June Hand + Soul Block: Conversely
About the Block
Welcome to June and this month's theme of turning the page: Conversely.
Last month we sat with the idea of amor fati, or loving our fate. This month, we turn the page to discover what is now possible, given where we have been and where we are. Life often contains chapters we would rather skip, or close the book on entirely. But there is a growing body of research—not to mention a deep reservoir of human wisdom across cultures and philosophies—suggesting that the parts we most want to escape are often the very ones that make everything that follows possible. Psychologists call this post-traumatic growth: the real, measurable phenomenon in which people who have moved through profound adversity report genuine transformation in the form of deeper relationships, a stronger sense of purpose, unexpected new directions, and a quality of hard-won wisdom that simply cannot be acquired any other way. This doesn't mean that hard things are secretly good, or that suffering should be welcomed, or that anyone is obligated to find a silver lining in their darkest moments. It means that the painful chapters are not outside our story, they are our story. And the way we hold them determines, in large part, what comes next.
The Conversely block represents the unexpected turn, the surprise reversal, and the moment when something that looked like an ending reveals itself as a beginning. Whereas amor fati is an act of loving what has been, conversely is trusting where it leads and continuing to turn the page.
Details & Techniques
The Conversely block is built upon a technique learned from previous months’ blocks (HRTs!), along with a new one - split HRTs. For our members, we have a video tutorial for every block to help guide you through new techniques!
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 HSTs. Constructed similarly, these split HRT units require an extra step to achieve, but are a fantastic technique to add to your quilting repertoire - especially if you’ve mastered regular HRTs!
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.
Save your leftover pieces. With split HRTs, there will be leftover cuts from constructing these units. Next month, we’ll be using these leftover pieces to construct a new block!
June Partner
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!
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You are always welcome to jump right in and start sewing with us - Read all the details here!
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