Triangles seem so much more versatile than squares and rectangles. I’ve been playing around with half-square triangles in repetitive patterns that evoke trees* and somewhat Aztec-like designs.

Adding shading helps to differentiate each element. (Note how easy it is to lengthen the overall design by adding one more layer of HSTs per ‘tree’.)

The shading also creates movement by bringing some of the downward-facing ‘trees’ into the foreground (*perhaps I should be calling these stalactites and stalagmites instead?).

 

Adding colour changes the look and feel again. (Why does this totally make me think of Dr Seuss?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greens and reds would obviously make this a very Christmas-y quilt pattern, perfect for the holidays.

The pattern would be relatively simple to construct using long columns of HSTs and solid strips. You could even save some seams by piecing two columns at a time using flying geese.