Triangle Thursday #8

Feb. 28, 2013

Greek Cross 

This design is number 1646c in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.  It is attributed to Ruby Short McKim Studios in Independence, Missouri.  She was a syndicated newspaper columnist in the late 1920s and the 1930s.   Find a printer friendly version here.

Cutting directions are for 6” finished size.

Fabric	Number to cut	6”
Scrap Triangles (black)	4	Use the 2” triangle template
Light Triangles (pale green)	4	Use the 2” triangle template
Center Square (oriental print)	1	2 ½”
Dark Rectangle (oriental print)	4	1 ½” x 2 ½”
Light Rectangle (pale green)	4	1 ½” x 2 ½”

Here are the pieces you need for this block.

First make your half triangle square units by placing a scrap triangle right sides together with a pale triangle.  Sew along the long side.  Iron the seam toward the dark fabric.  If you don’t have enough scraps to do both sides of the triangle, you can cut a 3” square and carefully cut it on the diagonal.  Once you’ve sewn and pressed the unit you will need to trim it to a 2 1/2" half triangle square. 

Next, sew with right sides together the light rectangles to the dark rectangles.  Press to the dark side.

Place the pieces in the correct positions and sew the units into rows.  When pressing the units in the rows I chose to press the seams in the center square away from the center. When it was time to press the half triangle square/rectangles/half triangle square units into rows I pressed toward the rectangles.  Sew the rows together.  

Since actually making these blocks I realize my scrap triangles won’t go together easily into a quilt.  So for now I am happily making blocks using the excess triangles.  I’ll have to find some how to use all of these blocks.  This particular block I really like – the pattern, the colors, the fabrics…all of it. I have enough of some of the fabrics to make a small quilt with a little fabric augmentation.

Congratulations!  You are done with another Triangle Thursday.

Happy Quilting