HSTs for the Color Crystals Quilt & the Bloc Loc Ruler

There are hundreds of half-square triangles (HST) needed for the Color Crystals quilt and I am more than happy making them. Things are going along well so far, slowly but without incident. The pattern calls for cutting squares of fabric diagonally into triangles, pairing them with another colour and then sewing them together. This is not the method I have used in the past, having previously taken advantage of the two-at-once way to make HST. However, that involves marking a line from corner to corner and stitching 1/4" on either side. While some commenters have suggested this method, I for one did not want to mark a zillion squares and I think it would actually take longer to sew them. I, like Angela Walters demonstrates, am following the pattern designer's written instructions.

I have been very careful not to stretch the bias edge of the cut triangles and am stitching slowly and carefully for accuracy of the final HST size. The actual time at the sewing machine is very little since chain stitching makes the process very speedy. I am layering the squares of appropriate fabric, cutting them in half, and delicately moving the paired triangles onto my portable cutting mat to move to the sewing area. That, and the pressing, are the lengthiest parts of the procedure and still I have stacked up quite a few HSTs so far. I remember now how much fun piecing a quilt is and the time flies by.

One other part of getting the HST units ready to incorporate into the blocks is trimming. There are dog ears on either side and they need to be snipped off as part of the squaring up of each HST. I remembered that I had a special ruler tucked away in my tool drawer, the bloc-loc ruler. Even though I bought it years ago, I never had the opportunity to need it for so many HSTs. In fact, it still had the cellophane on it so I was excited to try out the 'new' ruler! I watched a YouTube video first to learn how to use it (see below) and I must say, it worked like a charm! Once I got the hang of it the ruler perfectly 'locks' onto the middle seam of the pieced unit. The ruler is moved first to one side to trim and then can be easily moved to turn the fabric to clean up the other side. It is very accurate and easy to use - I find it so fast and efficient! Having so many HSTs to square up I am very appreciative of this ruler and so happy I already had it ready to go!

Although it would be even more efficient to 'assembly line' each portion of the piecing (i.e. all the cutting, all the sewing, then all the pressing and all the trimming), I have decided to do a batch at a time to avoid strain on my neck, or legs, or hands (depending on which task I'm doing) and boredom. There is a sense of accomplishment to see the stack of completed HSTs and I was able to test out the pattern and method of construction before committing fully to the plan. Now that I know everything is turning out just right I can increase the the quantity of each batch. I am in no rush and simply enjoying the time in my workshop and at the machine. I've missed it!!

I have a couple hours before the crew comes home for our Valentine's dinner and dessert so I'd better get over to the machine. Happy Valentine's Day (or Gal-entines, or Ash Wednesday or just Wednesday) to you all!