Hope Quilt

This quilt of hope and kindness uses a little trick to make the Quarter Square Triangle units.

The quilt that truly gave me peace was 26 Acts of Kindness. It was named after the kindness campaign that sprung to life after the Sandy Hook Massacre that killed 26 people on December 14, 2012. People were encouraged to do one act of kindness for 26 days and they rose to the challenge! I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that people are still paying forward those acts of kindness.

I can’t tell you why I felt compelled to make the quilt, nor can I explain why it gives me peace. Do you have a quilt like that?

Of course, I have a free pattern for you! Maybe you will find your own peace while making it. It uses a little trick to make the Quarter Square Triangles, which I am including under the form to get the pattern.

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A tricky way to make Quarter-Square-Triangle Quilt Blocks

If you need to make Quarter-Square-Triangle quilt blocks but all you have is strips, give this method a try. The blocks do end up on the bias but the seams hold it tightly in place. You can always use a starch like Best Press if that worries you. The formula for QST quilt blocks is at the bottom of this page.

Start with two strips of fabric, a dark and a light. In the example below, the strips are 2-3/8″ wide. I sewed them together and pressed the seams open. The two strips together measure 4-1/4″ wide. I crosscut them into 2-3/8″ wide sub strips.

Transforming a four-patch quilt block into a quarter square triangle quilt block

That’s because I am going to sew them into two 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ four-patch quilt blocks, pressing the seams open again, as shown below.

Then place them right sides together with opposite colors touching. Sew all the way around the outside of this unit as if it were a pillow with no way to get to the inside. I suggest pinning the seams so they match up.

Now take a deep breath and cut it on both diagonals.

Open up your units and surprise! You just made (4) QST quilt blocks. Press that seam open again and square them up.

Using a Fussy Cut Ruler

I am a big fan of the Quilt in a Day fussy cut rulers. You can easily see the center seam, and you can double-check to make sure you aren’t cutting off the same allowance. VERY useful!

4 QST blocks made from 2 four-patch blocks

4 thoughts on “Hope Quilt – 26 Acts of Kindness”

Kris, thank you for all the kindness you have shown to others over the years. your post this morning reminds me of all the reasons we have to have hope, and give thanks.