Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Table of contents
- The Hovering Hawks quilt block is the featured design for month eight of the mystery quilt, River Heritage.
- Variations on the history of this quilt block.
- There’s an interesting history lesson by Barbara Brackman HERE about the block and it’s symbolic meaning with the civil war.
- The past months of the River Heritage Mystery Quilt has given you seven blocks that each have some connection to life along the river. Such is the case with this one.
- Photographing actual hovering hawks proved to be quite a challenge!
- Here’s the overall description of the Hovering Hawks quilt block.
- Use your value tests to help determine placement of fabrics.
- Click here for printer-friendly version: River Heritage Month 8 Hovering Hawks
- SHOP more than 50 patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric HERE!
The Hovering Hawks quilt block is the featured design for month eight of the mystery quilt, River Heritage.
The Hovering Hawks quilt block is another classic quilt block that’s been around a long time.
Variations on the history of this quilt block.
Of course, it’s easy to understand why hawks would be commonly seen along the river. But the meaning of this block has numerous variations. Some accounts simply say the block pays homage to the common bird of prey scene in everyday life.
Additionally, the Hovering Hawks quilt block is considered to be from the family of the Jacob’s Ladder block variations.
Finally, another explanation of this block relates it specifically with the Civil War. It is said that the facing triangles symbolize the foraging soldiers on each side of the war.
There’s an interesting history lesson by Barbara Brackman HERE about the block and it’s symbolic meaning with the civil war.
The past months of the River Heritage Mystery Quilt has given you seven blocks that each have some connection to life along the river. Such is the case with this one. 
I think you’ll find this quilt block is fun to make.
Photographing actual hovering hawks proved to be quite a challenge!
First, the red-tailed hawk (which is likely what lives here) doesn’t actually hover, according to the experts. They may appear to do something similar, but experts say it isn’t actually a hover.
Furthermore, the hawk is usually a loner, not flying in groups like turkey buzzards. I’ve learned a lot on the adventure through the River Heritage quilt! I hope you have, too!
Here’s the overall description of the Hovering Hawks quilt block.
Hovering Hawks is made from sixteen squares, ten of them made from half-square triangles. This block has been made over the years using lots of different fabric and value combinations. I played with my fabrics quite a while before making my final choices for this block. Use your own color scheme to make your block. Remember to check your values by taking a black and white picture of your fabric choices.
First, you’ll arrange half-square triangle blocks with single blocks. Therefore, the piecing is easy and familiar.
Use your value tests to help determine placement of fabrics.
The challenge for me was deciding where to place my fabrics. However, testing the values really helped me have confidence in my fabric choices.
Click here for printer-friendly version: River Heritage Month 8 Hovering Hawks
In summary, like the glimmer of “river” in my “Eagle’s Nest” photos, we’re gonna say that the bird shown above is a hawk and it is hovering!
Most importantly, have fun making this Hovering Hawks quilt block!
