September Hand + Soul Block: Headwind
About the Block
Welcome to September and this month's theme of using resistance rather than surviving it.
Most of what we're taught about difficulty treats it as something to endure and white-knuckle our way through. But there's a whole population of long-distance flying birds that never got that memo. For them, resistance isn't the obstacle, it's the fuel. Albatrosses can travel almost 1,000 km without a single flap of their wings, using a technique called dynamic soaring: they climb directly into a headwind, extracting real kinetic energy from it as they rise, then bank and glide downwind to build speed again before turning back into the wind to repeat the climb. Rather than combatting the wind, they convert it into altitude they couldn't get any other way. Then, they glide.
Pilots understand a smaller version of the same physics. Airplanes don't take off with the wind at their backs, despite what feels intuitive; they take off into it. In both cases, birds and aircraft, the resistance is the very thing that makes rising possible. This block, pieced as a single bird cutting into the wind, is built on that idea: that the right relationship to a headwind is less of a battle to win and more a technique to learn, and that some of what pushes against us is exactly what we need to rise.
Details & Techniques
This month is less about learning one brand-new technique and more about putting your growing skills together. You’ll combine split half-square triangles, half-rectangle triangles, and foundation paper piecing to create a block full of angles, movement, and dimension.
As we move into the final months of the Block of the Month, Headwind is a great reminder of just how much you’ve learned along the way!
Block Tips & Tricks
A few small choices will make a big difference with this block:
Pay attention to orientation. Headwind has a lot of directional split-HST and HRT pieces, so orientation is everything. Before sewing, lay your units out exactly as they will appear in the finished block. A quick layout check before you sew can save you from having to reach for the seam ripper later!
Trim as you go. With several different types of units coming together, accurate trimming will make assembly much easier. Take the time to trim your HSTs and HRTs to the specified size before moving on to the next step. Those little moments of accuracy really add up when it’s time to assemble the full block.
Use your previous skills. If you’re feeling a little rusty on one of the techniques, revisit the earlier BOM lessons before getting started. Headwind is designed to build on the skills you’ve already developed, so there’s no need to treat each technique like something brand new. Think of this block as a skill review with a little bit of a challenge!
Take extra care with FPP. When working with the FPP sections, double-check you’re using the correct fabric color for each piece before sewing down (I’ve definitely made this mistake before!). It can be difficult to use your seam ripper with FPP. And as always, shorter stitch lengths can make removing the paper easier when you’re finished.
Don’t rush the assembly. There are quite a few moving parts in Headwind, but the block becomes much easier to understand once you break it into smaller sections. Work through one unit at a time, then lay everything out before joining the sections together.
September 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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