Intricate Stitches--Pink

Hi all!  Welcome back to the Intricate Stitches blocks!  This month's color is pink and the block is fantastic. I have been waiting and waiting for this block's turn to come around.  I'm so excited to show you:

This block is an adaptation of an older block called Old Fashioned Daisy, number 4209 in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia.  This is a Nancy Cabot block with a strikingly specific date: January 27, 1933.  The block shown here is an adaptation of the original 1933 block.  I changed a few sizes and such so that it would make a 12-inch finished block, but the overall look remains the same.  To make it exactly as the 1933 edition would have required templates and weird measurements, and who has time for that?

Let's get started!

Cutting:

This block uses four colors--white, yellow, green, and pink.  You could simplify the block by eliminating the yellow and replacing it with either white or pink.

From the white, cut:

2 2 by 8-1/2 inch strips

From the yellow:

1 2 by 8-1/2 inch strip
1 2-5/8 inch square (see note)

From the green:

3 2 by 8-1/2 inch strips
8 2 inch squares

From the pink:

1 2 by 8-1/2 inch strip
1 3-1/2 by 8-1/2 inch strip
8 2 by 5 inch rectangles
2 2-3/8 inch squares (see note)

[Note--these pieces are for making a square in a square unit for the center.  You could simply cut a 3-1/2 inch yellow or pink square and use that instead.  Another alternative is to use a 3-1/2 inch yellow square and 1-1/2 inch squares to make a snowball type unit for the center.]

Construction:

First, make the corner units using strip set construction.  This is the easiest way!  First, make a strip set with one of the green 2 by 8-1/2 strips and the pink 3-1/2 by 8-1/2 strip.  Press towards the green.  Call this strip set one.

Next, make another strip set using one of the white 2 by 8-1/2 strips, one of the green ones of the same size, and the pink in the same size.  The green should be in the middle of this set--white, green, pink.  Press to the green.  Call this strip set 2.

Finally, take the remaining green and white 2 by 8-1/2 inch strips and join them with the yellow strip of the same size.  The white should be in the middle of this set--yellow, white, green. Press away from the white, to the green and the yellow.  This is set 3.

All the strips are done!  Cut each of the sets into 4 2-inch pieces.  Arrange the pieces as shown below:

You are making 4 total units, 2 each of the units shown.  The first unit should use the pieces from set 3, then set 2, then set 1.  The other unit uses the strips as set 1, set 2, set 3.  The seams should meet up and nest nicely.  Units should measure 5 inches square. Give each of the 9 patches a good press and set aside for final assembly.

The next unit is a square in a square for the center of the block. If you don't want to fuss with this, see the note above.

Use the 2-5/8 inch yellow square and the 2 2-3/8 inch pink squares to make this unit. Cut each of the pink squares in half corner to corner and then stitch them to the yellow square as shown.  Open out and press. This unit should measure 3-1/2 inches.

Almost there!  The final unit is what I call a flag unit. These are so incredibly useful and save a seam when used instead of an hst and a square.  Take the 2-inch green squares and draw a line from corner to corner on the back of all 8 of them.  Arrange them as shown on each of the 8 2 by 5 inch rectangles.

Notice that these go in 2 different directions.  You'll stitch right on the line, trim, and then press the triangle up.  Make 4 that have the triangle to the left, and 4 that have the triangle to the right.

Last, join a left and a right flag unit together to make one unit with what appears to be a goose in the center.  You should have 4 of these which each measure 3-1/2 by 5 inches.

Assembly:

All that's left to do is lay out the block as shown and stitch together!  Make sure that the yellow squares in the 9-patches are on the outside corners.

Stitch the units into rows and then join the rows to make a lovely block. Give it a good press and then stand back and admire!

I love this block!  I could see a whole quilt made from this block, in all different colors to make a beautiful garden.  It seriously takes more time to describe than to make, too.

And here's where we are so far:

Coming right along! This is our eighth block--can you believe it? If you've made any blocks, I'd love to see!  Send me a picture!

Have a great time with this block, and come back on August 2 for block number 9. (We'll be putting this together in no time!)

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