Traditional Tuesday - Block 56

Hour Glass 2

Block 56 - Hour Glass 2

This is an easy 9-patch-style block that really puts a dent in the scraps. As long as you keep to three values, the fabrics can be any color. This would make a great traditional quilt - especially when you play around with placement and see the secondary sawtooth star pattern emerges. And for a cool, Modern, three-color quilt, look at the mock-up at the bottom...

I chose this block as the companion to yesterday's Modern Monday's 9-Patch Cross because it is also a 9-patch variation and you can get a cross look to it depending on how you place the block.

You need three fabrics - light, medium and dark. This is Denyse Schmidt's Chicopee line. Very nice stuff!

 Cutting:
From the light, cut 1 - 2 1/2" square AND 1 - 3" square*
From the medium, cut 2 - 2 1/2" squares AND 1 - 3" square*
From the dark, cut 4 - 2 1/2" squares.
*This is cut oversized for trimming at the end. If you want to make yours exact, cut yours 2 7/8".

Lay out the squares as they will look when pieced. Use the larger squares to make 2 - 2 1/2" unfinished half-square triangle units.

Make sure you have the half-square triangle units on the corners facing the right direction. You won't get an hour glass block if you don't. But that might be a fun variation!

Sew together in rows and join the rows. Your block will be 6 1/2" when pieced.

I know it's Tuesday, but I couldn't resist showing you this really neat Modern idea. Just by putting the blocks on point, you get a very non-traditional secondary pattern! You could emphasize the crosses, like this or by just changing the value, the background, horizontal bars could be the star. Really, really fun!