Friday, March 30, 2012

NEWBEE for April


I’m up this month and I’ve finally got my tutorial done, just in the nick of time :)

This is the block I would like in a 12 1/2 inch square (unfinished – it will be 12 inches square when I add a border).

I would like you to make the block in two contrasting colours of made fabric. I don’t care which colours you use except please no black or white and please make sure they contrast. I have done mine in blue and yellow as you can see.

I am sure this block has a name but I don’t know what it is.

To start, make a piece of fabric in each of your chosen colours. The piece needs to be 5 inches by 25 inches. 5 inches is really a minimum so make it 5 1/4 inches and you’ll have less stress when cutting.


From each colour of made fabric cut four (4) 4 7/8 inch squares and one (1) 4 1/2 inch square.


With the 4 7/8 inch squares you are going to make half square triangles. Draw a pencil line diagonally corner to corner on the back of all four of one colour of squares. I did this on my yellow so it was easier to see.


Pin your four colour A 4 7/8 inch squares to your four colour B 4 7/8 inch squares, right sides together. Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam on either side of your pencil line.


Can you see my seams? You really want to make sure these are scant 1/4 inch seams, otherwise your half square triangles will end up too small.

Cut the squares along your drawn pencil lines. Oops. I forgot to take a picture of this step.

Press your half square triangles open. It does not matter which side you press these seams to so press them to whichever side works best.  Lay your blocks out.


Now at this point you might want to square up the half square triangles to make sure they are 4 1/2 inches square. Some of us are more precise sewers than others. I’m one of the less precise. I always square up my blocks because if I don’t my seams don’t match up and I’m not happy with the finished block. Just saying….

Once you have squared up the half square triangle blocks, join the three blocks in each row together. Press the seams – and in this case it does matter which way they go. You need to press the seams in the middle row one way and the seams in the top and bottom row the opposite way. This will make a big difference in being able to align the seams when you sew the rows together. Here’s my rows all pressed and ready.


Sew the three rows together; press the seams (whichever direction feels right to you) et VOILA!


You will have one half square triangle block left over. Please send that to me along with the block.



Thanks everyone. I hope you have fun making this block. It’s not too difficult I hope.
Janet 

5 comments:

Chris said...

Beautiful block, and excellent tutorial, Janet! I think one of the fun things about our bee is seeing everyone's fabrics - and yours are lovely. Can't wait to get started!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Very nice! I love HST"S!You will have so much fun laying out this quilt!

Karen said...

What a great tutorial - thanks. This is a great looking block - do you know the name of it?

Karen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kathy said...

Neat block. I've got my scaps ready to roll. Just have to decide which two colors I want to play with. Your tutorial is really good, too. Can't wait to see all the blocks together.