Make the Triangle Square Units
The Ship at Sea quilt block is one more design that makes use of the versatile half-square triangle unit - triangle square for short.
- Pair your mottled sky squares with your white squares. Set aside. Pair the remaining sky square with your black square.
- Use my easy sandwich method to turn the square pairs into triangle square units: four sky / white and two sky / black.
If you're making the 12" block, your completed units should measure 3-1/2" x 3-1/2". If you're making the 6" block, the completed units should measure 2" x 2".
Assemble the Ship at Sea Quilt Block
Refer to the illustration above as you assemble the quilt block.
- Sew the sky / white triangle square units into two rows, each row containing two units. Be sure to position the white sails as shown above. Press the seam allowance towards the sky fabric.
- Sew a sky rectangle to each side of the sails unit. Press seam allowances towards the sky rectangle.
- Sew a sky / black triangle square unit to each short end of the black boat rectangle. Check placement to be sure the lines of the boat match the illustration. Press seam allowances towards the black rectangle.
- Position the sea bar under the other two rows. Sew the three rows together to complete the quilt block. Press seam allowances towards the bottom of the block.
The large block should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2" square; the smaller block should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" square. If your block is smaller than it should be, or skewed along one side, press and recheck. If it still isn't quite right, use my easy squaring-up method before sewing it to other blocks.
