Quilt Block Tutorial Archives ⋆ Scrapdash % %

This month’s blog hop theme for #QuiltBlockMania is Sparkle. I wanted to give you a block that could sparkle and be used for the holidays, so how about this star? Be sure to visit the other designers at the bottom of this page to see their sparkling blocks.

This is the fourth and final quilt block in our November Row-by-Row project.

Sparkle Quilt Block Fabric Requirements

(2) 3″ yellow squares
(2) 3″ blue squares
(4) 3″ background squares
(4) 2-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ background rectangles
(4) 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ background rectangles
(4) 3″ × 6″ background rectangles
(4) 3″ × 6″ red rectangles

How to Create and Square Up a Half Square Triangle (HST) Quilt Block

The Traditional Method of making Half Square Triangle Blocks (HSTs) is to place two identical squares right sides together. These squares should be 7/8″ larger than the finished size of the final HST. Draw a diagonal line on the back of one square. Sew 1/4″ on both sides of the line. Cut on the line and press to the dark.

How to Create and Square Up an HST Quilt Block

You will have made two identical Half Square Triangle (HST) blocks. My personal preference is to cut squares 1″ larger than the finished size of the final HST and square it up to the correct size after pressing.

There are two ways you can square up your block.

You can place a square ruler so the diagonal line is directly over the seam and just cut two sides. Quilt-in-a-Day has a Square Up Ruler that uses this method.

Or you can press open the block (pressing to the dark) and square it up using a ruler the same size as the block you are making. A fussy-cut ruler with lines on both diagonals will be very helpful with this.

Use the 3″ squares to make the HSTs for this block. You will need (4) 2-1/2″ Blue-and-Background HSTs, and (4) 2-1/2″ Yellow-and-Background HSTs.

How to Make a Half-Rectangle Quilt Block

When I first tried to make a half-rectangle quilt block, I thought it would be made the same way as a traditional half-square triangle quilt block. In other words, draw a line on the diagonal of one block, sew the two blocks together 1/4″ from that line, then cut on the line. Boy, was I wrong! That method makes a kite.

I discovered that while you still need to draw a diagonal line on the background of one of the rectangles, you can’t place them right sides together. They have to be offset to accommodate the 1/4″ seam.

To make a half-rectangle quilt block (HRT), start with two rectangles that are 1-1/2″ wider and 1-3/4″ longer than your desired finished block. This time when you place your two rectangle fabrics together you TURN one of them so the diagonal line meets the opposite corner then it would if you just placed the two fabrics on top of each other.

Now you can draw your diagonal line on the back of one rectangle. Sew 1/4″ on both sides of the line and cut on the line. Press to the dark.

Confusing, eh? It gets worse – this is a directional block. Before you sew and cut, fold the top rectangle back on the line. Is your rectangle going in the direction you want? If not, redraw that line on the other diagonal and turn the top rectangle in the other direction.

Let me show you an easier method.

Use the Tri-Recs Ruler. This tool is designed to help you make triangle-in-a-square quilt blocks, so it has two pieces: one for the center triangle and one for the sides. You will only need the smaller side triangle in this pattern.

Starting with 2 strips of fabric (the dark and the light) the same size as the unfinished size of the block, lay the smaller ruler on the strip with the size line of the strip on the ruler along the bottom.

Cut along both edges. Don’t forget that little notch! That will help you match up the pieces later. Then rotate this ruler 180 degrees and cut the other side.

Don’t forget, this is still a directional block! Before committing yourself to that cut, double check – is it going in the right direction?

Making the HRTs for this block

Assemble:

(4) 3″ × 6″ background rectangles
(4) 3″ × 6″ red rectangles

To make the Half-Rectangle-Triangles (HRTs), cut the 3″ × 6″ background rectangles from the upper left to the lower right, as shown in the Step One graphic. Discard the gray side.

Cut the 3″ × 6″ red rectangles at the same angle, as shown in Step Two. Discard the gray side.

Place the angled side of the red triangle right side down next to the angled side of the white triangle. Slide the red triangle down a little bit, so that 1/4″ of the white shows above it. This will be your seam allowance. This is Step Three.

Open your HRT and press. Square it up to 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″. Make (4) and press to the dark.

Putting the Block Together

Assemble:

(4) Blue and Background HSTs
(4) Yellow and Background HSTs
(4) Red and Background HRTs
(4) 2-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ background rectangles
(4) 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ background rectangles

This block is assembled in columns. The first column is the Yellow HST and the Red HRT. Notice the direction of the HRT. The second column is the Blue HST and a 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ background rectangle. The third column is just the 2-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ background rectangle.