Patches post

Adding images and text for the 2, 4, and 6 patch block. Renamed the HST post to fit with the naming convention for this quilt.

_posts/2024-03-22-block-04-patches.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: Block 02 - 2,4, and 6 Patch
+tags: Handmade-Quilt
+---
+I finished this block, and happy I did. My points are on point. My seams are crips and flat. Quite a contrast to the first time I did this block.
+![Several strips of alternating blue and white squares, forming patches.](/images/4-patch-01.jpg)
+
+## New block
+I think this block was the one where what I learned since doing my first quilt has so far shown up the most. For starters, I use fewer pins. And I bite less of the fabric between each.
+
+![Stacks of squares, pinned together with one pin. One square held in my hand. An orange pin cushion on a green cutting mat in the background.](/images/4-patch-02.jpg)
+
+For the parts where I have seams I want to make meet exactly, I line the seam better, and pin it in such a way that it can't move.
+
+![Two squares stitched together, pinned to another two. A threaded needle started going through the blue square.](/images/4-patch-03.jpg)
+
+My fingers have turned soft. Or maybe they always were soft. One of my first chef when I was a young cook told me I had "butter fingers". I think I have the seamstress equivalent. Glad to have made myself a doeskin thimble, because commercial thimbles just don't fit on my fingers!
+
+![A doeskin homemade thimble on the tip of my index finger.](/images/4-patch-04.jpg)
+
+I had to test one 4-patch before proceeding, making sure that the corners meet properly. Happy with the results!
+![A 4-patch on a grey wool ironing mat beside a tailor clapper. A bunch of 2-patch pieces are lined up around the ironing mat.](/images/4-patch-05.jpg)
+
+My marking has also changed. I'm test driving a small mechanical chalk pencil. Makes a thin and sharp mark. I'm also not marking at 1/4". I'm marking so I have a scant 1/4" and I'm hoping it'll make a difference in how the blocks meet and fit together when I put the flimsy together.
+![Several 2-patch side by site. A quilting ruler and a fabric pencil on top. All the stitch lines have been marked.](/images/4-patch-06.jpg)
+
+Pressing the seams flat and using both start alternative and tailor's clapper make for crisper seams. But I did piece a bunch of 2-patch before pressing those seams.
+![Nine 2-patch pieced together, view from the back. The horizontal seams were pressed but the vertical seams haven't yet been pressed.](/images/4-patch-07.jpg)
+
+The unpressed vertical seams almost look like my finished block from the first time around!
+![Nine 2-patch pieced together, viewed from the front. The vertical seams haven't been pressed and it makes the entire block look very wobbly.](/images/4-patch-08.jpg)
+## Old block
+For comparison, here are a couple photos from the first time I did this quilt. Glad I took progress photos at the time. I didn't know I'd have a use for them, but hey! It's working out.
+
+In this photo, you can see that I didn't press the seams on the 2-patch before making them into 4-patches. I have much regret about this!
+
+![Square of fabric in red and white, pinned together. An orange pincushion is on a grey cutting mat. A pair of scissors and a large quilting ruler are also on the mat. The Handmade Quilt book is on the table.](/images/4-patch-09.jpg)
+
+And you can see how my block isn't laying flat, the seams aren't crisp, nor pressed right. If you look closely, you'll also see at least one seam that is significantly not lining up right.
+
+![Several red and white 2-patch pieced together.](/images/4-patch-10.jpg)
+## Follow this project
+
+  {% for tag in page.tags %}
+  <a class="post" href="/tag/{{tag}}">Other posts with the #{{tag}} tag</a>{% unless forloop.last %}, {% endunless %}
+  {% endfor %}