simple things

HST blocks for Comfort Circle

It feels SO good to be back to routine after a few weeks of school vacation, to be back in the studio with the longarm humming over a customer’s quilt while I tie up loose ends via email. This afternoon I am going to brainstorm for a new quilt!

Before launching into a new project, I opted to sew the May blocks for the Comfort Circle quilting bee.

We have a simple assignment this month, involving half square triangle blocks (HST). The blocks are to combine low volume fabrics and bright, saturated prints. I need eight low volume squares, each 5”. I don’t have the scraps for that, so I reach for my low volume stash and enjoy cutting into some new yardage.

Bonus - I’m making new low volume scraps, which I “need”. Wink.

I have no trouble at all finding eight fun prints in my scraps for the colored squares!

I almost always use the 2-at-a-time method to create HST blocks like these. I started with 5” squares, which will yield 4” finished blocks (trim 4.5” square). If you want a 3” finished block, you start with 4” squares, and so on.

Now I am sewing the blocks into groups of four and feeling quite inspired by these large HST blocks. Maybe a direction for my next quilt?

The bee blocks will be arranged like so, mixing and matching everyone’s blocks in the final quilt. It’s a sure win for a collaborative, scrappy quilt.

P.S. Are you wondering when I will show my finished sewing room? Me too! I have been stalled for about a month because of a difficult floating shelf installation. Once the shelves go up, I can hang my artwork and share. Fingers crossed for soon!