Friday 8 May 2015

A hatchet block quilt.

The hatchet block.

A ridiculously easy block to put together that gives you endless design possibilities.

This is all you need.



The set on the left requires the large square to be light and the two smaller squares dark.
The set on the right is the dark/light reversal.

What size large square you start off with is entirely up to you. I went with a 5" square so I could use some pre-cut charm squares.

The smaller squares MUST be BIGGER than half the size of the larger square for you to get the hatchet effect (so think of the larger square as the hatchet handle and the smaller squares as the chopping blade). They need to stick out either side of the handle but how wide you make them is up to you.

Half the 5" square would be 2 1/2", so I made my smaller squares 3". The bigger you make the smaller squares, the narrower the larger square will become. On reflection, I would have gone up to 3 1/2"for a more pronounced hatchet effect but I still like it as it is.

Place the smaller square as per below - right sides of fabrics facing.


I've pencil marked the sewing lines but in reality I don't bother - I just eyeball.

Once you've sewn, cut off the excess fabric.


And you should be left with a block looking like this.



After that, it's just a question of playing around to get a design you like.


I chose to make the centre darks with solids, then two rounds of pattern,then a round of solids and so on.


And the back - which was my first time using the IKEA Nummers fabric.
I'll be doing that again as I bought a whole roll.




16 comments:

  1. Another gorgeous finish Alison. I must comment on the rather stiff looking arms of your quilt holder. 😂

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  2. Love the quilt and I love the way you simplified the entire process.

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  3. Very pretty! Thanks for the quick and easy tutorial!

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  4. Hatchet is a fairly standard block. You know what I really like about your quilt - you use the positive & the negative. I've only ever seen this block used where the quilter only used a light base with dark triangles or vice versa! AWESOME!

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  5. What a bright and lovely quilt!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com

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  6. Wow! Beautiful quilt with an easy block! I like it very much.

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  7. Beautiful and such a straightforward pattern. Congratulations on a wonderful finish.

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  8. Sooo beautiful :-)))
    Thank you for the tutorial!
    Best regards,
    Kathrin

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  9. So gorgeous and so simple, love it!!!

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  10. Beautiful! I love how having the light and dark corner triangles slightly different sizes adds so much movement to this quilt.

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