This months block is from the tumbling block family, but no Y seams.
Cutting Instructions: It depends on which way you are making your Half Square Triangles (HST). If you are making HST with squares and trimming I’ll post those measurements in (). Otherwise the instructions will be for using a specialty ruler.
Light Tan Fabric: A) Cut 1~ 2 1/2″ x 15″ strip. (4 ~ 3″ Squares)
Medium Tan Leaf Fabric: D) Cut 4 ~ 2 1/2″ Squares B) Cut 1 ~ 2 1/2″ x 15″ strip (4 ~ 3″ Squares)
Dark Rust Fabric: Cut E) 4 ~ 2 1/2″ Squares C) Cut 1 ~ 2 1/2″ x 15″ strip (4 ~ 3″ Squares)
Medium Dark Tan Fabric: F) Cut 4 ~ 4 1/2″ Squares
Half Square Triangles Instructions
The block consists of squares and half square triangles (HST). Last month I showed you one way to do HST you can reread that method here. This time I am going to show you a different way. You may use any method of making Half Square Triangles that you are comfortable with, I just wanted to show you my favorite way this month.
If you are like me, you have some specialty rulers and don’t always use them. When I went to look for my rulers I discovered I have three different brands that can do the same thing. Maybe my daughter will get one. I have the Nifty Notions, Easy Angle, and the Essential Triangle rulers. Of these, the Essential Triangle Ruler is my favorite.
To make Half Square Triangles using any of the above rulers you will need sttips of fabric. In the case of this block, we need 2 1/2″ strips, one dark and one light. Place the strips right sides together. I have trimed the left side of the strip set so I have a square edge, and got rid of the salvage strip. The first picture I’m using the Essential Triangle Ruler, and the third picture I’m using the Easy Angle Ruler. They both work similarly. Place the ruler on your strip set with the left side of the ruler on the fabric and the tip of the ruler at the top of your fabric. The Essential Triangle Ruler, the little green tip will be above the fabric, with the Easy Angle Ruler the blunt tip of the ruler will be on your fabric. Cut your first HST set, rotate the ruler so that it’s like the second picture, cut your next HST set. Continue like this across the strip. Your half square triangles are now ready to sew. You need four sets of HST of each color combination. Light Tan/Medium Tan, Medium Tan/Dark Rust, and Dark Rust/ Light Tan.
Sew 1/4″ from the edge, be careful not to pull on them. This will be a bias edge. I chain piece mine and then take them to the ironing board.
Press to the dark. In the pictures below, I am showing two different ways to Press the HST. In the first I’m going straight towards the seam, sometimes this will distort the block. In the second picture I’m going from the side across the block, I haven’t had any problems with distortion with this method. Either way you choose to press remember we are pressing not ironing.
Time to trim. I placed my 2 1/2″ square ruler with the 45 degree line on the seam of my HST. Trim. The second picture is showing how little I need to trim when using one of the rulers.
Assembling Block Instructions
Now that we have made the HST and trimmed them, it’s time to assemble our block. The block consists of four of the same unit. The picture below shows the unit layed out. I chose to sew one A/B Light Tan/Medium Tan HST to one D Light Tan 2 1/2″ Square. Then I sewed the A/B/D unit to the top of the F Medium Dark Tan 4 1/2″ square. Next sew the B/C HST to an E 2 1/2″ square, add a C/A HST to the other side of the B/C/E unit, paying attention to the direction they go. The third picture will show the two units. Sew them together again making sure the HST are going the right direction.
. 
This unit will measure 6 1/2″ square. Make four. Sew into rows or columns and then sew together to make the block.
This block was fun to play with possible layouts. I may just have to make a quilt with one of the following layouts. It is fun to see how just tuning a unit in a block can change the whole design.
I hope you enjoyed this block. Please share a picture if you make it. I’d love to see your color choices and layout.
Until Later…… Quilt Fearless my friends.