Block #2 King's Crown Pre-War

Happy Friday Everyone!  It’s time for Block #2 King’s Crown Pre-War!!

My test Block 2 is complete and the Frixion Pen is now one of the top 10 maybe top 5 notions that I will always have in my sewing room!!  Did you know that Frixion Pens also work great on paper, just iron your piece of paper and your notes disappear!  I found this out when I was working away at this block.  I was making notes on my pattern as to what sizes I should be cutting the pieces and at the same time working away at my test block!  I’m certain this pen saved me 2 ink cartridges and at least 3 trees today!

Why you may ask did this pen become my best friend when making this block?  Because my life lesson of the day is: pattern designers spend hours going over patterns, making certain everything is perfect so that when you go to put your block together it fits.  Designers test patterns at least twice (many times more than twice) plus they are normally put together by pattern testers to make certain they are correct and easily understood.  In the end, we are all human and humans make mistakes so next time I read a pattern and I know in my gut that something just isn’t right I’m going to sit down immediately with my calculator and double check the pattern numbers and I’m NOT going to spend 2 hours trying to make something work that mathematically wont. 

On to block #2!  It’s beautiful!  I love it! 

Here’s your strip cutting directions:

• ·        Piece A 2” strip sub cut into 2” squares, you need 4 for each block
• ·     Piece B 5 ¼” strip sub cut in 5 ¼” squares (we are going to make 8 ½ square triangles at once!) you will need 1 square of each fabric for each block. (Note: you will be cutting this block from 2 different fabrics.)
• ·        Piece B 2 ¾” strip sub cut into 2 ¾” squares (you need 4 squares for each block), then cut diagonally
• ·        Piece C 3 ¼” strip sub cut into 3 ¼” squares (you need 2 square for each block), then cut diagonally
• ·        Piece D 4 ¼” strip sub cut into 4 ¼” squares (you need 2 squares for each block), then cut diagonally
• ·        Piece E 4 ¾” strip sub cut into 4 ¾” square (you need 1 square for each block)

Let’s make the half square triangles first!

Take your two 5 ¼” blocks and set them rights sides together and draw a line diagonally:

Next sew a ¼” seam using your drawn lines as guides.  I’ve sewn mine in Red thread so that it is easy to see:

Now comes the fun!  Start cutting these little babies apart!

Cut your 5 ¼” block in half (2 5/8”) horizontally

Then do it again. 

Now it’s time to cut these the way we’ve all been doing it for years!  Time to cut on your drawn lines.

Take them over to your ironing board, set your seams and then press them open to the dark!

These square up to 2”! 

Next step is to assemble your flying geese.  First off, I need to get my disclaimer out there!  Flying geese aren’t my favorite.  I do however like them when I use Eleanor Burn’s Flying Geese Ruler but I figured everyone may not have one so I’d better do them the somewhat old fashioned way so here we go!  Because this block isn’t my favorite I know I have to make mine a little larger than normal so that I have plenty of room to square them up.  It bugs me when I cut off one of my points so I’ve learned over the years to make mine bigger so when I square them up I’ve got a nice ¼” at the top and sides of my Geese.

This block is made from your 3 ¼” triangles and your 2 ¾” triangles.

Remember I said I like mine a little bigger so that I can square them up!

Sew your triangles to your triangle (1/4” seams) and press to the dark side.  Next, we’ll trim these up so that they look beautiful!

Remember your want your center point to be centered so that’s where I start, I find my center!  This block will be 3 ½” x  2”.  I line my ruler up with the 1 3/4” mark right on the point of my block checking to make certain that my ruler is pretty straight and I cut the right side.

I then flip my block over and trim off the other side, check to make certain that my block is now

3 ½” long.

Square up the top so you have a ¼” seam allowance

Then square up your bottom!  Your block should measure 3 ½” x 2”

Time to put your side borders together

And your top and bottom!

Time to make the center!!

Attach your 4 ¼” triangles to your 4 ¾” squares.  Again, my triangles are larger so that I can square up my points once the block is together.

Attach all four of your triangles to your block pressing the seams towards the triangles.

Square up your block!

Attach your side borders being careful to match up your centers.  I pin the center first then work my way out.

 Attach your top borders! 

Your block is done!!!!

The first color way you will need to make 8 blocks, the second color way calls for 4 blocks.  I’m going to make all of the half square triangles first then make all of my flying geese for all blocks then put all of them together at once.  This week is a little challenging but the good news is next week’s isn’t so if you don’t get all of them done this week you will have some time to catch up next week!

Happy Quilting!!!

Margaret

If you would like to participate in this mystery quilt please email me at missmarker@rochester.rr.com and ask to be added to the list!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!