Faith Jones, Lee Heinrich and I are so excited to announce our 2020 Block of the Month, Paper Chain. This is the first time we have put together a Block of the Month (instead of a Block of the Week) Quilt Along, and I’m looking forward to a slower paced project.

This quilt is entirely foundation paper pieced (FPP), and I love the look of the blocks on point! It measure 55” x 72”, and the setting blocks are a little less intense than the Summer Sampler 2019 setting blocks

Purchase the Paper Chain BOM Here

For a one-time payment of $24.99 total, you’ll get:
• Welcome PDF with fabric requirements and suggested colors (a limited number of fabric kits are available from www.sewtopia.com)
• Fully-tested instructions for 12 gorgeous foundation paper-pieced quilt blocks
• Complete finishing instructions to make an 55″ x 72″ sampler quilt
• Our “Paper-Piecing 101” guide for foundation paper-piecing beginners
• Quilt mock-up coloring sheet for planning
• Access to a subscriber-only Facebook group to interact with other quilters and the designers

Fabric requirements for the blocks:
Blocks: Between 1/4 and 1 yard of each color, for a total of 5-3/4 yards
Setting blocks and borders: 2-1/3 yard
Quilt back: 4-1/2 yards
Quilt binding: 1/2 yard

More detailed information (including Kona Cotton color equivalents and specific fabric quantities for each color) is available in our Welcome PDF, which you can download on purchase.

On the first Monday of every month, beginning Monday, January 6, you will receive a pattern for one quilt block in your email inbox. (If you’re joining after that, all previously-released files will be available to you immediately.)

This BOM is a “greatest hits” of foundation paper-pieced blocks from our popular Summer Sampler quilt-alongs. The blocks are drawn from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Summer Sampler patterns. However, each pattern has been revised to feature this year’s fresh new color palette, and the blocks are set on point in the completed quilt, for a whole new perspective on these beautiful designs. If you have purchased all 3 Sampler patterns, you will automatically receive this BOM program free of charge. 

After 12 months of block patterns, you will receive instructions for putting them all together into our stunning on-point sampler layout.

Lee is likely making this Christmas inspired version–I’m tempted to make 2. We shall see.

Purchase the Paper Chain BOM Here

Half square triangles (often abbreviated as HST) are one of the fundamental blocks in quilting. I’ve sewn so many over the years–I loved seeing Amy Smart’s  technique to sew 16 at a time!

Amy’s HST Video

Her technique was so great, that I asked her to demo it for us, which I’ve used to put together an in-depth tutorial for you on the Pattern Drop website.

In the demo you’ll learn how to layout, sew, cut, and square-up your HST, so that you can achieve quilting perfection. Or at least so that you can cut your prep time in half.

This tutorial is perfect for the Solitude Star Quilt Pattern, or Amy’s Hopscotch Pattern. Happy sewing!

I’m so excited to share this Half Rectangle Triangle (HRT) Quilt Tutorial with you, as part of my Half Rectangle Triangles series. Be sure to check out the other posts! 

• Original Half Rectangle Triangles: Tips, Tricks + Tutorials Post
• A Cutting Chart for 1:2 Ratio Half Rectangle Triangles
• How to Trim Half Rectangle Triangles
• Half Rectangle Triangles: Does the Angle Make a Difference?
• Paper Piecing Half Rectangle Triangles
• A Half Rectangle Triangle Quilt Tutorial
• Favorite HRT Ruler: The Bloc-Loc Ruler in Large –it’s pricey [you get 2 rulers] and makes trimming HRTs a dream

Whimsey + Structure: Piecing the Half Rectangle Triangle Quilt

This quilt is a lot of fun to piece. It encompasses structure, i.e. the HRT units are precision pieced,  and whimsey– you are able to let go of all of the rules for color and fabric placement and block orientation (as long as the HRT units are vertical). Randomness within structure can bring delightful results.

I used mostly solids for this quilt, which is the easiest course if you haven’t sewn a lot of HRTs before. Unlike half square triangles (HSTs) with half rectangle triangles, if you are using patterned fabrics and cut from top right to bottom left, the resulting triangles will be different than if you cut from top left to the bottom right. If you happen to cut the wrong way, and are using solids, you can simply flip the fabric over and around and it works just fine.

Fabric Requirements 

Quilt as Shown measures 36-1/2” x 42-1/2”

I used (9) quarter  yard solid cuts, and (2) quarter  yard patterned cuts

Note: there will be some left overs that you can use for the back. You could easily use additional quarter yard cuts if you wanted more variety in the quilt.

You can cut approximately 10 rectangles from each quarter yard of fabric. If you choose to use fat quarters, you can cut (10) 4” x 8” rectangles assuming the fat quarter is a true 18” x 22” cut. 

Fabrics used:

Kona Solids: Acid Lime, Ultra Marine, Everglade, Jungle, Peapod, Kale, Pomegranate, Valentine, and Purple

Me and You Batiks: Lines in Turquoise and Gold

Alison Glass: Observatory, Spangled in Sulphur

A Note On Making Bigger or Smaller Quilts Using This Method aka This Quilt is Totally Customizable

In order to make a larger quilt, simply increase the number of cut rectangles and sewn triangles. This quilt measures 12 units across by 7 units down. By doubling that: 24 units across by 14 units down, the quilt will measure approximately 72” x 84” (336 rectangles).  Change the size of the starting rectangles, or quadruple the number of HRT pairs for a large throw size quilt. Happy quilting!

