Hello,
My name is Patience, from Va., living in Belize at the moment. I am a new quilter. Been practicing and practicing half square triangles and now I am ready to do something with them. I have seen a pattern called Belle Meade that uses different size hst's. Short of ordering the pattern, I am trying to figure out what size the small hst's are and the larger ones. I have some that I made from 5 inch squares. I don't know measurements well enough to find a starting point. Am I making sense?
I guess I am wanting to know if I have HST made from two 5 inch charm pieces, what size should I make the smaller HST's.
Okay, now that I have shown my total lack of quilt-eze and ignorance, please don't throw rotten eggs at me.
Here is a link to the picture of the pattern.
http://www.oldmadequilts.com/product...de_Pattern.htm

I only throw rotten eggs at ex-husbands. You are safe.

i like your signature quote. very true, isn't it.
I think you must know my ex husband.

The size of the finished larger HST is 3 times the finished size of the smaller HST.

thank you. I am going to try to figure that out math size but that is a good start for me. thank you.

Hi Patience,

When in this situation it helps to sit down with a piece of paper and think through the pattern. As you do this jot down the finished measurements, to start. Then remember to add in the seam allowances for each piece for cutting measurements.

So for this pattern, if the large HST are a finished 5 inch block, they started as being 5 1/2 inch square....right? 5 plus 1/4 plus 1/4 for the seam on each side.

Ok, for your pattern the smaller HST blocks are three sections to the one large section. For having easy math, I would change the large HST to being 6 inches finished, with the three smaller blocks being a finished 2 inch square. You would add the 1/4 inch seam allowance, being mindful that you have seam on each side.

So the large blocks would start with 6 1/2 inch squares, and the smaller would be 2 1/2 inch squares.

Whenever you have this situation it is advisable to make up at least one block and it's sections to make sure that your calculations are correct before cutting out all of the fabric for the project. Once you have your practice block made I always have it right above my sewing machine. That way I can look up to check myself as I'm working on each block and section.

This is where a design wall is very helpful. You can take a simple cheap plastic tablecloth, flannel, or extra piece of batting and pin to the wall with poster pins. There are various other methods of having a design wall depending on your situation and space.

Good luck with your project and please keep us posted on your progress, with pictures if possible.

Pam M

The quilt is a Paula Barnes design from Bonnie Blue Quilts and is available several places online, including directly from Bonnie Blue Quilts.

Here's my HST primer.

The exact calculation for making HST's using this method (right sides together, draw diagonal, sew 1/4" each side of line, cut on line) is as follows:

Desired size of FINISHED HST plus 7/8" = cut size of beginning squares.

Well, working with 7/8" is a PITA, so I always add at least 1.25" to
the finished desired size, make the HST, press AND THEN trim it down to the exact size.

Now, in your case, if you're starting with 5" squares (charm pack?), then the largest finished HST you're going to get is 4". However, working with a finished 3.75" size is much easier.

This means the smaller HST's will be 1.25" finished. You could cut the starting squares 2.25" .

Those are kind of small, so you might want to rethink your proportions.

Each block in that pattern - the large HST bordered by smaller HST on four sides - would be just 6.25 finished.

That requires a lot of HST's. A lot.

Hope that was helpful.

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !! :-D
I see you got the info, so I just thought I would say " Hi ! " :-D

clear as MUD

:oops:

And which part of it didn't you understand?

You would be making a 6" block, 4-7/8"" hst for center, and cut 20 each (measuring 1-7/8") squares of 2 colors.

The block is called Lady of the Lake. Here is a link to a 10" block at
http://www.quilterscache.com/L/LadyoftheLakeBlock.html

If you want to use your 5" charm pieces this block size is too big, you have to stay with a 6" block. This shows you how to piece the block.

Good luck

you might want to try a simpler pattern with all the squares the same size. Annie's Choice is my favorite, (wonder why), but the are quite a few very simple blocks that can be set togeher side by side or with sashing.

wow, you ladies are simply amazing! I am overwhelmed by your kindness and much needed advice and guidance.
I will look at the link for the lady of the lake and also grannieannie at annie's choice.
thanking you most profusely.

If you have made a bunch of HST's with 5" squares you should now have a bunch of 4" finished size HST's--maybe 4 1/8" if you were really careful pressing, sewing and cutting. The little HST's are one third the size of the bigger ones which is going to be a very, very small little block. Unless you really like to work with tiny blocks I would also suggest that you use your 5" squares for the smaller HST's and use 13" squares for the larger HST's which will then finish at 12"--actually 12 1/8" but I always trim mine down as MTS also mentioned.

What a beautiful quilt you want to make. Go for it! I love scrappy quilts and triangles seem to use up those odd-ball scraps. Thank you milp for the clear directions. What a great thread.

I only throw rotten eggs at ex-husbands. You are safe.[/quote]

LOLOL DITTO :thumbup:

Hi Patience and welcome to this wonderful board.

May I suggest an easier pattern. It's a basket pattern that I think would be easier for you.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-115347-1.htm

scroll down to the bottom. It uses two different size HST. I've made this block before and it's easier for a beginner.

Whan I'm trying to duplicate a pattern or quilt I've seen, I go to graph paper to sketch it out, assigning each block of the paper a specifit size (in inches). Then can deduce the size of the unkown piece of the block from that. I also love to use colored pencils to designate the different fabrics.

Hello from Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Welcome. Belize is one of my favorite places.

Hi Patience! Haven't been to Belize in years. Are you working down there? Enjoy your quilting. From the response, it sounds like you've gotten all of the information you need. It's a great pattern. Have fun with it. Hope you have time to snorkel in between hst's!! Jan

Welcome from Florida (winters) and New Hampsire. I remember being in your positon many years ago and by the way, I love the quilt you want to make.
I read that you used 5 inch Charms, which I think may have actually been 5 1/2 inches??? If they were then you need to make your small HSTs 1 2/3 inches plus the 1/2 inch seam allowance. Lot of math is needed when working this way but in the end it will be worth it.
If your Charms were 5 inches then you have another message early on for those measurements. Let us know and see what you do, please.
Good luck, Kutnso

What is HST and PITA????

This is how I do it too and it really helps me to have the picture in front of me regarding understanding the sizing.

Good luck - you chose a beautiful quilt! :-D

Half Square Triangle and Pain In The A$$.

There is a list somewhere on the board of Quilter's Acronyms. If you search the board for acronyms--most should come up. Maybe not PITA, though.

Thanks so much!

You might check out the following--www.quilterscache.com Jeanniebelle

I have the book "Birds in the Air" by Eleanor Burns but she uses 6 inch blocks.

I agree and Welcome from Colorado

:thumbup:

OMG, I'm so glad I go for simplicity. I could never get the hang of this.

Most thrift stores take in crafting nd quilting books by the arm load all carry bout the same patterns just different colors- manyhave a full size pattern in them

You've gotten all the best answers. Beautiful quilt pattern, do post a picture when you're finished. You'll be fine, just take it slow and don't get frustrated.

You got all the info you need. But on this board--ask and you will receive in abundance.
They really help out and are knowledgable. Good luck and let us all know what you decide and send a pic of the color scheme or one of the squares. All of us like to see things in progress.

Carol from NC

This looks like the Lady of the Lake pattern. Janet Wickell has on her site. Try [email protected].