A little champagne and a whole pile of 4" red squares that I won several years ago brought a new year of sewing to a great start.
A lot of trimming left some nice scraps for the birds.
The neat pile left me with a lot of decisions.
I've always loved the look of a simple HST quilt, but then again......
how about a great zig zag....or
a star (oops...a misplaced one, but you get the picture).
Then again, there is this option....
and Flying Geese too.
Maybe a bigger zig zag would be nice.
There is always the classic pinwheels. I have close to 400 of these HSTs so I hope to make a decision soon as I would like to complete it this month and participate in A Lovely Year of Finishes. Which is your favorite?
Another insane project that has been a few years in the works is my cross stitch nativity scene. Between the eye strain and the intense concentration required on this project, I am sure it will take me a few more years to complete.
This is what I hope it will eventually look like.
I welcome January with the new-ness that it brings. There is so much to look forward to and dream about.
To all of you in the path of this latest artic blast, stay safe. I vote that you just stay inside and sew instead of venturing out.
They are all lovely. So many choices Mary. My favorite is always the half square triangles
ReplyDeleteYes i agree with Betsy , all are lovely and I can't decide on a favorite..
ReplyDeleteThe Nativity is gorgeous. I can see it will take ages to stitch.
I think you should make all of them! That's how a series gets started. The larger zig zag is my favorite though.
ReplyDeleteLove the triangles!
ReplyDeleteThe cross stitch will be so worth it when it is complete, which reminds me I have at least 4 big cross stitch projects to finish!
So many fabulous possibilities! I'm a sucker for pin wheels myself :D
ReplyDeleteYour x stitch Nativity is going to be a real treasure when it's complete.
The cross stitch is going to be beautiful Mary...you have me stumped with the HSTs though; I like all of them!!
ReplyDeleteThe red hst's lend to so many dreams. I could not pick a favorite, really! I do love your cross stitch project, that will be a real heirloom when you complete it. Keep warm and safe ~
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
Your cross stitch so far is just beautiful. It would take me years too. As for your HST 'S. I love them all. You can never go wrong with the traditional as in picture one. I like the flowers but you would have to cut more. Zig zag, is pretty, but my heart goes to the good old pinwheel. I cannot wait to see what you choose. What' ever you pick it will be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think the beginning verse should be reversed.. More champagne.. LOL.. I know more eye strain..... I like the Star version, I hate HST's.. I love the look, just not the making.. I love love the cross stitching. thats my fav of all hobbies and I would not even try a piece this detailed.. I am learning a new stitching technique for stitching with RA, you might like it and if your left handed, stitch with your light on the right.. I cant do it yet.. all your work is great. I loved strenght..
ReplyDeleteI like them all, but I'm really drawn to the first one! Or the zigzag. You can't go wrong with any of them. I wish I had a design wall.
ReplyDeleteI love them all but I'm always a wee bit partial to pinwheels! What a fun way to start the new year.
ReplyDeleteI love the classic look to picture ones HST. They look wonderful anyway you arrange them though
ReplyDeleteI vote Flying Geese! I'm a sucker for that type of pattern.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this post...the quilt is a sampler of half-square blocks and there is little video of 25 block ideas.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Oh my, I love all those HSTs!! I vote for the pinwheels or the simple HST quilt ... but whatever you decide will be smashing, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteOh be still my heart - 400 HSTs ready to play with! All great settings, but I found the pinwheels a show stopper in the red/white. I love the cross stitch - I use a small Ott light - clips anywhere and has a bendable kneck - really helps. Just work in small time allotments to reduce strain.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered doing it sampler style? A little of everything...? Well, I probably wouldn't either.
ReplyDeleteThey're all wonderful, but I'm drawn to the classic pinwheel
Love the red/white combo. I like the pinwheels too. And your cross stitching is gorgeous! I have tried, but it just drives my eyes wild to cross stitch anymore. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAren't half square triangles so fun to play with?
ReplyDeleteWow!! Isn't it fun to have options??! Unless you can decide which one you like best!! I sure couldn't narrow it to one . . . I liked the chevrons, the stars and the pinwheels!! Someone had a look with their HSTs that was really cool ... it was Kathy's Quilts: http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-scrappy-saturday.html I thought that was a cool way to use HSTs! Your Holy Night piece is gorgeous!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to choose just one! I love the zigzag and I love the flying geese and I love that bigger zigzag too! Can't wait to see what you choose. Enjoy Nat
ReplyDeleteRed and white is so classic. Gorgeous no matter how you set it : )
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog. I anxious to get started again!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite combination of colors is red and white... even though white is "the absence of color'. Each room in my little cottage is a combination of red and another color. Your patterns are lovely! Which will you choose? ~Joni
Oh, wow, that cross stitch is a very ambitious project! My favourite, today, is the diamond design but who know how I'd feel tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is the stars, but any of the layouts you showed will look great in that colourway.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of HSTs. I hope you figure out which one sings to you.
ReplyDeleteI really like all your HST idea, but the first one is probably my favorite because I am wanting to make a similar block :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
What fun, Mary! I recently bought a bunch of Edyta Sitar's triangle papers to try out and hopefully have as much fun as you have with your red and whites! Here's to a great year of sewing!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Aren't those red & white HST's fun to play with? My favorite is the star that had an "oops" in it, but the pinwheels are pretty, too.
ReplyDeleteWow once you get started with a project you don't stop!! lol Lovely work.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Anita.
Oh, so many ways to make a pattern!!! I love the cross stitch nativity !!!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog site and I was wondering where you got the pattern for California Snowball quilt I saw on Quilting Gallery site? Super cute.........
ReplyDeleteI have signed up for your blog posts and looking forward to reading your blog in 2014.....
It is amazing what a HST can do, each one is just as wonderful as the next design.
ReplyDeleteAll beautiful, I'm saving done if your photos for the ideas :)
ReplyDeleteThis post is so fun!!! Amazing that hsts can make all sorts of designs!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is flying geese. I haven't looked to see what others said, but I'm going to look as soon as I post this. I am guessing zig zags might be popular.
Hmm, maybe pinwheels or zig zags were the most popular? What did you decide? Personally I like the idea of a sampler. I've never seen anything like that before!
ReplyDeleteOh dear I love every one of the options - you could make a block of every one of them - what a great quilt that would be. :) blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteWow - there's no way to choose! I just downloaded a block sheet for ways to use HST's - the variety is endless. I have a Lord's Supper cross-stitch that I probably started back in the 80's. No telling whether it will ever get finished now that I quilt all the time :*)
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI stumbles across your blog today and, oh I love what you have done with these half square triangles. I too have just been playing with half square triangles but I much prefer your fabulous blocks.
Well best wishes from a quilting enthuiast across the pond.
sophie
I like the small zigzag and red and white are just my favorites ...it looks so crisp and bright...love it :0)
ReplyDeleteHappy Sewing
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI have a red/white quilt design spinning in my head.... seeing yours kind of brings the design back to the front burner. :) Thanks for inspiring me. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteI love your cross stitch. Why is it that it takes us years to finish them though - if we eventually do!!
ReplyDeleteI still have some needing finishing.