Tuesday, July 9, 2013

[workinprogress]


I am re-visiting an old friend this week - the humble half square triangle (HST). I really love this versatile unit and have made numerous quilts in various designs from this simple block (see Half Square Triangle label to browse through all HST projects).


This time I have used a traditional block - featuring nine the same HST units in a nine patch arrangement.  The HST units each feature a dark fabric and a light (low volume) fabric.  The dark fabrics that I have selected for this quilt generally have a retro feel about them.  


Several of the large scale fabrics are indeed reclaimed vintage linens as well as authentic feedsack fabrics.  I love that these pre-loved fabrics from another era blend so well with our "modern" fabrics.  All of the fabrics are from stash, although I had to dig deep to audition and find the right fabrics for this project.

30 HST nine-patch blocks
270 Half Square Triangle Units
each and every unit over-sized and trimmed for accuracy.



Now ready for basting and quilting.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Retro HST Quilt - A Finished Quilt and Quilt Pattern (pdf file)


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42 comments:

  1. Whoa that is a ton of half square triangles!! Lovely work :)

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  2. Always lovely fabric choices. . but it's the meeting of seams and corners that blows me away . . perfect precision..love it!

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    1. That is exactly what I was thinking. Incredible!

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    2. Me too! I aspire to be that precise ... someday.

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  3. Just gorgeous! I love the fabrics and the tip of the hat to traditional design.

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  4. Oh my. I can't even imagine the trimmings involved in this! It's gorgeous!

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  5. Love all those colours...looks like Springtime!

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  6. Love this quilt!!! I am partial to hst's too and made a king sized quilt using them. I had to trim all of mine too, over 500 of them!!! I feel your pain.... :)

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  7. I love your fabric choices and your seams all line up perfectly! Beautiful!!

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  8. This is so gorgeous! Makes me want to start making HSTs! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  9. It looks wonderful! I love HST's! Great job!

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  10. Beautiful! And neat as always.
    You know, these blocks would look great in a row as panels in curtains - paired with a nice solid colour.

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  11. Love the old fabrics with the new! They are surprisingly compatible. Beautiful!

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  12. What lovely colours. Makes me want to finish the one I started two years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  13. Oh, it looks really very nice! J.

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  14. Oh Rita ......you make the fabrics dance. Just loving the HST nine patch. I absolutely agree that the vintage fits beautifully with the modern. Thanks for sharing. Marie x

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  15. So pretty! Your fabrics are wonderful. I love HSTs. Not so much the trimming, but the accuracy is worth it.

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  16. I like the look of this one!

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  17. Looks great! So fresh and summery, apt for us in the UK enjoying some sun for once. Goodness, how quickly you have made the HST units and put this quilt top together.

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  18. I read ALOT of quilt blogs, and Rita I think you are the most accurate quilter of the bunch. Your seams always look so neat, your points always match so well, and your straight line quilting is perfection!
    I honestly think you should write a little how-to series on your techniques for doing things so neat and accurate! :-)

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  19. Rita,
    Love your quilt and colors...as usual! As a somewhat beginner, well maybe advanced beginner....I have a question. How do you get your corners and points so nice--none are cut off. I tend to stay away from triangles just for this reason. Any helpful hints??

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  20. They look gorgeous! You make them to perfection!! I love your fabric choices.
    I have troubles keeping them the same size.

    Susie

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  21. You sure are fast! I absolutely have to make HST's bigger and cut them down to get them right...it's a lot of work. I just did a big quilt that has 500 blocks...2/3 of which are HST!

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  22. Sometimes simple is more powerful than complexity. Love the look of this one!

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  23. Look at all of those perfect points! Not a off one in the lot. I can't wait to see the finished quilt. Your work is always so inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  24. Always love seeing RPQ and HST together again...such a great combination!!!!! :)

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  25. Oh my stars! Do I see some vintage sheets in there??? I love this! Thank you for the inspiration - again!

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  26. I was so pleased to learn that you oversize and trim. I do that, and I'm so glad to learn that someone with your level of expertise does, too! As always, your precision and design are stunning.

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  27. Your points are so perfect. WOW ... very nice :-)

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  28. I really love your quilts! They are simply beautiful and so inspiring! You are a Master Quilter!

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  29. The precision is just overwhelming. It's aspirational. Thanks for sharing. As always, I can't wait to see it finished.

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  30. Oh my goodness. That quilt is awesome. It is simply beautiful and beautiful in it's simplicity!

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  31. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  32. Too many mispelled words so deleted the comment. I wanted to say my grand-daughter made a disappearing 9-patch quilt. Her seams were not the best even with a guide, so we trimmed each square. I pinned and she sewed and that quilt came out so lovely. I remember that once you told me to have fun and that is what we did. Her mother was so impressed! We used Lily Ashbury charm packs. Thank you Rita for good advice for a grandma teaching her grand-daughter to quilt.

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  33. I love HSTs. I hate trimming them, even with a nice ruler with a guide in it. I just don't like trimming! But I always have to. Then I love the effect I get from them and their versatility so I start another one... I think I slept on one of those sheets, btw ;-)

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  34. interesting fabric, not like anything else in my stash

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  35. I love your fabrics you used. Very nice.

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  36. When mixing vintage linens with modern quilting fabrics, do you prewash your new fabrics? Do you have to worry about them shriNking the same? I always wonder if the vintage would crinkle like the quilting cotton does since it is previously laundered.... I always wondeR about this when thinking about mixing the two.
    I absolutely love your blog and your quilts! Thank you for sharing!!

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