September Block of the Month Tutorial

Welcome to September's Block of the Month:

Hope of Hartford

 Hope of Hartford is a tradition block, which first appeared in print in the Farm Journal in 1945.  It is also known as Double Star, and looking at it, you can see why.

Our block was chosen by Helen L. when she won the Birthday Cake blocks.
This block finishes at 10 in. square, and we are making them in fall colors. 

Patterns were printed and handed out at the August meeting by Colleen, but if you didn't get one or need another, just click HERE.  The link will take you to the Hope of Hartford block directions on the Quilters Cache web site.  Note--there are 3 pages of the directions, and they print separately.

I don't cut my Hope of Hartford blocks the same way they do at Quilters Cache.  Naturally, I think my way is better (haha).  I will show you how I cut my blocks with the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers in the tutorial below.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY!!  It's just another option.
The sewing is the same, either on this page or at the Quilters Cache.

Optional Cutting Directions:

Start with 3 strips:  1 light strip, 2.5 in. wide, 1 dark strip 2.5 in. wide, and 1 medium or dark strip 4.5 in. wide.  (Remember, fall colors.)

Cut 4 half square triangles from the 4.5 in. wide strip with the Easy Angle ruler.

Cut 4 quarter square triangles from the dark strip, using the Companion Angle ruler.

Also, cut 4 quarter square triangles from the light strip.

Then cut 4 2.5 in. x 4.5 in rectangles from the light strip.

Now all your pieces are cut and ready to go.

Sewing Directions:

1.  First, sew the sets of two quarter square triangles together.  Make sure the dark one is on the left in each set.  Press toward the dark triangle.

2.  Now add the large half square triangle to each set.  Make sure to use a quarter inch seam.  Press toward the large triangle.

Each of these squares should measure 4.5 in.
Now add the rectangles to these squares, sewing it to the side with the dark triangle.

All four sets should look like this.  These five pieces are all that's left to put together.

Lay out the block so you can see how it's going to fit.

The first seam is a partial seam.  Don't freak out!  It just means you only sew about half of the seam, and then stop.
The Quilters Cache directions tell you to press to the dark here.  I disagree.  The rest of the pressing is not done toward the center square.  I press this seam away from the center square.

Here's what things look like now.  Good job not freaking out.  The next 3 seams are easy.  Just add another unit, and press toward the newly added unit each time.

Two more have been added here.  You are doing this!  Keep going!  Add the last section just like the other two before it.

Now all of the units are added to the center square.  We just need to finish the partial seam.  Line the edges up carefully, and make sure it's all lying flat.  I like to sew a little slower here.  You could throw in a pin or two.  Sew until your stitching meets the partial seam.  I sew a couple stitches over the previous stitches, and then stop.

Ta-da!  It's ta-done!  You've got a nice block in fall colors to bring to the October meeting for the Block of the Month.  Maybe you'll win a stack of these.

Hope of Hartford is also great in 1930s fabrics, or really any good contrasting colors.

Good luck!  I hope we see lots of these blocks in October.

Any questions?  Leave a comment or send me an email.
Happy quilting!