Checkered Allegiances
We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's
2013 Block of the Month, Dixie Diary.
Fabric Requirements:
Fabric A: Light
2 - 4 3/4'' squares
Fabric B: Medium Light
2 - 4 3/4'' squares
Fabric C: Dark
1 - 7 1/4'' square - cut on diagonal twice (x)
Fabric D: Medium Dark
1 - 7 1/4'' square - cut on diagonal twice (x)
Fabric E: Gold
2 - 1 1/2'' x 12 1/2'' strips
2 - 1 1/2'' x 14 1/2'' strips
Fabric F: Red
1 - 6'' square (for applique)
Layout squares as shown and sew together in
2 rows. Press seam in row 1 to the left and
seam in row 2 to the right. Then sew rows together.
On the long final seam of the 4-patch,
use a seam ripper to take out the 2 or 3
stitches inside the seam in the center.
With your fingers open up that center so
it looks like a teeny 4-patch in the center.
The seams will fall open naturally as to where
they should go. Press seams and you will notice
all the seams fall in the same direction ~ like
a pinwheel. This will be important later.
Layout triangles as shown and sew
together, press seam to the right
(when you look at it from the right side).
This is the step where the seam pressing becomes
important. Place the long edge of a triangle unit
on one of the edges of the 4-patch and at the center
seams you want to seams to "lock" or butt up
against each other, pin seam and sew. Press
seam to the outside.
Sew a triangle to the opposite side of
the 4-patch. By using the method of
pressing seams a certain way and locking
them together before sewing, you will have
more precise intersections and less bulk
and waviness to your block.
Trim the dog ears from each side.
Add the triangles to the remaining 2
sides as shown above. Square block
to 12 1/2''. Take care when squaring
block to be sure the distance from the
side of the block to the point in the center
of each side is 1/4'', since the frame is only
1'' there's not much room for fudging...
Pin a Fabric E 12 1/2'' strip to 2 opposite
sides of the block. Sew on the side shown
above so you can see the point, you want to
sew a thread width above the point as you
are sewing your seam. Press seams to the
outside.
And that is how you will end up with
a perfect point like this one.
Add the Fabric E 14 1/2'' strips to the
2 remaining sides, using the "perfect
point" technique shown above. Press
seams to the outside.
Applique a heart or star to the center as desired.
Check out everyone's work on
Dustin's Flickr site:
American Homestead is now on
Facebook ~ please "like" my page.
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