Kinetic Energy – Industrial Grind

The Batik: Kinetic Energy

The Pattern: Industrial Grind (NH1919) by Needle in a Hayes Stack

The Challenge: Use the tools I already own

The Inspiration: The name of the batik line itself — Kinetic Energy

The End Result: A twin-size quilt with undeniable movement

Kinetic Energy — noun

Energy in motion. Nothing still. Nothing static. Everything alive.

Some fabrics whisper. This one hums.

The name Kinetic Energy practically demanded a project that moved—shifted, rotated, refused to sit quietly. That directive led me straight to Industrial Grind (NH1919) by Needle in a Hayes Stack. Two blocks. That’s all. And yet, when combined, something unexpected happens: secondary patterns emerge, angles appear, motion is implied. The whole becomes far greater than the sum of its parts.

Block One

Block One is a study in components—three distinct elements brought together in a classic 9-patch format.

It begins with the humble four-patch. Simple. Foundational. The kind of block that’s been around long enough to know exactly what it’s doing.

Next come the Peaky and Spike units. The pattern suggests a Goddess Tool—but remember, the challenge here was to use what I already had. Enter the Creative Grids 2 Peaks in 1 ruler. A quiet hero. Clean cuts. Smooth assembly. No drama.

The final piece is the snowball corner. I marked my regular Creative Grids ruler with tape and followed the 45-degree line. It worked—but hindsight has perfect vision. Had I read further ahead in the pattern, I would have skipped clipping corners, skipped cutting triangles, and simply stitched, flipped, and pressed.

Sigh.

Block Two

Block Two mirrors the first in structure—again, three components assembled 9-patch style—but tells a different story.

It starts with a Square-in-a-Square, cut using the Creative Grids Square-in-a-Square ruler. Precise. Satisfying. One of those moments where everything lines up just right.

Then—more Peaky and Spikes, this time in reverse colors. Look at them all piled up there. Controlled chaos. Potential energy waiting to be released.

Finally, the half-square triangles. Ninety-eight of them. I leaned heavily on the ¼” tape by Cluck Cluck Sew and powered through. Efficiency has its own beauty.

Assembly, Travel and Help Along the Way

It was finally time to assemble the blocks—but first, everything had to be packed up and hauled to California for a weeklong visit with my sewing friends. Quilting waits for no one, but it will travel.  

There were a few paws-itive interruptions along the way, but Block One came together.

Then Block Two.

flew back to Kauai with blocks in my carry-on, finger-pressing as I went. The plane was freezing. I was bundled up. Beauty requires sacrifice.

Once home, I wasted no time—assembling rows and loading the quilt onto my longarm, Stitch.

For quilting, I chose Wind Swirls by Dave Dennis. The movement felt right—an echo of the swirling black fabric from the Kinetic Energy line itself.

The Perfect Backdrop

And where does a quilt named Industrial Grind belong?

At the Old Koloa Sugar Mill.

It’s weathered. Abandoned. Heavy with history. The perfect counterpoint to motion, color, and modern design.

Thanks for joining me on this month’s adventure!

Until next time,

Toni @ Tiger Textiles

@tigertextiles