Poinsettia Block

The block for August 2004 is the "Poinsettia" block 

Each finished block measures 12 inches square.  (12 ½ X 12 ½ inches unfinished).
           
Instructions:  Use good quality, 100% cotton pre-washed fabrics.      
 

        
1.           cut green rectangles
    
2.          cut red rectangles

3.            cut gold squares
 

4.            cut white squares
 


5.          piece green & white rectangles
6.          piece green & white rectangles
7.           piece red & white rectangles
8.           piece red, white & gold rectangles



9.     piece corner squares


10.        assemble finished block

Choose Christmas red, Christmas green, and gold fabrics that are either tone-on-tone or small print, and a white tone-on-tone for the background.  


Cutting instructions:

    1.  From the green material, cut four 3 1/2 inch x 6 1/2 inch rectangles.

    2.  From the red material, cut four 3 1/2 inch x 6 1/2 inch rectangles.

3.  From the gold fabric, cut four 3 1/2 inch squares.  With a pencil, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on the back of each square.

4.  From the white fabric, cut twelve 3 1/2 inch squares.  Same as with the gold squares, draw a diagonal line on the back of each white square as well.  






Piecing instructions:

    5.  Refer to graphic 5.  (A)  With right sides together, lay one of the white squares along the left hand side of the green-colored rectangle.  Sew along the pencil line.  (B)  Cut through both layers of fabric 1/4 inch to the outside of the sewn line.  (C)  Press seam to the light fabric.

6.  Repeat the steps from step 5 for the opposite side of the same rectangle.  Then repeat steps 5 & 6 for the remaining three green rectangles.

7.  Refer to graphic 7.  (A)  With right sides together, lay one of the white squares along the left hand side of the red-colored rectangle.  Sew along the pencil line.  (B)  Cut through both layers of fabric 1/4 inch to the outside of the sewn line.  (C)  Press seam to the light fabric.

8.  Repeat the steps from step 7 for the opposite side of the same rectangle using a gold square.  Then repeat steps 7 & 8 for the remaining three red rectangles.




Assembly instructions:

9.  With right sides together and using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, join one of each of the sets together.  Refer to graphic 9.  You will end up with four matching squares.

10.  Assemble these four squares into a finished block.  Sew the top row together first, then the bottom row.  Then join the two rows into a finished block.  Refer to graphics 10 for placement.  Remember to pin the rows together well at the seams to ensure your corners match up as closely as possible.  Do not trim the block(s).  Leave that up to the winner.


Your completed unfinished block will measure 12 ½ inches.

12 inches after sewn into a quilt!

Back to Block of the Month