HST is a simple block that is quick to make, can use up lots of scraps, and has numerous variations. It is one of my favorites. I usually pick two colors… a light and a dark. For this example, I am using blue as the dark and yellow/gold/tan as the light. I have a stash of scraps that includes a lot of 5 inch squares, so I decided to make a bunch of these blocks to use them up.

On the back side of the light squares, mark two lines diagonally across 1/2 inch apart as shown in the photo to make two seam lines.

Layer with a dark square, right sides together, and stitch along each line. Cut along the center diagonal between the seam lines to make two half square triangle blocks.

Trim to 4 1/2 inches square, keeping the seam centered on the diagonal.

Make a bunch of these blocks with your scraps. Since they are four inches finished size, 100 of them will make a 40 inch square quilt.

There are many setting variations that can use this simple block. Here are a few you might want to try, as mocked up on my design wall:

Basic half square triangle set:

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Pinwheels (works well with sashing between the pinwheel squares)

Diagonal stripes

Zigzag stripes

Expanding squares

Expanding spiral

There are probably others. And the settings would be more distinct with a more careful selection of values; some of my light scraps are a little too busy or dark, and some of my darks are not quite dark enough. I will probably swap some blocks out before I finish this quilt.

Recently I received a free video download of Ricky Tim’s “Kool Kaleidoscope Quilt” when I renewed my membership in The Quilt Show, Ricky and Alex Anderson’s online quilt show.  The instructions are also available in a book.  I watched the video and decided the technique was interesting enough that I wanted to make a quilt.

As color inspiration, I used a fabric panel purchased at my local quilt shop that had large butterflies on it.  Following Ricky’s instructions, I purchased half yards of 20 fabrics and made the quilt.  Here is a photo of the finished product:

The disadvantage of this technique is that you have to buy a lot of fabric – way more than you need.  There are lots of choices to be made during the design process and they can all influence how much of a particular fabric is needed.  The finished kaleidoscope section of the quilt is just 36 inches square, so the 10 yards I purchased is way more than needed.  As part of the design process, you cut varying width strips of all the fabrics.  Then a bunch of strata are created using the strips.  Once all the strata needed for the quilt are finished, typically you have a bunch of leftover strips.

The first thing I did was use up strips in the borders.  That brought the quilt size to 48 inches square.  The second thing I did was create a bunch of strip-pieced squares (9 inch finished) using all the leftover strips plus some new ones.  I then made the quilt shown below, setting the squares on point and adding sashing:

I still had squares left over.  I also had the original butterfly panel I used for inspiration.  So I used those pieces plus some of the leftover fabric to make the back of the strip/square quilt:

I still have a little bit of fabric leftover, but I just put it back in my stash and called it good. Both the above quilts were quilted by Terri Allender, a long-arm quilter who lives nearby.  The process of making the quilt was quite interesting, but  one was enough.  I think the process could be adapted for other purposes, although at the moment I don’t know how.  Maybe it will suddenly occur to me someday when I am designing another quilt!