Make hay while the sun shines. There’s nothing cryptic about that advice. When a field of hay is ready to cut, it’s a race against the next rainstorm to get it cut, baled and under cover. Thunderstorms pop up quickly out on the prairie.

This is a busy block, with many little pieces. I would rate it 2 Spools. Cut accurately.
Be sure your 1/4” seam is true. Take your time with this one, and remember when you reach for the seam ripper (and you will) - re-sewing a seam is not a failure, but just part of the process.

This block may be intimidating at first glance, but when we break it down, you see that it’s made from four identical quadrants, and each of those is built of half-square-triangles (HSTs) and units I call triple triangle-squares (TTSs).

YIELD

12" finished block

INGREDIENTS

FROM FABRIC A, CUT:
* (1) 5¾” square, cut diagonally twice
* (8) 2⅜” squares, cut diagonally once

FROM FABRIC B, CUT:
* (1) 5¾” square, cut diagonally twice
* (1) 2¾” square, cut diagonally twice
* (6) 2⅜” squares, cut diagonally once

FROM FABRIC C, CUT:
* (2) 5⅜” squares, cut diagonally once
* (12) 2⅜” squares, cut diagonally once

FROM FABRIC D, CUT:
* (1) 2¾” square, cut diagonally twice

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)

Using the triangles cut from 2⅜” squares, make four red/white HSTs, 8 that are red/light blue, and 12 that are white/light blue. (You will have four light blue triangles left over.) Each HST should measure 2” x 2”. If not, either your cutting or seam allowance is off. Fix it now to avoid heartache later.

Step 2: Triple Triangle Squares (TTSs)

Sew the red and dark blue triangles cut from 2¾” squares together, then add one of the light blue triangles left from Step 1. Make four TTSs as shown. each should measure
2” x 2”. Repeat with the red and white triangles cut from 5¾” squares, and the light blue triangles cut from 5⅜” squares. Make four TTSs. Each should measure 5” x 5”.

Step 3: Quadrants

Sew the white/light blue HSTs into four strips of three. Be sure the blue triangles point the right as shown. Sew the small TTSs and the remaining HSTs into four strips of four. Be sure the strips match the illustration. Sew the HST strips to the light blue sides of the large TTSs as shown. Each of the four quadrants hould be 6½” square.

ASSEMBLE THE BLOCK

Join block units as shown. Trim block to 12½” unfinished size.

Anne Wiens

Sweetgrass Creative