What do you do with the cut-off triangles from piecing binding strips on the bias… or the triangle cut-offs when you do the flippy corner patchwork technique? Do you save them?
I save these triangular scraps and use them as “leaders” and “enders” when I chain piece. They turn into little HSTs (half-square triangles). So trust me, I have a huge HST assortment!
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| Half-square triangle patchwork. |
Lately, I’ve been enjoying “therapy patchwork” assembling HSTs into patchwork blocks. No plan. I just trim the HSTs with the Bloc Loc HST ruler, then sort them by color and size, lay them out, and make patchwork.
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| Half square triangle block with the Bloc Loc ruler. |
At first, I was just making HST patches.
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| A 4x4 patchwork unit made with 1-1/4” half square triangles. |
Then I started making them into larger blocks. In this one, the HST patchwork is framed with sashing strips.
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| HST 9-patch with borders. |
Sometimes a fussy-cut motif is surrounded/framed with a border of HSTs.
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| Fussy cut center surrounded with HSTs. |
Pinwheels are fun HST units, as well as a strip of HSTs sewn in a row.
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| Pinwheels and HSTs in a row. |
Other patchwork units include the broken dishes unit, or the square in a square unit.
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| Four patch Broken Dishes units. |
Making blocks with HSTs leads to more HSTs
I’ve got many more HSTs to use… units to make… blocks to assemble. By playing around with these little units, other quilt blocks have come to mind… shoo fly, bear paw, maple leaf… I’m sure there are more.
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| A stash of HST units awaiting patchwork. |
It’s ironic, however, that in using up my stash of HSTs to make patchwork blocks, I’m also creating more HSTs with leaders and enders… which is where all this began.
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| An unending supply of HSTs. |
Kind of like the loaves and the fishes…
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| Half-square triangles waiting for patchwork assembly. |
