
I think I mentioned in a previous post that my son gave me a large quantity of beautiful French General fabrics in dark pinks and faded reds. As it happens, the most recent issue of American Patchwork and Quilting has featured a gorgeous basket quilt made with French General fabrics. I was so inspired, I did not have to think twice about making this quilt. It is a big undertaking, that's for sure.

The quilt is queen-sized (92 1/2" square), calling for 64 8" basket blocks and a border of 52 6 1/2" basket blocks. Good grief, that is a lot of basket blocks. This quilt is going to take me awhile.

Basket blocks call for a lot of half-square triangles. Each of my 8" blocks needs 12 half-square triangles. I will be making two blocks at a time, and wanted an organized system for making them. I decided to go with Star Singles triangle paper in the 1 1/2" finished size (2" unfinished). There are a lot of triangle papers out there, and I was introduced to this brand about 12 years ago and prefer it to the others. I order mine from Shabby Fabrics.

The secret to successfully using triangle papers is to use a very small stitch on your machine. I set my stitch length to about 1.65. With two fabrics right sides together, stitch on the dotted lines all around the paper.

Trim it up on the outside solid line.

Cut it in quarters on the solid lines. Then cut each of the four squares in half on the solid diagonal lines. You will have eight half-square triangles from each triangle paper. Since I need 24 hsts for two basket blocks, I use three triangles papers to get the right number of units.
Here is a trick for removing the paper. Fold the paper on the seam line and crease with your finger. Because of the tiny stitch length you used, that paper is going to tear off so easily.


And you know what? If you have stitched carefully on the dotted lines on the paper, your triangles will measure exactly what they should be when you press them.

For my "system", I am filling individual sandwich bags with the units to make two identical basket blocks. Once I fill all my sandwich blocks, I will start making the blocks. Right now I have 12 blocks ready to sew together. Once I empty all my sandwich baggies, I will start over cutting the units for more basket blocks.

I am pretty excited about this project. I know it will take me the better part of the year, but what the heck. I certainly am not going anywhere....

In other news, my dad is still doing well. Recovering from his mild stroke, no aftereffects from the COVID vaccine. I won't go stay with him until Friday afternoon this week, then I'll come home Sunday and one of my other sisters will take over. Our snow melted, but we are expecting a big storm any day now which could bring more. Fingers crossed I won't have to drive in it!
Hope you all are safe and warm and cozy!