Possibilities in half square triangles

While I was crafting my Still Point quilt and pattern this April, fat envelopes arrived by mail from my bee mates of Love circle, do. Good Stitches.  Before long I had received a bumper crop of 3.5" unfinished half square triangle blocks.  Thanks, ladies!  I have a few projects still in the works, but it feels like high time I attend to this unfinished business.  The first step is to settle on an arrangement.

Vintage Rainbow HST

Although I had every intention of exploring the possibilities, I confess that the above setting has been lodged in my psyche since the day I launched the project.  You know how sometimes you see something and get fixated on it?  Yep, that's me.  I do so like these squares on point, their almost faceted style and simple, no-fuss groupings.

But I would be true to my word, so...

juggling Half Square Triangles

This came first.  It's probably a cousin to the hourglass block?

juggling Half Square Triangles

And next, pinwheels.  Classic and cheery.

After which I juggled a few more classics like zigzags and square-in-square, then decided that classic wasn't doing it for me this time.

juggling Half Square Triangles

My next arrangement pulled together 8 half square triangle blocks, rather than 4.  It's simple, but I don't remember seeing it before.  Hmm....

juggling Half Square Triangles

After that I meandered my way to these interlocking windmills.  I kept thinking the pattern wouldn't work, couldn't keep nesting, but it did and it does. The edges are mind-bending, aren't they?  But it would be a cinch to sew together, all the blocks in rows.  I want to make this quilt someday, but not in these fabrics.  I think I need to simplify colors or fabrics to really let the pattern shine.

juggling Half Square Triangles

After sleeping on it, I've decided to change course after all!  Even though I love the simple, faceted squares we started with, I like this arrangement most in the collected patterns and colors my bee mates have sent.  Something about it feels quite vintage, and my color scheme was inspired by a vintage rainbow after all. 

Here goes!