It’s a Guilford County block!

I got my errands done this morning, including two trips to the post office to make sure everyone’s books get out!

There is a notice on the website now, and on the book ordering pages that any book orders that come in between August 19th ((tomorrow)) and September 2nd will be sent out in the order that they were received upon my return from Bali.

That left me some play time this afternoon and I just…well..I just…..

I just had to MAKE ONE!

I really loved this quilt at the antique mall, but I don’t have room for it, and I bought Doris instead --- so I made a test block..sewing along with Doris!

I also think this block would look awesome in the more modern fabrics because it is so big and chunky!

When I first looked at this block I thought of it as an uneven 9 patch with a square in a square in the center.

But if you look at it closer…the center is actually a “King’s Crown” type of block on point in the middle with pieced corners sewn on.

I drafted it in a 12” finished size…which STILL seems huge to me, but it is in keeping with the feel of the original quilt--- so hey!

Maybe I’ll try it in an 8” Maybe I’ll go down to 6”?

The one thing I wanted to be sure I did was work it in a size that used as many “easy to cut” normal sized strips as possible.

And this is what I’ve come up with. I used a solid that was more gold than orange –I had maybe a yard of it, so we’ll see how far it will get me!

For printer friendly version, CLICK HERE!

For one block cut:

From Cheddar cut:

(4) 3-1/2” squares

(4) half-square triangles from a 3-1/2” strip using the 3-1/2” line on the easy angle ruler. ((OR—(2) 3 7/8” squares cut once on the diagonal to yield 4 triangles))

(4) 2-5/8” squares

From Blue cut:

(8) half-square triangles from a 3-1/2” strip using the 3-1/2” line on the easy angle ruler. ((OR—(4) 3 7/8” squares cut once on the diagonal to yield 8 triangles))

(8) quarter square triangles cut from 2” strips using the companion angle ruler and the 2” line on the ruler. (( OR--- (2) 4-1/4” squares cut with an X to yield 8 quarter square triangles.

The photo above looks like there are 4 -- but there are 4 pairs totaling 8 triangles above!

(1) 4-3/4” square

Inner Block!

Flying Geese units:

Use 4 of the cheddar half square triangles and the 8 quarter square triangles to make 4 flying geese units. Press seams toward the blue fabric.

These will be odd sized and measure 2 5/8” X 4 3/4”. Be careful in handling and pressing as there will be bias on ALL EDGES. Starching before cutting can help you here. They are cut this way so that the straight of grain will go with the edge of the block when the pieced corners are added.

Arrange units as shown in photo above and stitch the inner block. Press.

Pieced Corners!

Following diagram above, make 4 pieced corners by sewing the blue half square triangles to two sides of the (4) 3-1/2” squares. Press seams toward the wing triangles.

Block Assembly!

Add the 4 pieced corner triangles to the block. I like to add one triangle, and then add the triangle on the opposite side. ((Think 9 o’clock & 3 o’clock!)) and then press carefully. Trim dog ears and add the remaining two corners in the same manner. Press.

Block should measure 12-1/2” at this point and finish at 12” in the quilt.

Guilford County! Tada!