Triangle Thursday #4

Jan. 24, 2013

Road to California

This design is #1687d from Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. Click here for a  PDF version to download.  Sorry for the delay on uploading this post.  I had a bit of computer problems this morning and got busy.  Enjoy today's block. 

This is an even 9 patch block while all the previous blocks were 4 patches.  Now we need to make a template for a 2” half square triangle for the 6” block. Start by cutting out a 2 ½” square, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner and then draw another line ¼” away. Cut off the small triangle. Mark the template 2”. Remember as you use your templates be sure you are not trimming the template as you cut your fabrics.  If you find you are, make a new one and throw away the old.

For this block I picked the pink from my triangle collection but chose the purple from yardage so I could also make the squares from the same fabric.  I cut the purple into a strip 2 ½” by 10” and then used the Template to cut the triangles.  I actually, I may have cut it shorter than 10 but at least that will definitely give you enough for the 4 triangles.

Here’s one way I use the template. I’ve already cut the main part of the triangle and all I’m doing here is trimming the corners.  The template with both sides trimmed means I can use a smaller triangle.  I have lots of really small triangles but not as many bigger triangles. 

Pieces of Road to California ready for piecing. Sew the triangles together right sides facing.  Iron toward the darker fabric. Then sew the squares into rows. Iron the seams toward the 2 ½” squares rather than the half square triangles. 

Hum, notice I’ve got a piece of cardboard under my block pieces.  I often use cardboard to lay out all my pieces so that I can easily transport all of them to the sewing machine.

Sew the rows together. Carefully press the block flat. Trim to the correct size if necessary. 

Happy Quilting All!