Frugal Village- Frugal living community

- 4 different colors
- 1 background color (preferably a light color)
- 2 colors from material already used on other blocks
- 1 light color

First we need to make sure our material is washed and dried as we did in our other blocks. Once pressed, we then need to cut off the selvage edges on our material, if you haven't already done so. I'm going to give you a link to check out for washing, pressing and trimming instructions so that I don't have to repeat all the pictures again. Please make sure you have done this before starting this block Please check quilting prep 101 and the Nine patch tutorial to read prepping instructions.

http://www.frugalvillage.com/quiltprep.shtml

This block will measure 12 1/2 inches when finished and will look like this:

Will do this block exactly the same as the card trick, except the middle block. Cutting for this block:

2 - 4 7/8 sq. of your background color
1 ea. - 4 7/8 sq. of your 4 colors
1 - 5 1/4 in. sq. of your background color
1 ea - 5 1/4 in. sq. of your 4 colors

[tip] - For this block, if you use the same colors as you did for your card block, you will already have triangles left over which you can use, rather than cutting another 5 1/4 inch. sq. Its really up to you whether you want to use the same colors again.You'll also need:1 square for your middle block. The size needs to be 3 3/8+. Now when I put the "+" sign there, I mean just a hair over the 3/8. This is vital to getting the block to measure 4 1/2 inches square. You will also need:2 - 2 3/4 inch squares of two different colors.

For this tutorial, I'm going to have you refer back to the card trick tutorial and follow ALL instructions exactly, EXCEPT for the middle block.

Once your pieces are cut, lay them out exactly as in the card trick, leaving your centre block open. I'll give the instructions and pictures for that later.

Now take the square you've cut for your middle block, along with one 2 3/4 inch block. Cut the block corner to corner, making 2 triangles. Take one triangle and your block, with both pieces facing each other, sew. Press.

(Sorry for the poor quality picture, this is twice I've done it and both times it turned out that way. I'll retake it and put in a new picture later.)

Take the other triangle (the same material) and do the the same thing, placing it across from the one you've already done. Sew and press.

tip - make sure you press before you do the other color.

Once finished, the back of your block should look like this.

The front of your block, once pressed should look like this.

Take your other 2 3/4 inch square, again cutting it corner to corner to make 2 triangles and do the same thing, sewing on the opposite sides. When finished, your block should measure 4 1/2 inches and look like this. Make sure you press.

Have a tip for getting your points perfect most of the time.

When you look at the following picture, see where my dd is pointing her finger. Your 1/4 inch seam should cross right where the 2 seams meet. When you are sewing your blocks together, take a straight pin and place the pin right in the middle of where they meet. When you sew the other block to it, make sure your 1/4 inch seam allowance sews right on that point.

Its the same if both blocks have points like the one in the picture. You would take your straight pin and place it in the centre of the point on both blocks. Being careful, you can usually sew right over the straight pin UNLESS you have a computerized sewing machine, then you can't. You would just take your pin out right before sewing.

This does take a little bit of practise, but once you've done it a few times, you'll find your getting much better points when lining up the blocks.

btw - your 1/4 inch seam allowance should always cross at the point where dd is pointing her finger.