You can improve you quilting skills and have fun!

Is the jury still out, or are you firmly in the love or hate camp in regard to half-square triangles?

This week is the last week of the Cakewalk Quilt Sampler, a project that celebrates half-square triangles (HSTs). You heard that right.... celebrates! I mean, they are the most versatile and arguable one of the most common quilting unit.  

How could something that appears so simple, they can be frustrating at times? I can't tell you how many blocks I unpicked when I was working on a pinwheel project a few years ago. The quilt pattern called for open seams, and I was so frustrated that nothing was lining up exactly. I struggled with getting the points lined up and it made my project look sloppy. 

Good news!!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FRUSTRATED ANY LONGER WITH HSTs! That's right...... you can get a precise point with a few changes in your technique. 

Interested? Read on! 
Nested seams are you best friend. When I designed the Cakewalk Quilt Sampler, I sat down with 16 HSTs and planned how to press each block to utilize nested seams. Weekly instructions were sent out for this signed up for the Quilt-a-long including strategic pressing instructions for each block.

Most of the blocks use about 50% pressed toward each color. I've included an example below to show you the strategic pressing. The seam in this example is pressed toward the arrow point. By utilizing strategic pressing, a nested seam will be formed and your precision is going to go way up! A nested seam is simply when two units are positioned together with seams pressed in opposite directions. They snuggle up easily to help you be more precise. 

This is a great block to use as practice to improve your nested seams and precision, so I've included directions for you to try! 

To construct this block, you need 16 HSTs. You can use any size HST you'd like. Press 6 blocks with seam toward the light, and 12 blocks with seam toward the dark. Use a consistent, exact 1/4" seam allowance.  

The Cakewalk Quilt Sampler has 12" blocks, using 3.5" unfinished HST units.

• Arrange all your blocks according to the diagram. All seam directions noted as L (left) or R (right) are noted from a FRONT view of the block.
• Sew the two 4-Patch units together first as outlined by the red squares. Sew the top two HST units together in each 4-Patch and press seam to the left. Sew the bottom two HST units together in each 4-Patch and press the seam to the right. Join the units with a nested seam to create two 4-Patch units. 
• The yellow stars indicate that you can spin these seams by removing the stitches that extend past the midline seam on each side of the block to press open and distribute the bulk of the seams evenly.  If you've never using a spinning seam in a block, check out my Instagram Highlight for the Cakewalk Quilt Sampler for more information.
• Join the two 4-Patch blocks together and press the center seam to the right. 
• The top and bottom rows are sewn together and pressed to the right (R) and left (L) according to the diagram. Sew the rows to the joined 4-Patch blocks. 
• Spin the midline top and bottom seams. 
• Press block well.

And there you have it! You should have lovely nested seams and crisp points. 

This week I will be finishing my sashing and adding borders to my quilt to complete this traditional sampler layout. I'm smitten with the simplicity, and the effect color and contrast have on this quilt. It's been a great project for creative play.

Did you see my tip on getting the right arrangement for your scrappy quilts? Check out my reel about using your smartphone and a filter to balance your sampler block layout. 

Stop by my Instagram DMs to say hi....I'd love to hear what you are sewing.

Happy Stitching! 

Whatever you make, make it splendid! 

Jen- @CottonSplendor