They Can't All Be Winners...or Can They?

Easy Half-Square Triangle (HST) Quilt

This is my latest quilt top. It’s been tormenting me for a while, as you can see here, but I finally finished her!!!

I've included a very brief tutorial at the end of this post, because it turned out to be a lot more popular than I anticipated. The truth is, I wasn't even going to show you as I simply didn't think it was worthy of a public viewing. Funnily enough, this quilt is now starting to hold a lot of meaning to me. Not just because it does look pretty funky, but, because it really had me thinking about who I am and where I'm going with this blog. 

It's so easy to become caught up in the whole blogging world. Following all the big names and drooling in envy at their incredible, award winning creations. It's hard not to use that as some sort of benchmark for your own blog/quilts. The problem with that is, it's just not me. I don't want to be a prize winning artist (not that I'd complain mind you). I just want to teach and show the world that anyone can be a quilter. To be proud of what you create, even if you think someone else’s is better. I want to show my mistakes as well as my triumphs. Most of all, I want to show that you can create something meaningful no matter what your skill level may be. 

What does this have to do with my quilt? 

I started this quilt as nothing more than a way of practising half-square triangles (HSTs). It was destined for the spare room and never intended to be a work of art. Not long after starting, however, the self-doubt kicked in. It wasn't pretty enough. There was nothing impressive about it. No one will like it (this cracks me up because it's not like my spare room has a high turnover of guests). Other quilting bloggers will think I'm a joke. The list of internal taunts goes on and on (I never claimed I was entirely sane). 

It all turned around when I was sewing the last few seams. I'd settled on this layout because it was simple, yet effective. Exactly what I like for my blog. It is definitely an 'anyone can make this' quilt. Something else I like on my blog. Most of all, it showed that things don't always go according to plan. Hmmm my blog again?? That's when I realised that I had lost my focus. I was so caught up in everyone else being marvellous that I didn't even realise that this quilt represented everything about my blog. Simple, funky, a great learning experience and it shows that you don't need a work of art to have a beautiful quilt. 

Isn't it funny? It wasn't a prize winning quilt, or a fantastic business opportunity that reminded me of where I wanted to be...it was just something to throw over the rarely used spare bed. I guess it really is the little things ;)

Anywho. That's probably enough touchy feely for one day, so, let's get down to this tutorial business. 

I won’t go into a lot of detail as this really was a quick and easy sew.

Requirements

This quilt measures approximately 72’’ x 90’’.

1 x White Layer Cake (or 40 x 10’’ squares)

1 x Patterned Layer Cake (or 40 x 10’’ squares)

Steps

Separate the squares into 40 sets of one white and one patterned piece.

On the wrong side of the white piece, draw a line diagonally across.

Draw a diagonal line

Place the white square on the patterned square, right sides together. Sew ¼’’ away from either side of the drawn line.

If you don’t have a ¼’’ foot, draw one line ¼’’ from either side of the diagonal and sew along those lines.

Sew 1/4'' from each side of the line

Cut along the diagonal line creating two units.

Cut along the diagonal

Open the triangles and press the seams open or to one side (I pressed open for this quilt).

Press the units open

You should now have 80 HST units.

Arrange them in the following fashion and sew together. I joined the blocks into rows first and then the rows together.

Final Layout

See, I told you it was easy ;)

For more HST hints, download my free pattern It's All Black and White from Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/its-all-black-and-white/116532.