WHW RS Sampler Quilt Class: Block 5: Pinwheel (Half Square Triangles)

This week we are talking about Half Square Triangles, or HSTs!  When I first started quilting, I was scared of these, but now I love them!  There are SOOOO many things you can do with them.  :)

There are TONS of tutorials out there for making HSTs.  My favorite is THIS ONE from Blossom Heart Quilts, because she shows us several ways to make them, PLUS she gives us the math we need to make them in ANY size. (Scroll to the bottom of her post for a link to more HST tutorials.)  :)

We'll be making a pinwheel using just 4 HSTs, but if you are willing to make a few extra (it seems like 16 is the magic number), look at all the awesome blocks you could make - all from the exact same beginning units:

Material Girl Quilts

For the alternate block, I'll show you how to make sixteen HSTs so you can make one of the above blocks.  :)

And for your inspiration, here are a bunch of full quilts made entirely out of HSTs:

Sew Katie Did

Margaret's Hope Chest

ME!

Diary of a Quilter

Quilting is More Fun than Housework

 

Sew Stormy

Making More With Less

Red Pepper Quilts

My HST blocks haven't actually been sewn together yet, so I'll share them with next week's post!

Here are the instructions for the HST blocks:  WHW RS Quilt Class:  Block 5: Pinwheel

WHW RS Sampler Quilt Class: Block 4: Disappearing Nine Patch (Sliced Blocks)

Our 4th block for Quilt Class is a fun one!  It's called the Disappearing Nine Patch.  This block is super easy and if you make a whole bunch you end up with an awesome quilt that looks much more complex than it really is (read:  impress all your friends with your mad quilting skills).  Same with the two alternate blocks.  :)

I found this image on Pinterest (it's from a lady's Facebook page) that pretty much sums up how to make it:  (Once again - ALL photos in this post are linked to their original source.)

Quiltville's Open Studio on Facebook

There are a couple different ways to layout your block (assuming you make your original nine patch in a checkerboard fashion):

Felt Magnet

However, the look may change quite a bit depending on how many different colors you use in your quilt.  The most common layout seems to be this one with three colors (corners all one color, middle square a different color, the rest background).  Or something with five different colored squares; or something with opposite corners the same (4 colors including background) - just as long as you keep the checkerboard look.  (This block definitely works even if you don't follow the checkerboard rule, though!!)

Neighborhood Quilt Club

If you're looking to cut your fabric ahead of time, you'll need nine 5" squares for the 12" block, or nine 4" squares for the 9" block.  For an awesome SIZING CHART (so you can make these blocks in any size), check out this post here:  Ravenfea

And here are a bunch of examples of the disappearing nine patch blocks in quilts.

This is the most common layout (this particular nine patch was made with three colors - opposite corners were the same color, and every other block had either pink or black centers):

Borderline Quilter

And a few more, just for fun:

Chucklemops

The Sewing Chick

Sometimes Crafter

Piece N Quilt

Cluck Cluck Sew

Outside the Line

For our Alternate Block, I'm actually going to give you BOTH of these (I couldn't decide).

Disappearing Four Patch:

Bento Box:

These alternate blocks are also super fun.  Here are a few pics of quilts with Disappearing Four Patches:

Flourishing Palms

Porch Swing Quilts

For an excellent tutorial for making a disappearing four patch (WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING THEM ANY SIZE!!!), check out this link here:

Craftsy

And a few Bento Box quilts:

Constanca Cabral

Modern Cozy

A Quilting Jewel

ME!!

I ended up with four blocks, since there are two alternates and I made my Bento Blocks using the two-at-a-time method:

And here are the handouts from last night:  WHW RS Quilt Class:  Block 4: Disappearing Nine Patch