Red Pepper Quilts: Oakshott Scandinavia Half Square Triangle Quilt

A Finished Quilt

Oakshott Scandinavia Half Square Triangle Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2015

Oakshott Scandinavia HST Quilt

Quilt Size: 48 inches x 57 inches

304 Half Square Triangles

19 rows of 16 HST units.

608 patchwork pieces.

Feature Fabrics: Oakshott Cotton + Liberty Tana Lawn

+ reclaimed fabrics

Thank you for all of your comments on the Work in Progress Blog Post featuring this quilt. I have received lots of emails and questions regarding accurate piecing. I wish I had a simple answer, a trick to share with you, but unfortunately it all comes back to accurate cutting and sewing. Matching seams and not losing points isn't the be all and end all, but it is nice if you can make it happen.

For piecing Half Square Triangle units I over-size the units then trim for accuracy. My formula for cutting fabric for HST units is the size of the FINISHED unit PLUS 1 inch. For example, if I want my HST units to finish as a 3 inch square (as in this quilt) then I cut my fabric squares 4" x 4" (3" PLUS 1"). Once pieced and pressed I trim the units to measure 3.5" x 3.5".

I piece Half Square Triangle Units using this common method of making two units at a time: layer two fabric squares right sides together. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner and with a 1/4" presser foot stitch along both sides of the drawn line. Then cut on the drawn line, and press seams (usually towards the darker fabric). I then take the extra step to trim the unit for accuracy.

Carefully trimming units ensures that all units are the same size which makes sewing these units together a much easier task. I also think it helps to have a sewing machine with a strong, even feed, a quality straight stitch, and of course an accurate 1/4" presser foot. I use a straight stitch only sewing machine for all piecing.

More about Machine Stitched Binding: here

I love how this quilt has turned out! I have quilted this quilt by first ditch stitching the seam lines that outline each HST unit, and then stitching more vertical lines just one inch apart. For the back of the quilt I have used a single fabric (Small Roses in Blush) from the Tiger Lily collection by Heather Ross. And for the binding I have used Square Elements in Almondette (Art Gallery Fabrics). For more details regarding the fabrics used in the making of the quilt top please see the Work in Progress Blog Post.

Click on any image for a larger view.

These closeup photos give you a better idea of how beautiful Oakshott Cottons are! Oakshott shot cottons are luminous and have an iridescent hue that is difficult to reproduce in a photograph.