Intricate Stitches--Aqua

He everyone, and welcome back for another exciting block in the Intricate Stitches quilt!  This month's color is aqua, with lime green accents, and I have the perfect block for these colors.  Here it is:

This is Crow's Foot, a block from Ladies' Art Company catalogue from 1895.  There are several variations based on the placement of the lights and darks in the block.  I chose to do mine this way, but flipping the colors around would make it look completely different.  This is number 4184 in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia, and was originally number 118 in the LAC catalogue.

[On an unrelated note--can we just talk about the Encyclopedia for a second?  I love this book, but wouldn't it be great to redo it in computer-generated drawings instead of hand drawings? I know there's probably software that replaces it by now, but I still like the old-school way so I can relax on the sofa and page through it and daydream.  I just want the drawings to be clearer.]

This is a pretty easy block, so let's get to it!

Cutting:

For this block, you will need 3 colors plus a background.  I used a light aqua, a darker aqua, and lime green.  My background is Kona white (which I am liking more and more).

From the light aqua, cut:

4 3-1/2 inch squares
1 4-3/4 inch square
4 2-3/8 inch squares

From the dark aqua, cut:

1 3-1/2 inch square
4 2-inch squares

From the lime, cut:

1 4-3/4 inch square
8 2- inch squares

From the white, cut

4 3-1/2 inch squares
1 4-1/4 inch square
8 2 inch squares

Done with the cutting!

Construction:

You know the drill by now--make a bunch of units and then combine them into a gorgeous block.  Let's start with the flying geese.  Use the 4-1/4 inch white square and 4 2-3/8 inch aqua squares to make 4 flying geese using the heart method.  These should measure 2 by 3-1/2 unfinished.

Next up is the half-square triangles.  Use the aqua and lime 4-3/4 inch squares to make 8 hsts using the Magic 8 method.  I don't usually want to link to another person's tutorial, but this one is so popular and works so well that I recommend it to everyone.  You should have 8 2-inch hsts that will finish at 1-1/2 inches.

A great example of why you have to be careful when cutting!  I had to remake this because I cut too close to the stitching. 

The last unit to make is the "houses."  Use the 3-1/2 inch aqua squares and the 2 inch lime squares to make the houses.  These are made like the conventional way of making flying geese.  Draw a line on the back of each of the lime squares, stitch on the line, flip, trim, and press.   Make 4.

That's it for the units!

Assembly:

Take 4 of the white 2-inch squares and stitch one to each side of 2 of the flying geese.  Make 2.

Stitch a dark aqua 2-inch square to an hst as shown.  Notice that the hsts are oriented in different directions.  Make 2 of each.

Take the units you just made and stitch one to each side of two of the house units as shown.  Pay attention to the directions of the hsts.

Take these house units and the flying geese units and stitch the flying geese unit to the bottom of each of the house units.

Next, take the remaining single house units and the remaining geese, and stitch the goose to the bottom of each house unit.  Make 2.

Then take the remaining hsts and the remaining white squares and stitch them together as shown.  Pay attention to the position of the hsts.  Add the units you just made to the white 3-1/2 inch squares.  You should have 2 squares with the blue hsts pointing in one direction and 2 with them pointing in the other direction.

Lay all of the units out as shown:

All that's left is to stitch into rows, join the rows, and press.  Stand back and admire your block!

And here is the block with all it's friends:

Don't those look great?   This is going to be a great quilt!  And at this point, we're more than halfway there!

Have fun making your Crow's Foot block, and come back July 5 for another exciting installment!  As always, feel free to ask questions if necessary.  I'd love to see pictures!

Linking to Let's Bee Social, and soscrappy for RSC16.