I start Row C today. Row C doesn’t look too hard or maybe I’m better at sewing, more patient and I’ve learned a thing or two on the way here.
Do I need to say this block is EASY? It’s nice to get a break from time to time. This is also the reason why I’m doing this quilt in order, so that I can look forward to getting a break now and then. There’re days that I don’t really need a challenge.
I can’t emphasise enough how easy paper piecing is once you get the hang of it.
I really don’t have any more advice to offer for this block. Cut your pieces, stitch together following the order in the pattern and in no time you will have a new block to add to your Dear Jane.
Where to get the Jane A. Stickle Quilt patterns
Susan Gatewood’s paper foundation . All patterns are free though Susan says “I only ask that you consider making a donation to the Bennington Museum, in Bennington, Vermont. And if you do, it would make me tremendously happy if you would tell them that you have received help from me.” I totally recommend Susan’s patterns as they are very easy to use.
This block can appear to be a bit complex at first sight but it’s quite simple to do. All you need is 4 strips of fabric the same size sewn together. Use high contrasting fabrics for better results. My choice of fabric makes this block a bit hypnotic, don’t you think?
How to make the Doubly striped Half Square Triangle / Hidden wells block
Learn how to make this block in just over one minute:
Make the tutorial twice and make a different block altogether! Learn how:
Some ideas for extending this block
This block can be made into a scrappy quilt by using your fabric scraps or jelly rolls. I do find however than this block works a lot better, and I mean A LOT, if you plan your fabrics and colours.
Colours
For instance, use fabric that are high contrast and alternate them:
acqua and black,
red and white,
red and black,
actually any light colour and black or white would work well.
Use only 2 fabrics, one print and one white or black.
Try with solids. Black and white would look great.
Use complimentary colours or interesting colour combinations. Checks, strips, polka dots, types of fabrics work great.
Work with tone on tone fabrics or with few colours.
Do blocks in 2 different colour schemes that work together and combine the pieces.
Strip width and number
You can play with the width of the strips. To keep it symmetric you need to make sure that your outside strips are the same width and the inside strips are the same width as well.
You can use more than 4 strips too as long as they are even numbers and you keep the width symmetric as well.
Note: Since I made this block I’ve been told repeatedly that this technique was developed by the 3 dudes however I have come across earlier examples of this type of block going back to 1989 and Mary Ellen Hopkins and her quilt Hidden wells. Go to google and look up Hidden wells and you’ll see so many quilts using this technique. They’re spectacular.
As you can see the possibilities for this block are quite incredible. The quilt layouts are also varied.
Quilt layout with sashing
Layout 1
Quilt with sashing
Layout 2
Quilt with sashing in black. Other colours can be used to match your choice of fabric for the block.
Quilt layout without sashing
Alternative placement of blocks
Order my book Turnabout Patchwork
“Turnabout Patchwork. Simple quilts with a twist” is all about playing with blocks – making a block, slicing it up, and turning or repositioning the pieces to make a completely different block (sometimes two smaller blocks) to yield endless quilt tops.
If you make any of my tutorials and upload pictures to Instagram please tag me with @teresadownunder on private message me in Facebook with some photos and I’ll post them for everyone to see!
Have a look at the prairie points. I think this was the first time I introduced fabric manipulation on my quilts. I have made many fabric manipulations since.
This is the full quilt. The prairie points add a very nice touch in my view. It makes this quilt particularly special and they’re a great way to use up your fabric scraps.
