Half Square Triangles, the possibilities are endless!

I dont know what it is about rainy weather, but for some reason on those days I get a lot more done.  I'd usually do the things that I put off or set aside for, you know 'a rainy day', LOL.  But this week I was inspired to create.  So as I was looking through my fabric stash and picked out a 6 piece fat quarter bundle my sister sent me from the UK and I started browsing the web for inspiration to strike.

Image from Robert Kaufman

I did a general search for modern quilts and the one that grabbed my attention was this Asymmetrical diamond quilt from Robert Kaufman. 

I downloaded the free pattern and as I was looking through the fabric placements and fabric requirements I was inspired to design something different using this layout as my base.

I wanted to extend the design a bit further so I took my graph paper and started drawing.  So after a lot of scribbling and playing around, this is what I came up with.

So putting the pattern aside I immediately started planning.  This whole quilt consists of half square triangles.  Now let me be honest, I am NOT a math wiz, all I wanted was to get the exact amount of hst (half square trianlges) I needed to make this quilt.  So using THIS video tutorial from MissouriQuiltCo on Youtube for creating pinwheels which are made up from hst I knew its an easy technique to get it done fast...

A fat quarter is 18 x 22 inches, that is if its cut perfectly.  I knew I could get 9 - 6 inch squares out of one fc (fat quarter), but since I still had to cut off the selvage AND straighten the edges, I ended up cutting 8, 5⅞ inch squares from 6 different prints giving me 48 squares and for my background colour I cut the same amount.  So.. from one square I get 4 hst, I had 48,.. so 48 x 4 = 192, and I needed 180, so I was in the clear.

So after a lot of cutting...

...piecing

and MORE cutting

I ended up with these... Beautiful open and pressed half square triangles.

but...they still needed squaring up!

So after a lot of trimming squaring the hst to 3⅝ inch squares it was time to arrange the pieces...

at this point I got really exciting seeing the picture grow...

I ran out of space on my table, but once I have these pieced together I can lay out the rest..

I cant wait to see the whole quilt pieced together, so you guessed it, I'm off to start piecing these squares together....

Happy quilting!

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Selling your own patterns?

Where do you get your inspiration to design your quilts or quilt blocks?

I've read and watched quite a lot of blogs and videos and most mention that they get their ideas or are inspired from nature, architecture, other quilters and even other quilts.

I am now quilting for a year, so the concept of designing something entirely new and different is a bit confusing to me.  What makes it YOURS?

Here are two examples of quilts I've made, one from a single block tutorial, the other my own applique blocks, and sampler blocks.

1.  My Purple Diamond quilt was made using a single block tutorial.  Obviously the block itself is not my design, but the layout of this quilt was not done using a pattern.  The fabric and colour placement was my own, so the question is, can I write a pattern, slap my name on it and sell it?

Purple Diamond Quilt

2.  Gone Golfing - Back Maybe was inspired by my Dad's love of golfing.  Three of the blocks I had made was from a book called 'The Essential Sampler Quilt Book' by Lynne Edwards.  The HST (half square triangle) block I made up as I went along.  The rest of the quilt blocks are done using applique and are from what I have drawn up myself.  So again the question is, 'Is this quilt my own design, can I write a pattern and sell it'?

Gone Golfing - Back Maybe

Here is another example of a Half Square Triange BOM by Jenny Baker she had in 2012.  At the time while participating in the BOM she posted free tutorials every month.  Now you can buy the pattern for that quilt and is available on her blog.

I need to get this question answered, 'When can I write a pattern for a quilt or quilt block and sell it?'

Another reason I'm asking this, is that I've come up with a quilt block that I've designed myself, the inspiration was from craft paper.  I have not copied the design exactly and have changed the layout just a bit.  I want to write a pattern for this block but want to know the do's and don't first.

Your input will be very helpful, please share your experience and advice!

I am linking up to WIP Wednesdays @ Freshly Pieced.

Happy quilting.

When is a quilt your OWN design?

As I'm still fairly new at quilting and learning new terms every day, I haven't really thought about this topic until now.  But I need help to know when is a quilt your own design.

I made this quilt, following a 'single block' tutorial I found on the internet (click here for the tutorial), I did not piece it from any pattern or example except for the block, so is it safe to say its my design?

Pers Diamant/Purple Diamond

Most of the competitions I have seen, one of the requirements is that you design the quilt yourself.  So before I can really think about doing something like that, I need this question answered.

Happy quilting.