Hello and welcome to Quilting Jetgirl! My name is Yvonne Fuchs and I’ll be one of your Queens for December in The Honey Pot Bee. I was thrilled when Molli Sparkles‘ shared his vision for the bee with me, and I am really excited to share my block design with you.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s, and I wore a lot of plaid in middle and high school. When I started dating my husband, he wore this one plaid shirt really often… and just a few weeks ago, after the plaid shirt hung in our closet for over 14 years, it was finally time to admit it was too torn up and worn to keep using or even pass on.
(Side note: in case you were wondering where Jetgirl *really* originated, I think you can get a true sense of it here. My husband started designing, building, and testing jet engines as a teenager and quickly earned the moniker “Jetman” as a result.)
When I was thinking about how trends change (plaid was a huge fashion staple in the 90s), I started to think about how the pound sign has been renamed “hashtag” and how much a “hashtag” is used these days. Then I started realizing that a hashtag and plaid really have a lot in common, and the inspiration for this block design was created!
Coloring Block and Diagram
Hashtag is the New Plaid finishes at 12-inches square and uses 5 different fabrics. Fabric A can be thought of as the background fabric, and I have included a coloring block and diagram (above) for reference.
Fabric Required
Fabric A
(4) 3 ½” squares
(4) 2 ½” x 3 ½” rectangles
(1) 2 ½” square
Fabric B
(4) 2 ½” x 3 ½” rectangles
(1) 3 ½” square
Fabric C
(4) 2 ½” x 3 ½” rectangles
(1) 3 ½” square
Fabric D
(2) 2 ½” squares
(1) 3 ½” square
Fabric E
(2) 2 ½” squares
(1) 3 ½” square
General Instructions
Unless otherwise indicated, sew seams with a scant 1/4″ seam allowance.
Piecing Instructions
Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)
Half-Square Triangles (HSTs): Two at a Time Method
- Place two squares right sides together.
- Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the lighter fabric.
- Sew a ¼ʺ seam allowance on either side of the marked diagonal line. Press to set seams.
- Cut along the marked diagonal line to form (2) HSTs. Press seams as indicated in the instructions below.
Step 1
Make (2) C/E HSTs using 1 Fabric C 3 ½” square and 1 Fabric E 3 ½” square. Press seam toward Fabric C. Do not trim.
Step 2
Make (2) B/D HSTs using 1 Fabric B 3 ½” square and 1 Fabric D 3 ½” square. Press seam toward Fabric D. Do not trim.
Quarter-Square Triangles (QSTs)
Quarter-Square Triangles (QSTs)
- Place two untrimmed HSTs right sides together, nesting pressed seams. Note that Fabrics B and C should be right sides together and Fabrics D and E should be right sides together with the seams nested if you pressed according to the HST directions above.
- Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of one HST, perpendicular to the seam line.
- Sew a 1/4ʺ seam allowance on either side of the marked diagonal line.
- Cut along the marked diagonal line to form (2) hourglass blocks. Press seams open.
Step 3
Make 4 B/C/D/E QSTs using the 1 untrimmed C/E HST from Step 1 and 1 untrimmed B/D HST from Step 2. Trim the B/C/D/E QSTs to 2 ½” square.
Block Assembly
Hashtag is the New Plaid Block Assembly Diagram
Arrange the remaining cut fabric pieces and B/C/D/E QSTs as indicated in the Block Assembly Diagram. Sew the blocks in to rows, pressing seams open. Sew the rows together to complete the block, pressing seams open. The finished block should measure 12 ½” square.
Hashtag is the New Plaid
I hope you enjoy putting together your Hashtag is the New Plaid block as I did!
Hashtag is the New Plaid – Sample Quilt Top
I had fun exploring how a quilt top might come together with alternating the position of the colors in the block.
Please tag me, @quiltingjetgirl, and use #HashtagIsTheNewPlaid when sharing your block on social media, because I am looking forward to seeing what you create!
Yvonne you have done it again. I love this block!
Great block; and I love the colors you’ve chosen!
What a cool block, Yvonne! Thank you for sharing! Ya’ll are so cute!
Very nice! I thought you were going to go with EPP at first and got a little worried.
Hashtag plaid what a neat block and I like the story of the inspiration you used for it.
Great block and love those photos!
This block is so amazing! Love, love! (Also, the pics were totally adorable.)
Fun block! Plaid is making its way back now, you should be able to replace the shirt. 😉
What a clever block! I love it!
This is such a fun block and I enjoyed seeing the old pictures!
What a fun block! Plaid is in my DNA…especially for flannel shirts! I love seeing the block in what could be a quilt…very nice Yvonne!
Love it, and now two other items are finished, might tempt myself with this one. Plaid shirts, and finally having to throw them out, maybe he will receive a new one in the Christmas goodies. I have some clothes that have lasted a very long time too. Not so worn that they need to go, but too old fashioned to wear outside in public.
Great block Yvonne! I have plenty of plaid shirts hanging in my wardrobe. Love them! I look forward to seeing the different variations
Great block. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Plaid shirts are comfy and warm.
Terrific block and it’s going to be a nice addition to your year’s collection!
Cool block!
This is a really cool block! And oh man, I just had flashbacks to high school and early college when flannel shirts were all the rage. 🙂
This block is brilliant! I enjoyed reading about how it came to be!
This is a great design. It’s funny how it was always called a pound sign, and now it’s hashtag.
A very fun block. Love that it creates a “plaid” quilt. Love the retro photos of you and your guy. I just assumed you worked on jet engines once upon a time, it’s always fun to learn why people picked their blog titles.
I love this block and love the plaid quilt. The pics of the younger you and your husband are delightful. What fun this one is!
I love this block and the way these colors mesh together!
This is such a neat design, Yvonne! I’ve never thought about how the pound sign has become the new hashtag. You nailed that one. It’s also interesting to know a little of your background. Goodness, you’re such a young thing! 🙂
The piecing looks more complex than it really is. What a great block!
I love your colur sense and also the mock up of a quilt top. Och aye, it’s bonny!