July Hand + Soul Block: Splendor
About the Block
Welcome to July and this month's theme of awe and wonder: Splendor.
I think we have all experienced that feeling when you stand before something vast, be it a mountain range, a star-studded night sky, or a seemingly endless sea. For a moment, the noise of life is muted and current troubles seem to melt away. Psychologists have a name for this feeling: awe, defined by researcher Dacher Keltner as the experience of being in the presence of something so vast it temporarily exceeds our understanding of the world. What makes awe remarkable is not just that it feels good — though research confirms that it does — but that it measurably changes us. In the presence of something larger than ourselves, the part of the brain associated with self-focus and rumination becomes less active, our worries loosen their grip, and we find ourselves (often unexpectedly) more generous, more curious, and more connected to the people and world around us.
Awe makes us feel smaller, in the best possible way. It offers us the perspective and recognition that we are part of something so much larger than our daily concerns, and that this largeness is not threatening but actually sustaining. Rachel Carson, who dedicated her life to studying the natural world, understood that this quality of wonder was a necessity and something we must return to regularly to remain fully human. June's block, Splendor, reminds us to look up, let the vastness in, and remember what it feels like to be genuinely and joyfully small.
Details & Techniques
The Splendor block is built upon techniques learned from previous months’ blocks (HRTs!), along with a fun surprise of repurposing leftover cut pieces from our June block.
This block combines a few key techniques:
Half Rectangle Triangles (HRTs): Consistent alignment and trimming ensures your points align cleanly once assembled.
Split Half Rectangle Triangles (Split HRTs): Last month, we introduced split HRTs. By using those leftover pieces and sewing together with some new cuts, we can make split HRTs with half the work already done!
Block Tips & Tricks
A few small choices will make a big difference with this block:
Trim your HRTs intentionally. These units allow extra room for trimming, so we can be precise as possible. Even trimming just slightly oversized units down to size will keep your points sharp and your rows aligned.
Check alignment before trimming. Split HRTs have an extra point to align on your ruler before trimming. To achieve perfect points, double check that every point aligns on your ruler before cutting.
July Partners
Hand + Soul Block of the Month members gain exclusive access to discounts from our monthly partners, as well as a chance to win prizes every month!
Join us for a year of sewing and community!
You are always welcome to jump right in and start sewing with us - Read all the details here!
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