Saturday Sampler has been so fun this year, trying all sorts of new patterns. For part of our blocks this month we are making (3) Friendship blocks.
Here is what you will need to make (3) 4 1/2″ blocks:
(1) Beige rectangle, 3 3/4″ x 14″
(12) assorted squares, 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ (purple, orange, red, blue – 3 of each)
1. Press and starch all your fabrics.
2. Sub-cut your beige piece into (12) 1 1/8″ x 3 3/4″ strips
3. Separate the squares into piles by colors (a purple, red, blue, and orange pile).
4. Stack the squares and cute them 3 at a time, so cut all the purple squares at once. Trim each square to measure 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.
Then sub -cut VERY carefully 1/4″ to the side of the true diagonal line. I lined up the diagonal line on my ruler with the edge of the square, and then lined the dotted line 1/4″ away from the edge of the ruler to go through the diagonals of my square. This meant I would be cutting 1/4″ away from the diagonals, leaving me with a large triangle and a small triangle.
Repeat this with all your squares. You should now have all your pieces cut!
5. Sew a beige strip onto the long side of each small triangle, trying to center the beige strip as best you can.
6. Press the BLUE and PURPLE small triangles towards the beige. Press the ORANGE and RED small triangles towards the triangles.
7. Sew the larger triangles on the opposite side of the beige strip. BE SURE TO MATCH THE FABRICS so that each side of the beige strip matches.
8. Press the BLUE and PURPLE large triangles towards the triangles, and the ORANGE and RED triangles towards the beige strip.
9. Trim each square to exactly 2 1/2″. To make this cut, line up the longest seam EXACTLY in the center of the square. This is tricky! This ruler really helps with this cut (the 6 1/2″ Triangle Square Up Ruler by Quilt in a Day. We carry it!)
All you do is lay your block flat and line up the 2 1/2″ line with the long diagonal line you want to be the center of your square:
Then make your 2 cuts
Then reposition your ruler, again lining up the 2 1/2″ red dotted line with the edge of the beige strip, and cut the remaining two sides.
Repeat this with all twelve blocks.
10. Lay out your Friendship blocks. Each block will have one of each of the four colors. Place the blue and purple in opposite corners, and the red and orange in opposite corners. This allows the seams to nest correctly.
12. Sew the purples and the reds together. Press towards the red. Sew the oranges and the blues together. Press toward the orange.
13. Finish sewing the block together! Pop the center seam by gently twisting the fabric back and forth until you can see a little swatch of each of your four fabrics in the center of your block. Press in a counter-clockwise direction.
14. And there you go! You should have 3 beautiful, colorful Friendship blocks measuring 4 1/2″.
