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Quilt Block of the Month: July

Have you ever wanted to make a quilt but couldn't find just what you had in mind? The editors of Quilter's World magazine have compiled some block patterns, from the thousands of traditional blocks available, that you can download for free. With a few basic skills and a variety of block patterns, you can create countless designs in no time.

A new block download will be available each month along with helpful hints, tips and tricks. We will also give you ideas for block combinations and possible quilt settings from time to time to help you create fabulous quilted projects. We hope these blocks will inspire you to experiment with quilt design and create your own layouts. So get a binder and some page protectors to fill with block patterns and samples to fuel your creative juices.

Yankee Puzzle

Finished Block Size
8" x 8"
Yankee Puzzle

Yankee Puzzle
8" x 8" Finished Block

Cutting

From Light Fabric:

  • Cut 8 (2 7/8") squares. Subcut in half on one diagonal to make 16 A triangles.

    Yankee Puzzle

From Medium Fabric:

  • Cut 2 (2 7/8") squares. Subcut in half on one diagonal to make 4 B triangles.

    Yankee Puzzle

From Dark Fabric:

  • Cut 1 (5 1/4") square. Subcut on both diagonals to make 4 C triangles.

    Yankee Puzzle
  • Cut 2 (2 7/8") squares. Subcut in half on one diagonal to make 4 D triangles.

    Yankee Puzzle

Assembly

  1. Stitch an A and D triangle together along the long side (Figure 1). Press seam toward D. Repeat to make four A/D half squares. Set aside.

    Yankee Puzzle
  2. Repeat step 1 with A and B triangles to make four A/B half squares (Figure 2). Set aside.

    Yankee Puzzle
  3. Stitch an A triangle to one short edge of the C triangle; press seam toward A. Position and stitch a second B square on the opposite side of A to make one flying geese unit. Press seam toward A. Repeat to make four flying geese units (Figure 3).

    Yankee Puzzle
  4. Stitch an A/B half square to one end of a flying geese unit to make a row (Figure 4); press seam open.

    Yankee Puzzle
  5. Stitch two A/D half squares and one A/B half square together referring to Figure 5 for orientation of half square units to make a second row; press seams open.

    Yankee Puzzle
  6. Stitch the rows together matching seams and referring to Figure 6. Press seam open. Stitch a flying geese unit to the left side of the row unit, referring again to Figure 6, to complete half of the Yankee Puzzle block.

    Yankee Puzzle
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to make the second half of the block.

  8. Stitch the halves together to complete the Yankee Puzzle block referring to Figure 7 for orientation of block halves; press seam open.

    Yankee Puzzle

Helpful Hints

  • Choose one each light, medium and dark fabric for this block. Use scraps from other projects or purchase fat eighths (9" x 22") or fat quarters (18" x 22") to make one sample block.
  • Cut individual pieces from scraps or cut strips and then individual pieces from strips if using yardage or large pieces of fabric. For example, to cut several 2 1/2" squares, cut a 2 1/2"-wide strip the width of the fabric. Subcut the strip into 2 1/2" squares.
  • Use a 1/4"-wide seam allowance for all seams and stitch right sides together.

Fabric Contrast

The fabric choices for the Blocks of the Month are listed by color value or contrast: light, medium, dark. Without contrast, a design can appear flat and confusing. Contrast brings out the design and makes depth apparent. More contrast in a design can bring out the geometric depths in quilt blocks.

Contrast is, however, very relative. By choosing a dark and medium value fabric that are close together in value to create a shape, the contrast will be very subtle. Choosing a medium value fabric closer to the light values and a very dark value fabric will give a higher contrast. Even colors in the same family can create value contrast this way.

It is easy to see if the colors you have chosen have the level of contrast you want. Fold the fabrics so that they can be stacked or laid together from dark to light. Place them on a copier and copy them in black and white. The copy will show the value of each fabric.

This month's Yankee Puzzle could be done in red, white and blue. Choose a red and blue fabric that you feel contrast with each other, copy them and check to see that their values contrast enough that you will be able to see the pinwheel spin in the block. Or make some blocks with medium and dark values of red or blue only. Again, make sure the values of the red or blue fabrics contrast enough to see the pinwheel spinning. Mix and match the red, white and blue Yankee Puzzle blocks with red or blue only blocks to make a great Fourth of July themed quilt.

Copyright © 2013 Annie's. All rights reserved.

For more detailed help with quilting techniques, view our Quilting Lessons or consult a complete quilting guide. Your local library will probably have several on hand that you can review before purchasing one.

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