Mother Seton Quilting Angels - Block of the Month - April 2011

Rectangles & Half-Square Triangles - Want it all? - Get it HERE

CLICK any picture to see more detail

Simple rectangles and half-square triangles are all that is needed to create this dynamic block.

I'm working in red and white fabrics for sharp contrast and to work this block into a soldier quilt.
Try using white, creams, or tans as the light fabric, and red, blue or RWB fabric for the contrast.

If you don't want to work with soldier fabric colors, then just use a light fabric for the white/light and medium/dark fabric for the red.

1.  Cut the fabric to the following sizes                                 

7.5” square each of red and white

4.5” square each of red and white

3.5” x 6.5” rectangle each of red and white

3.5” x 9.5” rectangle each of red and white

2.  On the back of the light fabric, draw a line across the diagonal.

If you do not have a 1/4” - foot, draw a line either side of the center line 1/4” away.

3.  Stitch on the sewing line or use your 1/4” - foot. 

After the four seams have been stitched, then cut along the center line.

4.  Open the half-square triangles and press the seam allowance to the darker fabric. 

Using a squaring up ruler, trim the 2 larger blocks to 6.5” squares, making sure to line up the diagonal line

on the ruler on the block seam.  Save the 2^nd large half-square triangle for another block!

Trim the 2 smaller blocks to 3.5” squares.

5.  Layout the half-square triangles and rectangles as pictured.

6.  For each row, sew the rectangles to each half-square triangles as shown, press seam towards the rectangle.

The top row is one of the 3.5” half-square triangles and a 3.5” X 9.5” dark rectangle. 

The center row is the 6.5”  half-square triangles and the two 3.5” x 6.5” rectangles.

The bottom row is the 3.5” X 9.5” light rectangle and the other 3.5” half-square triangles.

7.  Sew 3 rows together

8.  Completed block

Now make some more. 

Do a whole quilt or send your finished blocks to:

Kathy Thorne

MSP Quilting Angels

PO Box 335

Boyds, MD 20841

Your blocks will make a significant impact on the lives of those you touch and go into quilts for our wounded soldiers or for the children with cancer.