Special thanks to CJ AKA Homesteadmamma
- 4 different colors
- 1 background color (preferably a 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
Although this block made look hard, it is actually quite simple. Its all in laying out on your large ruler (or cardboard), and checking it over numerous times.
tip - Take a piece of paper and roughly draw out the pattern as you see it in the following picture. Then take pencil crayons (the same colors as your 4 colors) and color in where your colors should be. That way, you can refer to the picture often.
This block will measure 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 when finished and you will need:
2 - 4 7/8 inch squares from your background color
1 - 5 1/4 inch square from your background color
1 each 4 7/8 in square from each color for your cards
1 each 5 1/4 in square from each color for your card
Take your 2 - 4 7/8 squares (background)and cut in 1/2, corner to corner. Keep those seperate.
Take your 4 - 4 7/8 inch squares and cut those in 1/2 as well. Keep those in a seperate area has well (you don't want to get mixed up with your next cut.)
tip - You will have extra triangles left over from these cuts. Place them in a plastic bag, mark on the outside what size they've been cut from and keep. You can either use them in our next block, if you use the same colors or for a future project.
Take your 5 1/4 inch square (background) and cut it into and "x", making 4 triangles. (keep seperate from your other cuts)
Take your 5 1/4 inch squares of your 4 colors and do the exact same thing, making sure you keep them seperate from your other cuts.
Now your going to put the blocks together, so you see exactly where you want your colors for your cards. Once you've done it once, you may want to change where each card goes. Try to make it so that you have the colors co-ordinating a bit. (See where I have the dark on top and dark on the bottom and then the other 2 colors opposite of each other as well.) Do this on your large ruler or a large piece of cardboard.
When putting your block together, the triangles that were cut out of the 4 7/8 inch square for your background, will go on each corner. The triangles you cut out of your 5 1/4 inch background will go in the centre block of each row.
When putting your colors together, your triangles cut out of your 4 7/8 inch square will go on each corner. The triangles you cut out of your 5 1/4 inch background will go in your centre block of each row and in the middle block of the second row.
Now that you've decided where your colors are going to be, leave the whole block on your ruler and take over to your sewing machine.
Were going to sew the corner blocks first. Take your two triangles - one will be your background color and the other will be a color of one of your cards. With the right sides facing each other, sew and then press, making sure you press towards the dark color.
When your finished your 4 corners, they should look like this. Once sewn, return to the exact place on the block they were taken from - vitally IMPORTANT.
Will now do the middle block of the top row, the bottom row and the 2 blocks on the outside of the middle row.
Take your background triangle and your colored triangle, and making sure the right side is facing each other, sew and then press (pressing towards the darkest color).
Do this will all of them, making sure you return them exactly where they are suppose to be. This is very important, otherwise, you'll end up with them in the wrong place.
tip - Remember this block is easy as long as you ALWAYS return your sewn piece back to where it belongs.
When your finished, your piece should look like this (ignore the green print in the back, I was wanting a better color.)
Take the piece that you have just sewn and with the right sides of the material facing each other, sew it along with the triangle from that block. Make sure once the block is sewn, that it measures 4 1/2 inch square, and that you place it back to where it came from.
Can you see how important it is to replace those sewn pieces back exactly as your block was set up.
Were now going to do the middle block. Take your 2 triangles on one side and your two triangles on the other side, and with the right side of the material facing each other, sew and press.
In my block, you'll see that on one side, I have a dark and a light and the other side is also a dark and light.
Once these are sewn, they should look like this.
Before sewing these together, double check to make sure you have them sewn exactly as it should be. Double checking will cause a lot less frustration.
Take the 2 pieces and with right sides facing each other, sew and press. Make sure when you sew them together, the seams are opposite each other, so that when sewn, the seams fit together.
Once finished, this block should look like this. Also make sure when you place it back at your block, its where it should be. Check my block at the beginning again to double check. If your one card is dark green, then the green in this centre block MUST be where the card is.
Its now time to finish the block. You will first sew the 3 blocks at the top row together. Do the same thing with the next 2 rows.
Once those are sewn and pressed, you will now sew the rows together.
Take your top row and your middle row and with right sides facing each other pin and sew, then press.
Do the same with the bottom row.
Your block is now finished and should measure 12 1/2 x 12 1/2. Make sure you square it, just as we have in all our other blocks. Again if it is out just a wee bit, your okay. More than a 1/4 of an inch and you need to start over again.
You'll also notice that I didn't do as many pictures in this tutorial. I plan on doing the same with the rest of the tutorials. If you've followed all the other tutorials, you'll now know how to press and how to cut. With not using as many pictures, it means the thread loads faster. If you have any questions, pm me or you can start another thread.
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