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Half Square Block       

This is a beginner level block with a challenge. The cuts on these blocks have to be precise to get the accurate size. When sewing all the pieces together you want it to come out with crisp straight lines. Remember to press seams!  The variations of the pattern are changed with different colors, prints. This pattern has many names "Monkey Wrench", "Churn", "Fly In" etc.

Ok, lets begin....



Material needed:
We are using three colors in the pattern to show the different shapes to make it simple, any colors or prints will do. Alot of quilters like to use a solid color and a print pattern, and some like the standard two or three color pattern. But most will use the inner shaped material as the strips and border of the quilt.  The choice is up to you, we are using Dark Blue, Light Blue and White for this demonstration. You can make your quilt more colorful, or as basic as you want.

Dark Blue
Two - 4 7/8" x 4 7/8 squares

Light Blue
Four - 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle

White
Two - 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares
One - 4 1/2 x 4 1/2" square
Four 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle

Sew your Light Blue rectangles and White rectangles together to form a square.
Making four squares.


Cut your two Dark Blue squares diagonally making 4 pieces.
Cut your two larger White squares diagonally making 4 pieces		    


   


Now you should have your 9 squares (8 pieced, 1 white).
Arrange squares as shown.
Sew the squares together forming three equal strips.

If strips are not equal in size, you might have to press seams.


Sew the strips together as shown. You now have a completed Block.
With the amount of sewing with this pattern some of the seams may need pressed.
Sometimes seams "bunch up" making the block alittle smaller, pressing helps.		    


This is just a simple variation of the 9-square pattern with different cuts. There are several names for this pattern, but I call it half square because the half square cuts and colors.

Have fun with this pattern using different colors, prints, mixing and matching colors. As always, the only thing stopping you from making your own piece of art is your imagination.