Again this year, for the quilt guild I am apart of, I am providing instructions for how to make a different quilt block each month. For August, it is the "Our Editor" Quilt Block. I am not sure how it got it's name, but it seemed like it would be fun to make! The free instructions for the block follow below.
This block is just half square triangles and flying geese. It comes together pretty quickly.
For a 12 inch finished block (12.5 inch unfinished), you will need to cut the following:
Background (White)
(A) 1 of 8 x 8 inch square
(C) 4 of 4 x 4 inch squares
Color 1 (Dark Blue)
(B) 1 of 8 x 8 inch square
Color 2 (Medium Blue)
(D) 1 of 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 inch squares
Sew
Create the flying geese units. I use the Four-In-One Flying Geese method. Using the (C) and (D) pieces, lay two small squares on two diagonal corners of the large square, right sides together.
Draw a line, corner to corner, on the small squares, then stitch a scant 1/4" away from both sides of the line.
Cut on the drawn line and press to the dark side.
Next, match another small square into the corner of the large triangle.
Draw a line from the corner to corner of the small square, as shown in the picture. Stitch a scant 1/4" from the line. Cut on the line and press to the dark side.
Trim down to 3 1/2" x 6 1/2". Make sure you stay 1/4" away from the top point of the flying geese so you don't loose your point when you sew it.
Trim each to 6 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.
Next, create the half square triangles (HSTs).
On the wrong side of the white square, draw four lines as shown in the picture. Two diagonal from corner to corner. One vertically at the halfway point. One horizontally at the halfway point.
Place both squares right sides together. Using a scant 1/4 inch seam, stitch on both sides of only the two diagonal lines. (A scant 1/4 inch seam is a seam that just short of a full 1/4 inch seam.) Cut on all four written lines.
Open up the HSTs and press to the dark side. Trim each to 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. You should have 8 HSTs.
Arrange the HSTs and the flying geese to match the layout. Sew the blocks together into strips. I find it easiest to make a strip from the top HSTs, a strip for the middle section, and a strip for the bottom HSTs. Press the seams on each strip in opposite directions. Then sew the strips together to create the final block. Press.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.
Check back each month for a new How-To of quilt blocks! To see the other blocks, just search my blog for Quilt Guild Block of the Month.
If you would like a PDF version of these instructions, please check out Group #4 of the How-To Block of the Month Downloads.
This is classic block that has been designed and created by many people. As I have mentioned before, these block designs come from the book 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone. (c) 2003 but these instructions are written by me.)
Have fun quilting!