Monday, August 3, 2009

August Block of the Month

I've got a new BOM for August. It's an original block from Quilterscache called The Queen's X. To make it you need two color's plus a background color, although I added a third color to mine--the same red I've been using in the center of all my BOM's. The block consists of 2-1/2" squares and half-square triangles, joined together with 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles. When you join the squares and half-square triangles into four-patch units, notice that two of them are mirror images of the other two. Here's a picture of what I mean:
I wanted to share a trick I learned from one of Darlene Zimmerman's books (sorry, I don't remember which one) for joining four-patch units. Turn the four-patch unit to the wrong side, undo the stitching in the seam allowance at the center, and twist the seam allowances in the opposite directions, so that it will lay flatter when you press the seams. Here's a pic of what I'm trying to say:
And here's a picture of the completed block all sewn together:
I hope to get another block done in August if time permits, so check back around the middle of the month.
Carolyn