Cutting Instructions
Never cut all fabric until you've made a test block. This applies to any quilt pattern you use.Outer Frames: (10) 2" wide strips cut from selvage to selvage
Inner Frames: (7) 1-1/2" wide strips cut from selvage to selvage
Four Patch Units: two contrasting fabrics, (1) 2-1/2" wide strip of each cut from selvage to selvage and (1) 2-1/2" x 10" strip of each
- Sew a 2" wide outer frame strip lengthwise to a 1-1/2" wide inner frame strip (top illustration). Press seam allowance either direction.
- Square up one end of the strip set and cut as many 6-1/2" segments from it as possible -- likely 4. Create 5 more identical strip sets and cut a total of (24) 6-1/2" long segments. Set aside.
- Cut (24) 9-1/2" long bars from your remaining 2" outer frame strips.
- Cut (24) 4-1/2" long bars from your remaining 1-1/2" inner frame strips.
- Grab the two strips reserved for four patch units. Sew the two long strips together lengthwise and press seam allowance towards the darker strip (middle left illustration).
- Square up one end of the strip set and cut as many 2-1/2" segments from it as possible.
- Create a second strip set from the remaining shorter strips. Cut more 2-1/2" segments until you have a total of 24.
- Sew two four patch segments together, but with like-fabrics on the diagonal (middle illustration, middle row). Press. Repeat to create 12 four patch units. When complete, each should measure 4-1/2" x 4-1/2".
- Sew a 4-1/2" long inner frame strip to opposite sides of a four patch unit (right illustration, middle row). Press seam allowances towards the strip.
- Sew a 6-1/2" long strip pieced segment (inner and outer frames) to the remaining sides of the block, taking care to place inner frames against the four patch (bottom row illustration, left). Press seam allowances towards the frames.
- Sew a 9-1/2" long outer frame to remaining two sides of the quilt block. Press seam allowances towards the frames (bottom row illustration, right).
- Repeat to make a total of 12 A Blocks.
Inner and outer frames are sewn in different orders so that a portion can be strip pieced. If each portion of a frame is made from the same fabric, the difference in sewing order (visible as seam allowances) will not be apparent if blocks are rotated in the quilt's final layout.
