Tips & Hints
This block is a 10" block. (That is - 10 1/2" unfinished.) Use small to medium DARK-background floral fabrics and ecru-on-ecru (printed muslin) for the background. Please don't use florals with white or light backgrounds or white-on-white. You may use a larger floral for the large center triangle.
Try to make your blocks as "scrappy" as possible. The half-square triangles around the outside can be made by 2" triangle paper or by your favorite quick half-square triangle method of your choice. What I do is cut two three inch squares, one light and one dark fabric. I put them together with the right sides inside and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. Then I sew 1/4 inch from the line on both sides and cut apart on the drawn line. Press toward the darker fabric and trim to a 2 1/2" square with a bias square or similar tool. The center half square triangle is 6 inches finished, 6 1/2 inches unfinished. I'm not sure if 6 inch triangle paper is available. Using my method, you would cut two 7 inch squares, one light, one dark. Draw the same diagonal line, sew 1/4 from it on both sides and cut on the line. Press toward the darker fabric and trim to a 6 1/2" square with a bias square or similar tool. The bias square comes in a 8 inch size, which is great for people with arthritis. More surface to press down on while cutting.
Join five half-square triangle units together for the first row. Repeat for the last row. Join three half-square triangle units to each side of the 6 1/2" unit. Press seams toward the larger unit. Sew the top and bottom rows to the top and bottom. Follow the block graphic for color placement. If you have questions or comments, post a note to the bulletin board or email Squirrel or Azpatch. Blocks will be due by the third week of February. Please email Squirrel if you need her address.
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