Hexagons and Hourglass Units: Summer Sampler 2019 Blocks 17 and 18

You guys! I’ve gotten behind on my blog posts lately, so let’s catch up on Summer Sampler 2019: Piecing Bootcamp blocks, shall we?

First, Block 17 is “Scattered” by Faith Jones of Fresh Lemons Quilts. Our skill for this week was hexagons, but rather than mess with English paper piecing or Y-seams, Faith gave us an easy way to machine-piece hexies by cutting them in half!

Obviously, this block involves a lot of cutting, using a paper template that comes with the pattern. I made the process a little quicker and easier by tracing the pattern onto stiff cardboard and using that as my template. But once the cutting was done, the sewing itself was easy breezy! I absolutely love the design of this block, and the construction makes it very flexible—you can switch up the color placements to really make it your own unique creation, which is always fun.

Next up we have Block 18, Mission Beach, by Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt. The skill we learned on this block was quarter-square triangles, which are just a hair more complicated than half-square triangles, but the block went together easily and beautifully!

Depending on the quarter-square triangle arrangement, this technique allows you to easily make hourglass units like the one in the center of this block. This is a handy unit to have in your design arsenal, and it really is easier to make than you might think if you’ve never made one.

Want to up your piecing game? Join Summer Sampler 2019: Piecing Bootcamp and learn a new piecing skill every week! Subscribers get a new quilt block pattern every Monday, and each block tackles a new piecing skill or technique. Join us and get immediate access to all of the blocks that have already been released. Click here to join! 

Summer Sampler 2019 includes:
• Fully-tested instructions for 21 gorgeous blocks—a new 12″ (finished) block delivered to your email inbox each week, beginning May 20 and running through October 7
• Complete finishing instructions to make an 80″ x 92″ sampler quilt (delivered October 14)
• Two layout options for finishing instructions (all subscribers receive both – no need to choose!)
• All fabric requirements and suggested Moda Bella Solids colors (YES! There are fabric kits! Available from Sewtopia and Canadian shop Mad About Patchwork)
• Quilt mock-up coloring sheet for planning
• Access to a subscriber-only Facebook group to interact with other quilters and the designers
• Weekly newsletter subscription with insider info

The Summer Sampler 2019 designers are:

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

Row 1: Heather Black @Quiltachusetts, Krista Hennebury @poppyprint, Lynne Goldsworthy @lilysquilts,  Lee Heinrich @lee.a.heinrich, Krystina Hopkins @khquilts

Row 2: Andrea Tsang Jackson @3rdstoryworkshop, Jemima Flendt @tiedwitharibbon,Faith Jones @freshlemonsquilts, Kitty Wilkin @nightquilter, Yvonne Fuchs @quiltingjetgirl

Row 3: Lynn Carson Harris @lynncarsonharris, Stephanie Zacharer Ruyle @spontaneousthreads

Row 4: Jen Carlton Bailly @bettycrockerass, Amy Friend @duringquiettime, Justin Stafford @keatonquilts, Katie Blakesley @swimbikequilt, Jo Avery @mybearpaw