Welcome to the Modern HST Sampler! This year, we will be making 24 modern HST quilt blocks, and by the end of the year, 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:
- The QAL and fabric requirements
- Required and recommended tools
- Tips for HST accuracy
- Frequently Asked Questions
This quilt along is structured so that you will slowly ease your way into half-square triangles. We’re starting off with 4″ finished HSTs (4.5″ unfinished) – they’re nice and big, and are used in nine-patch blocks to make a 12″ finished block (12.5″ unfinished). This means few seams, and thus keeping your HST points is much easier.
The quilt along is also structured to ingrain this info into your head. The first three block tutorials will cover the three ways of making HSTs we will be using for the year – the traditional 2 at a time, the alternative 4 at a time, and the magic 8 at a time. After that, we will tell you what squares to use together and how many HSTs to make from them. Don’t worry, I will link back to the relevant tutorial! But you know what they say, give a man a quilt and he’ll be warm for a while, teach him how to quilt and he’ll be warm for a lifetime… or something like that, anyway. And with that, let’s get into it!
Fabrics used from the Modern HST Sampler Kit:
Blueberry Park Yarrow Rough Patch, Anna Elise Cold Geo Mist, Kona Oyster
Traditionally know as the Shoo Fly block, I called my version Candy, because using the two different fabrics makes the block look like wrapped candy! I’m thinking some kind of chewy grape thing, but that’s just because I always go for the purple in the bag of mixed lollies.
Candy
Fabric Requirements
Fabric A (dark yellow)
1 – 4.5″ x 4.5″ square
1 – 5″ x 5″ square
Fabric B (light yellow)
1 – 5″ x 5″ square
Background
4 – 4.5″ x 4.5″ square
2 – 5″ x 5″ square
Block should measure 12.5” x 12.5”. Use a 1/4″ seam and press seams toward the darker print, or as directed.
Instructions
Step 1. Place the 5″ fabric A square right sides together with a 5″ background square. (1) Draw a line diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. (2) Sew 1/4″ from either side of the line; backstitch at each end to secure your seams. (3) Cut along the drawn line, open the fabric pieces and press the seam toward the print. (4) Trim to 4.5″ square.
Repeat for the 5″ Fabric B and remaining Background square.
Step 2. Arrange the HST units from step 1 and the remaining Fabric A and background pieces to form the block. Sew the rows together, pressing the seams in alternate direction – press row 1 one way, press row 2 the opposite way, press row 3 the same way as row 1.
Step 3. 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.
I can’t wait to see your first blocks! You can share them on Instagram using #modernHSTsampler (and feel free to tag me too – @blossomheartquilts!), or in the Blossom Heart Quilts group on Facebook, or even link them up to Sew Cute Tuesday. 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
Cindy Holten says
I’m eager to start but I’m a little confused on the colors. I purchased the kit from the Fat Quarters Shop that you’d designed. While I see two yellows, I also see golds, which you may be referring to as “dark yellow”. Would it be possible for you to have a picture chart of the fabrics in the kit and refer to the specific ones you’ll be using in each block. It certainly would help this “color confused” quilter. Thanks much.
Cindy Holten says
I am sorry…Please accept my apologies, Alyce. I see there already is a color chart and I can see just what fabrics you used. I should have looked at the fabric AFTER my morning cup of coffee.
Alyce says
Haha! No worries, but it’s a good idea to list them for the kit users, thanks for that! I’ll add them in now and remember for the future 🙂
Kathleen says
Is the corresponding picture color chart only available if you are using the kit fabric? I’m not using the kit fabric but would like to label my set of fabrics accordingly if possible. Thank you.
Alyce says
The color chart she’s referring to is a list of the fabrics/SKUs included in the kit from the Fat Quarter Shop, that’s all 🙂
Annette says
My fabric arrived today! I’m so excited! !
Susan says
Fun! I like the wrapped candy look. I’ll have to see what scraps I can find for this one.
Janet says
I notice that when you show trimming, the diagonal line goes to the corner. But in your finished block, it looks like it is 1/4″ short. What am I missing?
Alyce says
Yes, because around the outside, there is still a seam to be sewn when you sash or join the blocks, so there is a 1/4″ space from the tip to the outer edge which is the future seam allowance 🙂
Anne says
Finished Candy. Thanks for the QAL. I am going to enjoy it. Will post on Facebook tomorrow.
antigone says
I can’t wait to get started with it…. for the time being I have my Aurora girl (sewing machine) down for a sevice and should have it back sometime next week (hopefully).
Susan says
I made my first one today, and will be making another one because I got the two colors too matchy. It’s a swap block and I’m sending it anyway, because the pattern on our blocks doesn’t matter, but I want to try again to get the colors better. Sorry, I’m not on FB.
Fabienne says
Looks like I’m a bit late to the party but I am keen to join this group and learn HST. I like the looks of all the blocks so far. I’m going to order some fabric and see how it goes.