http://www.etsy.com/listing/120515468/as-the-wind-blows-quilt-pdf-pattern
http://www.etsy.com/listing/120513872/diamond-star-pdf-quilt-pattern
These patterns utilize the fastest and most fabric efficient way I know of to make half-square triangles (HST). Once HST are pieced, the plethora of blocks that can be created from them is endless. The blue quilt's center is the traditional "Windblown" block while the center of the red quilt is a traditional "Diamond" block that turns into a star once a sawtooth border is added. I'm pretty happy with how they have turned out. My husband got into the designing of these and came up with many more versions of combining HST. The additional layouts are both included in the pattern and PDF can be accessed at the bottom of the HST tutorial.
So...on to the tutorial.
- Layer a solid fabric on top of a print fabric.
- Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the lighter colored fabric.
4. Cut these squares in half along the drawn line and press seams toward the darker fabric. This results in two HST units.
Here is a link to other HST quilt layouts that my spouse came up with. So many quilts...so little time! As you can see, playing around with HSTs, you can create your own unique quilt once you can quickly piece the unit.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0KRaxk3aDzkUjNFMmJHb3FVQUU/edit
Here is another pattern I have created using HST for sale on my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/102181277/summer-popsicle-pdf-layer-cake-quilt
Coming up...two more pattern demos to piece...then I'll be back to machine quilting. I am planning to do a baptist fan using circular and half-circle rulers on my lightening bolt top and will share how I do it on my mid-arm quilting machine.
Until next time, Happy Quilting!