It's no secret that my favorite thing about partnering with fabric companies like Riley Blake Designs is getting to play with all the beautiful fabrics first. I was thrilled when they sent me the Whimsical Romance by Keera Job to work with. I love the navy blue, mustard yellow, and burgundy red color combination with the pretty floral prints.
I chose to make one of my oldest patterns, Eternally Yours. The thing I like about this pattern is that each print is able to stand alone in the block. It is perfect for showing off a fabric collection. Plus, I haven't made it since I wrote the pattern and it was really fun to revisit! I had forgotten how quick this pattern is to make, but I had the baby size top done in three days (including taking time out to take progress photos along the way!).
I used Riley Blake Confetti Cottons in Denim for the cornerstones, binding, and unifying fabric in each block, and I used Confetti Cottons in Natural for the background. I usually opt for a brighter white, but I like how the softness of this white complements the saturation of the prints. It worked well I think.
For the quilting, I kept it simple with vertical lines spaced about 1.5" apart. It gives the perfect amount of drape and softness. Just perfect!
Enjoy the rest of the photos!
Half Square Triangles (HSTs) are the most basic of quilt blocks. It is one of those buildings blocks in quilting. Once you master this one, it opens up a whole new world of blocks to make. I’m just guessing here based on my own experience, but it is probably one of the first quilt blocks attempted after a 4-patch.
There are many, many ways to make an HST. They can be made 1 at a time, 2 at a time, 4 at a time, 8 at a time, on a roll, with the perfect HST paper method, etc. Today, I’m going to focus on the 4 at a time method because it is the method I used to make HSTs in my two latest quilt patterns (Eternally Yours and Square Burst).
The upside to this method is that it makes 4 HST at a time. The downside is that it yields units with bias edges which make the blocks more prone to stretching and distortion. But, don’t let that scare you. That is nothing a little starch and light handling can’t solve.
An HST is two right triangles of contrasting colors/fabrics in a square. Because the final result is a square, these can be made in any size needed. The handy reference sheet includes a chart with common sizes and the math formula if you want to calculate your own.
To get started, you need your two contrasting fabric squares, a rotary cutter, and pins (if you use them).
Take your squares and place them right sides together. You can pin them in place if you would like, but I find that I don’t need to.
Sew a 1/4” seam down one edge. Tip: I like to chain piece these by sewing the first edge of all units at a time.
Sew a 1/4” seam down the second edge. I like to sew the opposite side next. I have found that it helps prevent the top square from shifting. (I should have used a contrasting thread that was easier to see, but I didn't think about it until this very moment.)
Continue sewing a 1/4” seam around the remaining edges.
I sew all the way to the edges so my seams overlap at the corners. This is a non-issue once you cut it apart.
When all 4 sides have been sewn together, it’s time to head to the cutting table. If you have a rotating cutting mat, it is especially helpful in this step. Line up your ruler from corner to corner and make a cut.
Before moving the pieces, rotate your mat (or carefully rotate the squares) to make another cut from the opposite corners like shown.
You now have 4 HST units!
Press seams open or the side - whichever you prefer - but be careful to lift the iron in an up and down motion to prevent distortion of the blocks.
They come out a little bit to allow you to trim them down to the appropriate size.
That’s it! You’re finished!
Yep, I have a few final thoughts for you:
Download your reference guide, grab some fabric from your stash, and get sewing!
Eternally Yours in available in my shop!
While I released this pattern on Wednesday, I'm just sharing more about it now. I usually like to have this post ready to go when the pattern is available, but like all things with the pattern release, nothing went according to plan!
Right after I sent this pattern off to the testers, I found out I was pregnant! Right after I found out I was pregnant, I lost the will to do anything other than sleep. As much as I wanted to meet my original release date of Valentine's Day, I'm okay with having waited. I would rather things be done well, then quickly.
The Eternally Yours Pattern is available is three sizes: baby, throw, and bed. It has fabric requirements and layouts for two design options in each size: a minimalist, and a scrappy design. Here are some mock ups of the throw size in each of the designs.
Design 1: Minimalist - one color/fabric is used for the X's and one fabric/color is used for the O's.
Design 2: Scrappy - this option uses fat quarters, and each FQ makes 2 X's and 2 O's for a fun variety.
This quilt design actually started as a commissioned quilt I was making for a customer. I took the concept I created for her, and tweaked it to match my personal aesthetic a little better, and that is how Eternally Yours was born.
The cover quilt uses a variety of Kona Solids from Robert Kaufman. I used Blush Pink, Deep Rose, Sangria, Pomegranate, Cerise, Ruby, Rich Red, Wine, Crimson, Berry, and Garnet. The background is my go to, Kona Snow.
I quilted this one with straight line quilting about 1.5 inches apart. Straight line quilting is my favorite. It never gets old, and it looks good on everything!
And now, here are my testers versions. They did an amazing job!
Linda (@txquiltgal) made a fun scrappy throw size! I adore the fabrics she used.
Jen (@oneblessedmamaquilts) also did a scrappy throw in colors that make me excited for spring.
Mandi (@mandipersell) made a striking minimalist baby quilt. I can't get enough of the teal feature sashing she used!
April (@aprilgracequilts) made a scrappy baby size in calming, muted colors.
Jessica (@maeberrysquare) also went for the minimalist option in baby size. The pink and purple combo is a beauty!
