Block of the Month Returns!

Happy New Year to all Ties that Bind members!

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, January 17th, 6:30 p.m.  OOPS!!! I almost forgot we changed the time!!!
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, Wisconsin
All are welcome.

We are starting Block of the Month again.  Here's the deal.  A block will be announced each month, and directions will be provided.  You can make one (or more) if you like.  For every block you make, you get one chance to win all of them.  The lucky winner's name will be drawn, and she will take home the blocks.  She will also bring a pattern the next month for a new Block of the Month.
Clear as mud?  Comment with questions and I'll answer if needed.

January's block of the month is Economy, kindly provided for us by Colleen.  Don't worry if you lost your directions.  You can follow this tutorial.

Block size:  9 in. finished
Colors:  fall colors

Cut:
1   5 in. square for the center
2   4.75 in. squares for the first round
2   6 in. squares for the second round

Subcut:
The center square stays the same.
Cut each of the other squares in half diagonally.  You now have 4 triangles of each.

 Now we're ready to sew.  These directions use 3 steps: sew-press-trim.
1.  Sew two opposite triangles to the center square.  Creasing the square in half and doing the same to the triangles makes it easier to match them up.

2.  Press the triangles away from the center square.

3. Trim the ends of the triangles even with the sides of the center square.

Now you're ready to add the other two brown triangles.
1.  Sew the triangles to the square.
2.  Press away from the center square.

3.  Trim this square, leaving a quarter inch at each point.  (My squares measured 6.75 in. after trimming.  I'm not sure if that's right.  Math!)

Okay, 4 triangles are on, now it's time to add the other 4.

1.  Sew triangles to opposite sides of the block.
2.  Press the triangles away from the center.

3.  Trim the ends of the triangles even with the block.

Then
1.  Sew the last two triangles onto the block.
2.  Press the seams away from the center of the block.

3.  Trim the block to 9.5 in., with the points a quarter inch from the edge.

I tried this 3 times, and none of them came out perfect.  As you can probably see, a couple of my outside points are more than a quarter inch from the edge.  But the block is 9.5 in. exactly.

So if you win these blocks, please forgive me for the floating points.
Let me know if anything in this tutorial is unclear or incorrect, and I'll fix it.

See you soon!