Hi friends!
Welcome to the Allure Block of the Month quilt along with tips for block 2!
If you are just finding these posts, Allure is a BOM pattern that I designed for QT Fabrics to use with their new basic line called Aura. This line of fabrics is just so lovely; it has great depth of color and movement. I am creating a “quilt along” series of blog posts to go along with the pattern. No matter when you start making your quilt, you can reference these posts for tips on making your blocks! The posts will run from April 2024 – December 2024! If you want to quilt along with me and QT, check with your local quilt shop to see if they are carrying Allure and running a BOM program. Click here to see the Block 1 post!
Block 2
This month you are making just 1 block.
Block 2 uses HST units and half square triangles. What’s the difference? Let’s chat about that!
HST units AKA Half Square Triangle Units
HST units are usually referred to as half square triangle units but some people like to call them half triangle squares.
Just like many things in quilting, not only does a unit or a block have many names but it usually has many different ways you can make them as well!
Basically the units are a square with each half being a triangle of a different color.
In the pattern I share my favorite way to make them, the 2 at once method, with 2 cutting options- to oversize or not to oversize!
I have already blogged about this method many times- you can read more about it here as Method 2.
The 2 cutting options are to cut your beginning squares exactly the size needed or to cut them a little bigger and trim to size. I am a “cut bigger and trim to size” kind of quilter. As I mentioned in the last post, I like wiggle room!! I think I am a big fan of wiggle room because sometimes I wobble a bit as I sew. Oversizing lets me trim the HST unit so the points end up in the corners and it is the right size.
Another spot where quilters have different options is in the trimming. There are different tools and you can chose to trim before pressing or after pressing. I like to trim AFTER I press. I find that pressing can sometimes change the size or shape of my HST unit so I like to press the unit open and then trim. Some HST tools have you trim and then press. They do save time because you trim 2 sides at once. So if that works for you, great!
Do you have a favorite trimming tool for your HST units? Since I like to press and then trim, I have 2 favorite tools – the Tucker Trimmer from Studio 180 Designs and the Bloc_Loc HST ruler. Both work great.
Half Square Triangles
So what are half square triangles and how are they different from HST units?
Half square triangles are the triangles you get when you cut a square in half on the diagonal once. With these triangles, the bias is along the diagonal line so you want to handle it carefully!
Note: You could use these to make a HST unit! The traditional way to make them was to combine 1 half square triangle of one fabric with another half square triangle of a different fabric!
In the block we use 2 different sizes of these triangles. The smaller background triangles are sewn to the sides of the HST units to create one side of Section 1 of the block.
You have to be very careful when you sew them and not wobble and press gently so as not to stretch them out of shape.
I don’t like to oversize these small half square triangles because then you need to trim along the diagonal for your ¼” seam, which you need to sew to the next piece. I think it is hard to trim that diagonal accurately.
The larger half square triangle in section 1 can be cut oversize. If you do that, just trim it to size once done!
HST and Half Square Triangle math
How do you know what size to cut the squares to make either HST units or half square triangles?
Once you know the size of your finished HST unit or triangle, you add ⅞” to the size of your square that you will cut. So for a HST unit or triangle that finishes at 2″, you would cut a 2 ⅞” square.
You can see why some people like to oversize- finding the ⅞” mark on your ruler can be tricky!
How much should you oversize? I usually just round up to next ⅛” number so for a 2 ⅞” square, I would cut it at 3″. But you could make it even larger; that is personal preference.
You can download my HST sizes cutting cheat sheet here on my tips and tutorials page.
I hope you enjoyed my Allure BOM QAL tips for block 2! Happy quilting and I will see you next month for Block 3!
Kate
Please Note: All the sizes need for Block 2 are in the pattern. I am not sharing block or cutting sizes on the blog; you will need the pattern to make the quilt.