. Having said that, I will be using a Flurry layer cake that’s been sitting in my ‘precious’ pile for about a year now! The blue, red and white colourways for the prints and the green colourway for the background fabric.
Feel free to use whatever background fabric you like, but if you are going for the tree effect like me, choose a few different greeny prints but try and keep them similar in hue so that the focus is on the ‘ornament’. There are also 6 different ornaments – you might like to choose 2 or 3 colours to use, or 6 different ones! Your choice!
Where now?
The first block will be posted on Tuesday 28th August. There’s a Flickr group you can join so you can share photos of your progress – fabric selection, blocks, finished products… we want to see it all!
Hope to see you all here soon!
Kelly G says
Oh WOW – what a brilliant/fantastic/wonderful idea. Can’t wait to quilt along with you – hmmm I am thinking this might be a fantastic gift at the end to give my Aunt for Christmas. I am sew excited!
Kaitlyn says
ooohhhh, I was making some quilts for christmas presents will have to have a look and try some of yours..
Kaitlyn says
ok, entirely too much fabric here….
I think I have found what I need in my stash already.. can’t wait to see the first lot. 🙂
Kaitlyn says
so bummed… cant get flickr to work.. so will have to try to upload pictures later. 🙂
Kaitlyn says
next silly question…
are all the blocks going to be made with the HST? and if i made the triangles bigger is that going to cause any problems do you think with the blocks if I want a quilt at the end??
thanks 🙂
Kristy QP says
Oooh this sounds so exciting! Loving the fabrics you’ve chosen – can’t wait to see the first block!
Books_Bound says
I love HSTs too! I’m always amazed at how different quilts can look just from different colors and arrangements of them. The only thing I don’t love is the math–very confusing for me. 😛
“Flurry” is super cute! That must have come out before I was into fabric and sewing. 🙂
Kara @me_and_elna says
So fun!!! Looking forward to your posts!
Cherie says
Looks like a fun idea! Will be watching out for the posts =D
audrey says
Oooh! Sounds like fun! Count me in!
Kimberly Cassie @ Quilty Doodads says
Okay…I give up. BOF???? Best of friends???
AlyceB says
Haha, Block of the Fortnight!
Longvacation says
Ok, I’ve been waffling about joining since you posted this yesterday and I think I’m going to give it a go! I think I’m probably crazy considering how many QALs and BOMs I’m doing, but the more the merrier, right?? And I’ll be using up more stash!
kari says
this looks gorgeous! thanks so much for sharing!