Triangle Thursday #28

The Dandy Quilt Block

This design is number 1680 in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. It is attributed to “The Woman’s Century,” circa 1910. Click here for a printable version of this block. 

Cutting directions are for 6”

Fabric	Number to cut	6”
Center Square	1	2 ½” x 2 ½” red
Triangles Points	8	1 ½” x 1 ½” squares cream
Pentagon “Squares”	4	2 ½” x 2 ½” squares green
Squares	2 dark 2 light	2 7/8” x 2 7/8” squares 2 green & 2 cream. I cut mine about 3 1/8” and then trim it down to an accurate 2 ½” half triangle square.

 Here are the pieces needed to make this block.  I started by making the half triangle squares.  I drew a line down the center of the light large squares and sewed a ¼” seam on both the right and left side of the center line.  Cut on the center line and press to the dark side.

I used a Bloc Loc ruler that was a Christmas present from my son Kevin to trim these squares.  WOW!  Talk about a great tool.  Do you see the frosted section on the diagonal line?  That is “cut out” so your seam bump snuggles in there.  You get a very stable, accurate ruler to cut against.  And to think I wasn’t interested in these rulers last spring!

Now put the little points on the green squares.  I drew a line down the center of the small beige squares.  I sewed all left side beige squares on the center line, trimmed the excess beige triangle out, and then pressed the beige triangle over the green.  I repeated this with the right hand square. 

Layout the pieces as shown below.  Sew the units into rows and then sew the rows together. 

This coloration is not as shown in Brackman’s book.  I reversed the light and darks and changed the center square to a different color.

Ever wonder how I figure out these patterns?  I start by looking through Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns to find a block that has triangles in it and would be easy to break down for a pattern without any templates.  Then I hand draw it out on 4 squares to the inch grid paper.  I have started drawing it at actual size although I could do it smaller.  Then I color it with colored pencils to get an idea of how I want it to look. I actually colored this one the way it was shown in Brackman's but reverse it for my block. 

I've learned a lot doing these Triangle Thursdays.  The big lesson is I am not very organized and it takes me a long time to write up good directions.  I'll probably do one more as I need another block for the little quilt I plan to make with these green, beige, yellow, red and brown blocks.  Since I am time challenged, (just ask Pat about that issue!) I won't commit to a particular time, except it will be on a Thursday.  Maybe really late on a Thursday like this one but a Thursday none-the-less. 

Happy Quilting All