Block 60

A more simple block this week. (Since I was so late with last week's and it was a bit more time consuming than expected)

Here we are with considerably fewer pieces set out and ready to go.

First I started off with the 9-patch.

Then added the middle border.

Then completed the square-in-a-square to complete the block.

Did you see! We're now 2/3 done our blocks!!!!

Block 75

There seems to be a bit of a 1/2 square triangle theme going on these days.

For this block, I paper pieced the sides for the second border from the outside. The angles were not 30, 45, or 60 degrees, so the cutting would have been a little tough.

Here is the block set out with the 1/2 square triangles and paper piecing completed for the outer borders. When cutting, note that the centre is not composed of squares. And that they're all different sizes to boot!

I started working on building the strips for each of the outer border along with centre block, paying attention to placement of the pieces. (Did I mention that they're not all the same size?? :)

Continuing to pieces the middle of the block and border strips. (Yes, I ended up un-picking the middle a couple of times. Did I mention that they're not all the same size?? :)

Here the middle is complete and I'm still working on those outer borders.

The strips for the outer borders are complete! And I've added the first border to the centre of the block.

Now the next border.

And the next one....

And the next one....

And now we have our finished block!

Block 44

This is the last of the star blocks with Y-seams.

First I started off by creating the star blocks. (There are 4 in this one) I used the same method as I used on this block.

Once you've done that little piece, the rest is quite quick. :)

Here you see the star blocks and the 1/2 square triangles along with the other pieces set out and ready to go.

Here I've completed the centre pin wheel and the middle stripes. The remainder of the block is assembled as a 9-patch.

Tada! Our next block is finished. (And for everyone who doesn't like them, the Y-seam stars are done!)

Block 69

A slightly simpler block after our doozy last week.

Here are all the pieces set out and ready to go.

First I did the log cabin blocks, and attached the red strips.

Then I started working on the triangles in the centre. First I created little rows with the triangles and log cabin blocks.

Then attached them to create the middle strip.

And finally added the outer corners. And, per usual, I didn't cut the funny pieces (I like to avoid templates) instead I made them regular triangles and rectangles. This is the block untrimmed.

Here is the block trimmed. (Looks pretty different, doesn't it?)

And, now our first block of the new year is done!

Block 18

Here's to ending the year off with a bang!  (or a whimper)  According to the book, this is the block with the largest number of pieces.  

And, yes, it did take me longer than anticipated to finish (hence the late post) but it wasn't difficult.  Just time consuming.

My tips are to pay attention to the direction you are pressing in to minimize bulky seams and to measure and square up the sections as you move along.

Well, this block starts of with a pile of 1/2 square triangles.

Here is the block with all those 1/2 square triangles set out.  First I worked on the centre.  I did the Ohio star block in the centre.

And added the borders around.  Plus, I started connecting all those 1/2 square triangles.

Here I am turning the triangles into rows.

Now it's been reduced to a simple 3 patch. :)

And here it is finished! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.  Did you realize that, keeping to one block a week, we'll be finished all the blocks in 2010!

Block 63

Here is our next block set out and ready to go.

Here is the block with the centre square-in-a-square assembled.  Plus, I added the posts to the dark triangles and started assembling the triangles in the outer corners.

Now I've completed the outer corners of the block and the centre square.  For the centre square, I used the square-in-a-square method and then trimmed it down to size.  This way I was able to use the simple building blocks without fussing with centering things or any funny cutting.  It does waste a little fabric though.

Now the next border has been added.

And finally the corners added and the block trimmed down to size!

Block 5

A more simple block for the second Sunday in Advent.

Here is everything set out and ready to go.  That small pile of squares is for 1/2-square triangles in the corner.

Here we are with the centre 4-patch assembled and 1/2-square triangles in the corner.

Now the centre square-in-a-square and the remaining triangles for the corners have been added.

(I almost forgot to take a picture of this the next step)  So, ignoring the attached red rectangle, I attached the next border.

And the next border.

And finally, the outer triangles to make up our next block.