Intricate Stitches--Green

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Intricate Stitches quilt!  This month's color is a deep green, which I have to admit I was just not feeling right now, but I think I've chosen an okay block for this month:

It's been raining all week, so I apologize for the somewhat gray pictures!

This is Triangle Star, a block from the 1920s.  This is #2243 in Barbara Brackman's encyclopedia and is usually made in just two colors.  However, I just had to toss in a second green to liven it up a tiny bit.  You could just do away with the second green and make those pieces white instead.  Or heck, choose another color altogether and make those pieces in that color.  I suggest a really bright fuschia. :)

Let's get going--

Cutting:

From the white, cut :
     4 3-1/2 inch squares
     4 2-1/2 inch squares
     36 1-1/2 inch squares
     8 1-7/8 inch squares

From the first green (the dominant green) cut:

     2 3-1/4 inch squares
     8 1-1/2 by 2-1/2 rectangles
     32  1-1/2 inch squares
     8 1-7/8 inch squares

From the second green (the accent color) cut:

     1 4-1/2 inch square
     4 1-7/8 inch squares

Done!  On to construction!  When making ths block, use your best judgment about how to press the seams.  I always press toward the dark or toward the least-pieced side.  There are a lot of seams here, so press so that there is the least bulk in the seam and things lay flattest.  

Make the units:

I don't know how anyone in the 1920s made this block, but like almost all the blocks with many pieces, this block can be broken up into a number of smaller and more familiar units.  All of these units are super-easy to make but may be smaller than you're used to.  Just take it slow and you'll be putting this block together in no time.

Half-square triangles:

This block needs 24 half-square triangles that finish at 1 inch.  Don't be scared!  For a size this small I like to make what I call "cheater" hsts.  It wastes a little bit of fabric, but it's well worth it for the aggravation it saves.  To make cheater hsts, take 24 of the white 1-1/2 inch squares and draw a line from corner to corner on the back of each one.  Pair these up with the green 1-1/2 inch squares and stitch right on the line.

Cut 1/4 inch away from the stiched line, open up, and press.  This should give you 24 perfect 1-1/2 inch hsts.  Put these aside for now.

Flying geese:

You'll need 8 flying geese that will finish at 1 by 2 inches in the block.  Use the green 3-1/4 squares and 8 1-7/8 white squares to make the flying geese using the "heart" method.  (found HERE)

Geese should measure 1-1/2 by 2-1/2 inches.

House units:

You'll need 4 "house" units for this block.  Use the 2-1/2 inch white squares and 8 1-1/2 green squares to make this unit.  Draw a line from corner to corner on the back of each green square.  Place these as you would to make a flying goose unit, stitch, trim, and press.  Make 4 houses.

Flag units:

These are super-easy, but make sure that you place the white squares properly.  Take the 8 1-1/2 by 2-1/2 inch green rectangles and the 8 white 1-1/2 inch squares.  Draw a line from corner to corner on the back of each of the white squares.  Place the squares on the ends of the green rectangles as shown:

Stich on the line, trim, and press.  Make 8 of these flag units, 4 with the triangles to the left and 4 with triangles to the right.

Square in a square units:

Last pieces! You should have the 4 1-7/8 inch squares of the accent green left.  Take those and the remaining 1-7/8 inch green squares.  Cut the dark green squares each in half once to make 2 triangles.

Take 4 of the resulting triangles and add them to the sides of the accent square to make a square in a square unit.  Make 4.

That's a lot of units!

Now that they're finished, it's time for assembly.

Construction:

Corners:

Take the 3-1/2 inch white squares, the 24 tiny half-square triangles, and the 4 1-1/2 inch white squares.  Lay them out as shown:

Notice that the long sides of the green triangles touch the large white triangle.  Stitch up 4 of these units.

Side units:

First, take the flag units and the flying geese and stitch them together as shown.  Notice that these are mirror images of each other.

Make 4 each.

Next, take the square in a square units and the house units and stitch them together as shown.  It may help to use a pin through the points so that they match while stitching.

Make 4 of these units.

Take the pieces you've just assembled and stitch them together as shown.  Again, some pins may help to match the points.

Make 4 of each of these side units.

Time for final assembly!  Lay out the units as shown, stitch into rows, and then join the rows together into a block.

Give it a good final press and stand back and admire your beautiful block!

We are almost halfway through the blocks!  Here is the set so far:

May is a two-block month so that we'll end up with 12 blocks at the end of the RSC challenge in November, so come back on May 24 for a second block.  It may or may not be green, but I promise that one will be very easy!

As always, if you've made some blocks and have some pictures, I'd love to see!

Sharing at  Let's Bee Social and soscrappy for RSC16.