The "A" Group
- Gather the (10) 2-1/2" wide very dark strips and the (10) 2-1/2" medium (or light) strips.
- Sew one strip of each color together lengthwise to create a 2-color strip set. Press the seam allowance towards the darker strip.
- Square up one end of the strip set and then cut as many 2-1/2" segments from it as possible. Make additional strip sets and cut a total of (144) 2-1/2" segments.
- Grab two of the segments, aligning them right sides together along their long edges, but with contrasting colors opposite each other (like-colors will be at a diagonal). Sew together along the long edge to create a four-patch unit.
- Press the new seam allowance to the side (or press it open if you feel that side-pressing makes the unit too bulky). You can also often fan-out the center seam intersections of a four-patch unit and press allowances in a somewhat circular pattern. Experiment a bit to see what works best for you.
- Make a total of 72 four-patch units. Pile them up in a group we'll call "A."
The "B" Group
- Gather the (10) 2-1/2" wide strips of dark blue (cool) -- I upped this from 9, so cut an extra if you saw instructions early. Gather 5 of the 2-1/2" wide strips of deepest red/maroon.
- Grab two blue/cool strips and one red strip. Sew the three strips together lengthwise, placing the red strip between the blues. Press seam allowances towards the outer (blue/cool) strips.
- Make four more identical strip sets.
- Square up one end of each strip set and then cut a total of (36) 2-1/2" segments from the sets (technically, you need two less, but the extra will let you try out a layout option later). You will still have uncut strip sets -- cut 36 segments only.
- Pile the segments up in a group we'll call "B," keeping the remaining strip sets nearby. (View example of a "B" Group)
The "C" Group
- Gather the remaining strip sets that were used to cut "B" segments.
- Find the five 2-1/2" medium/dark (like tan or brown) strips. Sew a strip lengthwise to each outer edge of the two full-length strip sets (against the blue/cool strips). Press seam allowances towards the new strips.
- Measure the length of your remaining partial strip set. Divide the single medium/dark strip that remains, turning it into two strips the same length as the strip set. Sew one of the shorter medium/dark strips lengthwise to each outer edge of the short strip set (cut another 2-1/2" medium/dark strip if necessary to achieve length). Press seam allowances towards the new strips.
- Square up one end of each strip set and cut a total of (36) 2-1/2" segments.
- Pile the segments up in a group we'll call "C." (View example of a "C" Group)
The "D" Group
- Find your 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" squares. Sew a "B" segment to opposite sides of a square. Press seam allowances towards the large center square.
- Sew a "C" segment to remaining sides of the square, butting seams for a perfect match. Press seam allowances away from the large center square.
- Repeat to make 17 blocks from remaining large squares and segments. You'll have enough segments to make an 18th block. Cut one more 6-1/2" square and make the extra -- it will give you a second layout option later. (View example of a "D" Group)
