Today is release day for Month 3, the halfway mark on making our Aztec Dance Quilt. For month 3, I have added bonus block #1 to this month's mix. Please remember you can join in on the fun, and catch up at any time, by checking out my Aztec Dance BOM page.
You can purchase Block 3 Here. Remember, you have two options for buying the pattern. First, My website is set up for both Printed and Downloadable PDF versions. For my International customers, I have an Etsy website.
Month 3 Block
Month 3 is now available for purchase. The tools you will need for this month's block are the Wing Clipper® I and Tucker Trimmer tools. This block makes into 6" (Wall) and 9" (Queen).
For this month's block, you will be making more Diamond in Square units. Additionally, we will be adding in Picket and Shaded Four Patch units.
Pickets
Let's start with the Picket units first. Gather your Blue squares and Rust rectangles you cut out in the cutting instructions.
Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the reverse side of the blue squares. Then position the blue square with a rust rectangle. Making sure the diagonal line starts in the upper left Corner. Stitch on the drawn diagonal line, and trim 1/4" away from the sewn line. Press toward the triangle.
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| Right Handed |
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| Left Handed |
Position your Wing Clipper® on the unit, aligning one of the long diagonal guidelines on the ruler with the diagonal seam line. Trim the first two sides of oversized unit.
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| Right Handed |
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| Left Handed |
Rotate the unit 180° and reposition your Wing Clipper® to align trimmed edge and the "X" with the sewn seam. Trim again up the side and across the top.
Make a total 16 Rust pickets.
Now we need to repeat these pickets using the blue squares and gold rectangles. This time we are going to align the diagonal line so that it starts in the upper right corner to make a total of 16 Gold Pickets.
Shaded Four Patch
Now we need to make 16 Shaded Four Patch units. Gather your Accent #2, Tan strips and Blue rectangles.
Take your Narrow Accent #2 and Wide Tan Strips and stitch them together along the long side. Press the seam allowance toward the wide strip. Cut the strip set in half to make 2 strip sets.
Pair the two strip sets right sides together with the narrow strips on opposite sides so each narrow strips lay over a wide strip. Sub cut the strip sets into 8 sections that measure the width of the narrow strip. keep these sections together.
Stitch each pair along the long side. Snip the seam allowance at the half way mark between the two squares all the way to the seam. Press both seams away from the patch.
Using a ruler with a 45° angle mark. Place the 45° line on the edge of the unit and Draw a 45° sewing line on the wrong sides of the unit. Making sure the line runs from top to bottom and goes through the corner of the square where the stitching lines meet. Draw a second line on the opposite side of the unit through the other square.
Center the marked unit over the blue rectangle. Stitch on both the marked lines, Cut 1/4" away from the two stitching lines on both sides. Press toward the larger triangle.
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| Right Handed |
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| Left Handed |
Position the sizing diagonal of the Tucker Trimmer over the unit, so that is lines up with the unit size diagonal seam line of the Shaded Four Patch unit and assuring the common diagonal lines up through the corner of the square at the center of the unit. Trim the first two sides.
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| Right Handed |
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| Left Handed |
Rotate the unit 180° and line up the Tucker Trimmer over the unit again, aligning up the diagonals and cut sizes with the previously trimmed edges and trim. Repeat to make a total of 16 Shaded Four Patch units.
Diamond in the Square
For the last couple of month we have been making Diamond in Square units, so you should have a good handle on how to make these units by now. If you need a refresher please read the first blog post on Diamond Half Square units.
Assembly
Now that all the units are made it's time to put Block 3 together, starting with the Picket Units.
Stitch the two pickets together, making sure the inner points are going toward the center.
Once these units are together we can layout our units according to the block layout. Then stitch them together to make 4 Block 3 units.
Bonus Block #1
We have completed Block #3, so now we are going to make Bonus Block #3, which are the Large Half Square Triangles, that will act as a fill in block for the quilt.
You will need to make 16 an 6 1/2" (Wall) or a 9 1/2" (Queen) unfinished size Half Square Triangles using the blue and rust fabric colors. If you are making the queen size you will need to use the Tucker Trimmer® III to trim up your units. If you need the tool, you can find it on my website, Studio 180 Design website, or your local quilt shop.
Have fun stitch this month two blocks and look forward to seeing you on September 15th.
Tina