Cutting the Half Rectangle Triangles

All of the triangles for this quilt are 1:2 ratio triangles, which seems to be an industry standard. All of the triangles for this quilt started as 4” x 8” rectangles and are trimmed to 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” after being sewn. If you want to start with another size rectangle, you can use my Half Rectangle Triangle Cutting Chart here.

1. Cut (84) 4” x 8” rectangles. 

2. Select (42) 4’’ x 8” rectangles. Cut each in half diagonally from top left corner to bottom right corner. If you are not using solids, just make a note that the cutting direction matters!

3. Select the remaining (42) 4’’ x 8”rectangles. Cut each in half diagonally from top right corner to bottom left corner.

Note: I mixed up the rectangles randomly before dividing them in half, so, for example, not all of the 4” x 8” Acid Lime rectangles were cut from top left to bottom right. 

Piece the Half Rectangle Triangles

1. Mix up the Half Rectangle Triangles, and arrange them randomly into four piles.

2. Choose (2) triangles that were cut from the top left to bottom right (the two piles on the left above). Place the (2) triangles right sides together, make sure to offset by 1/4’’ on both ends (both ends of your triangles will have slight dog ears). Your 1/4” seam stitching will begin in the “V” of the fabric created by the dog ear, as shown in the diagram below.

3. Stitch down the long end of the triangle. Press seams toward the darker fabric.

4. Repeat this process for a total of 42 HRT pairs oriented in the same direction.

5. Repeat this process for the HRTs that were cut from the top right corner to the bottom left corner.

6. Repeat the process until you have pieced 84 pairs of half rectangle triangles–it isn’t essential that you have 42 of each orientation, but 84 total.

Square Up the Half Rectangle Triangles

Note: If you want to square these up the easiest way, buy the The Bloc-Loc Ruler in Large. Both ways work, you just have to pay attention a bit more without the ruler. 

1. Select (1) HRT sewn unit [start with a unit that was cut in half diagonally from top right corner to bottom left.]

2. Line up your ruler so that the 1/4’’ x 1/4’’ intersection resides in the seam line.  On some rulers, there is a dot or a crosshatch to make this easier.

3. Trim the long edge first–make sure not to angle the HRT unit, but keep it straight (right angles aligned to the ruler marks on your mat). Then trim the top.

Note: Notice that you do not trim from corner to corner, as you would when making a half square triangle.

4. Rotate the HRT unit as shown in the second diagram.  Determine how large you need to trim the HRT units. You can refer to the Half Rectangle Triangle Cutting Chart if needed. This unit is trimmed to 3-1/2’’ x 6-1/2’’.

5. Line up your ruler in preparation for trimming to the correct size as shown; in this example, this is a large HRT unit, so trim to 3-1/2’’ x 6-1/2’’. Ensure that the 1/4’’ x 1/4’’ intersection lies in the seam line as before, and trim to size. Notice that the trimmed units are not trimmed from corner to corner, but are offset.

6. The same method is used to trim HRT units cut in half diagonally from top left corner to bottom right.

A Note on Trimming HRTs

You might be tempted to trim your HRT units from corner to corner, as you would a Half Square Triangle unit. Resist the temptation!

If you trim HRT units from corner to corner, instead of offset trimming (as explained on page 5), your seam allowances will be off. In order to keep your points, you will have to increase your seam allowance to somewhere between 3/8’’ to 1/2’’ when you sew vertical rows of HRT units (at least 1:2 ratio HRT units) together.

Piece the Quilt Top Together

There are several ways to organize and lay out the quilt top. I put each of the HRT pairs in a large pile, not paying attention to orientation or color. I transferred them to a design wall randomly in a 12 across, 7 down grid. After that, I made a few small tweaks and called it good.

You could be more intentional in this process, or more random.

Once you have a 12 x 7 layout that you like, sew each row together.

Press seams to the left on odd rows (1, 3, 5, and 7) and to the right on the even rows (2, 4, and 6) so that the seams nest.

Sew the rows together. Press seams. Voila! This quilt top measures 36-1/2” x 42-1/2”. Baste, quilt, and bind according to your favorite methods.

If you make a quilt using this tutorial, please let me know. Tag me @swimbikequilt on Instagram or send me an email.

Last week, when I shared my plans for the day with my girls (my husband and son were backpacking in the nearby Uintah Mountains) Ellie, my 4 year old said, “I am done with nature, and I am done with you!” For sure, signs of a busy and successful summer moving into fall, right?

I’ve been finishing up some short term and long term projects, including my Modern Crossing Quilt. [Pattern by Eliane at Patchwork and Poodles]. I used some Kona Cotton in Silver that I happened to have, paired it with Essex Linen in Peacock (its hard to see here but its an awesome, almost shimmery blue/teal), and Lizzy House’s Constellation reprint. Its for a darling friend who just got married, and who loves rainbows, and my finished quilt top is currently being long armed.

BUY the Modern Crossing Quilt Pattern Here