Block 4 in the Aztec Dance block of the month is now available. I hope you are keeping up with the blocks because we are getting close to the end. Just two more months and we will be finished.
You can purchase Block 4 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 4
This month we will be basically doing a review of units we have made in the past months. We will be starting off with using the Studio 180 Design Wing Clipper® tool to make two different colors of Flying Geese units. Additionally, we will be using the the Tucker Trimmer® to make some Shade Four Patch units. Finally we will be using the Square Squared® tool make our Diamond in the Square units.
Flying Geese
Let's get started with the Flying Geese units. This is the first time we have made these units in this Block of the Month. So Let's get started.
Start by using your Quilter's Magic Wand, mark two lines, each 1/4"away from the center diagonal on the two small squares. Position the two small squares diagonally on the opposite corners of the larger square.
Remember to nudge the small square in toward the center in a couple threads.
Stitch on the drawn lines, then cut apart between the line of the stitching on the center diagonal.
Press the seams toward the small triangles.
Place the remaining marked small squares on the units, again remembering to nudge in a couple threads from the raw edge of the large triangle section. Then cut apart between the line of the stitching on the center diagonal.
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| Right Handed |
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| Left Handed |
Align the diagonal guidelines of the Wing Clipper® with the seams of the seams of the Flying Geese unit. You'll automatically be centering the tool over your pieced unit. Refer to your Block Instructions for Trim downsizes for your block size. Trim the sides and across the top.
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| Right Handed |
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| Left Handed |
Rotate your flying geese unit 180° and reposition your Wing Clipper® 1 to the align the previously trimmed raw edges with the proper size for your unit and the "X" at the top with the intersection of the seams.
Repeat to make 16 of both color variations of Flying Geese.
Shade Four Patch
We will be making 16 new Shaded Four Patch units just like we did last month, the only difference is the colors are slightly different.
Take your Narrow and Wide 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 |
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 last the three months 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 our units are made it is time to start assembling the blocks.
Start by stitching the two different flying geese units together.
Once these units are together we can layout our units according to the block layout in your instructions and stitch them together.
Make 4 Block 4's.
See you next month!
