The Great HST Caper

It's been a month since I posted about The Great HST Caper.  Wow, time flies!  I made the final choice on which block I want to use (4 blocks laid out on the design wall in the pic below) and today I figured out how to proceed with the block components.  I still haven't discovered what this block is called and have been referring to it as a modified depression block.

I'm going to make 4 patch components (and twirl the seams clockwise), then assemble the final blocks as 9 patches.

The plan... (My! that sounds efficient and organized, let me say that again)... the plan is to end up with a 60" x 72" flimsy (12.5" blocks laid out 5 x 6).  The calculator tells me that 30 blocks will use 1,080 HSTs from the box containing about 1200.  This seems like the most efficient way to proceed.  I can either chain piece in a marathon session, or I can proceed with it as a leader n' ender, or do it in a combination of both approaches.

Each block has 4 of these corners = 120 light left leaning lazy diamonds
and 120 dark left leaning lazy diamonds  (30 blocks x 4 corners)

And 1 of this 4 patch for each of the block centres = 60 dark flying geese

And each block requires 4 of these units = 120 dark flying geese and 120 light flying geese

I've written down the components I need on a post-it note that will sit on my sewing table.  I foresee a lot of counting in my immediate future.  I shall be very pleased to finally get these HSTs used up in a quilt top and off my unfinished list.  They have been on the back burner for almost ten years.

And to think, ten years ago I actually thought this was a good way to use up fabrics I didn't like in a quick scrappy project!  If you're laughing, you've got one of your own tales of woe to tell.

Now I think I'll enjoy a little mindless scrappy sewing in what's left of my Sunday.  I've got some foundation squares starched for string blocks, the 1.5" strip box open on the sewing table, a pile of teeny crumb strips to use as a leader n' ender, and a fresh pot of coffee brewed.