May Hand + Soul Block: Kismet
About the Block
Welcome to May and this month's theme: Kismet.
There is a word in Turkish, kismet, that most of us know as a kind of romantic fatalism and the sense that some things are simply meant to be. But it points toward something much deeper that both the ancient Stoics and the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche were circling when they used the Latin phrase amor fati, or love of fate.
Amor fati doesn't actually mean resigning yourself to whatever happens; it means not wishing your life had gone differently. Not just bearing what is necessary, but embracing it — and all of it. It is a natural human impulse to resist what we don't want, sometimes replaying the timeline to look for the moment we could have changed things. Amor fati asks us to consider a different question: what if this, too, belongs? What if the full arc of your life is what has made you capable of depth, compassion, and a particular kind of understanding you couldn't have come by any other way?
This is not toxic positivity, or the banal insistence that everything happens for a reason (or worse, that suffering is secretly a gift). The Stoics who lived this philosophy most authentically did so by simply realizing that their energy belonged on how they responded to what happened, not on wishing it hadn't. In that realization, they found something that looked a lot like freedom.
The flowering block design is intended to represent the adage to “bloom where you're planted,” making the most of whatever circumstances life has delivered to us, and it invites us to try this out as a practice. Consider looking at the full, complicated, imperfect, and beautiful shape of your life and say: This was mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Details & Techniques
The Kismet block is built upon a technique learned from previous months’ blocks (HSTs!), along with a new one - split HRTs.
This block combines two key techniques:
Half Square Triangles (HSTs): Precision matters here. Consistent trimming ensures your points align cleanly and the directional flow stays crisp.
Split Half Square Triangles (Split HSTs): These units require an extra step to achieve, but are a fantastic technique to add to your quilting repertoire - especially if you’ve mastered regular HSTs!
Block Tips & Tricks
A few small choices will make a big difference with this block:
Trim Your HSTs 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 HSTs 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.
Lay out all units before sewing them together. Because the design relies on direction, a quick layout check prevents accidentally flipping an HST and disrupting the flow.
May 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!
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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