Block of the Month: Block 5

Designer: Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts

Get fabric requirements for the entire Block of the Month quilt here.

Get patterns for Block 1 here, Block 2 here, Block 3 here, and Block 4 here.

• 1⁄8 yard dark print
• Scrap of medium print No. 1
• 1⁄8 yard medium print No. 2
• 9×22" piece (fat eighth) light print

Finished block: 9" square

Quantities are for 100% cotton fabrics.

Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order.

From dark print, cut:

• 2--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 4 small triangles total

From medium print No. 1, cut:

• 1--3-1⁄2" square

From medium print No. 2, cut:

• 4--2-3⁄8" squares
• 8--2" squares

From light print, cut:

• 2--4" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 4 large triangles total
• 4--2×3-1⁄2" rectangles
• 4--2-3⁄8" squares
• 4--2" squares

1.    Sew dark print small triangles to opposite edges of medium print 3-1⁄2" square (Diagram 1). Press seams toward triangles. Add remaining dark print small triangles to remaining edges to make a small Square-in-a-Square unit. Press seams toward triangles. The unit should be 4-3⁄4" square including seam allowances.

2.    Referring to Diagram 2, sew light print large triangles to opposite edges of small Square-in-a-Square unit. Press seams toward light print triangles. Join remaining light print large triangles to remaining edges to make a large Square-in-a-Square unit. Press seams toward light print triangles. Trim unit to 6-1⁄2" square including seam allowances.

1.    Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each light print 2-3⁄8" square and medium print 2" square.

2.    Layer a marked light print 2-3⁄8" square atop a medium print 2-3⁄8" square. Sew together with two seams, stitching 1⁄4" on each side of drawn line (Diagram 3). Cut pair apart on drawn line to make two triangle units. Press each triangle unit open, pressing seam away from light print, to make two triangle-squares. Each should be 2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make eight triangle-squares total.

3.    Align a marked medium print 2" square with one end of a light print 2×3-1⁄2" rectangle (Diagram 4; note direction of marked line). Sew on marked line. Trim excess fabric, leaving 1⁄4" seam allowance. Press open attached triangle, pressing seam toward medium print. In same manner, add a second marked medium print 2" square to opposite end of rectangle to make a Flying Geese unit. The unit should be 3-1⁄2×2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make four Flying Geese units total.

Referring to Diagram 5, lay out four light print 2" squares, eight triangle-squares, four Flying Geese units, and large Square-in-a-Square unit in sections. Sew together pieces on each side of large Square-in-a-Square unit. Press seams in one direction. Then join pieces in three horizontal rows. Press seams toward light print squares and Square-in-a-Square unit. Join rows to make a block. Press seams toward middle row. The block should be 9-1⁄2" square including seam allowances.