Sorry if you're tired of my greens and pinks, but I'm posting the next block anyway! You'll have to watch the slide show to see all Rachel's cool color choices. This is another block of my own invention and I decided to call it 'Blossoming Star' because with my color choices, the star isn't the first thing you see. Here's how to do it:
Fabric Requirements:
4 1/2" square--cut 3 of green and 2 of pale pink; cut in half diagonally, twice, into 4 triangles
2 1/2" square--cut 4 floral and 4 green
3 1/3" square--5 floral
4 1/2 x 2 1/2" rectangle--cut 4 green
Using a 3 1/2" floral square, and two of the pink triangles, sew one pink triangle to two adjacent edges of the the square. Follow up with sewing two green triangles to the other two adjancent sides. If you fold the squares and the triangles in half and give a little pinch on the center fold, you will be able to match up the fold marks to make sure the triangles are perfectly centered on the squares, as pictured. Repeat with three more of the 3 1/2" floral squares until you have a total of 4 units.
Square up these units to a perfect 4 1/2".
Repeat the process with the last 3 1/2" square and the last four green triangles. Square this unit to 4 1/2" as well.
Using the 2 1/2" squares, sew a floral to a green. Press towards the green. Sew these two-piece units to the green rectangles. Press towards the rectangles.
Line up the pieces so you can see how the block will fit together. Sew the pieces to form rows. Be careful to sew just barely to one side of the X in the seam of the triangle units so that the points will be nice and clean after pressing the block.
When pressing over the thick seams, you can reduce bulk by clipping on either side of the bulky part of the seam, and then pressing that part open. It's an interesting look, but it's an option for smoother seams.
Once your units are sewn together into rows, sew the rows together into your final block. Press well. Be careful to position the rectangles units so that all the seams are facing in the way you specifically want. My seams ended up facing all which-way because I didn't think about it.
You're done! That's block #12. Maybe it's time to start talking about setting the blocks into a quilt top!
