Tips & Tricks ~ June 2011 BONUS block!

Ready for another fun bonus block? This is our 3rd 6” finished bonus block to use in our quilt top. I have a plan for them, but it keeps changing {grin} so as soon as it’s set, I’ll do a big reveal!

Since this is a bonus block, the tutorial will be here, without so many tips along the way. This is meant to be fast and fun!

This 6” block is the Greek Cross. This design uses the HSTs and strip piecing we’ve done in previously 12” blocks. Easy peasey.

Please read thru the directions to the end first, and then start your block. (Getting sick of me saying that yet?)

Pick out your fabrics  from your stash – I stuck to one light and one medium, but you could mix it up.

· Lights – cut 2 each 3” squares  AND cut 1 each 1 1/2” x 11” strip

· Medium or Dark – cut 2 each 3” squares  AND cut 1 each 1 1/2” x 11” strip AND 1 each 2 1/2” square

NOTE: I neglected to include the 2 1/2” medium square in the photo – oops!

At the start of this month we learned how to make a half-square triangle HST. See the March T&T post for that information. I’ve written a fast tute below for you:

Make 4 HSTs using the 3” squares of light and med/dark fabrics. I drew a quick line on the back of the light square from corner to corner…

placed the squares right sides together and sewed a 1/4” away from the drawn line on both sides…

  

Cut apart on the drawn line…

…and pressed open with seams toward the dark fabric.

Square up each HST to 2 1/2” – you should have 4.

  

Now, sew your light and med/dark strips together…and press the seam allowance to the darker fabric.

Segment into four 2 1/2” pieces…

  Layout your block….sew rows first…

And then each row to one another… 

Press and square to 6 1/2” and….

…you’re done! You’ve completed a Greek Cross block!

AND now we are halfway done with our quilt along blocks – how cool is that????  Please post a photo of your completed block for all to see and cheer you on!

See you again soon!

©2011, Carrie Graziano, crickets studio