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| AUGUST 2001 Block of the Month Pattern |
| Maple Leaf using HSTs (Half-Square Triangles) |
| For ONE 12.5" unfinshed block Fabric to Cut: Two 4-7/8" squares of medium / dark for the leaf Two 4-7/8" squares of light / lighter for background Three 4-1/2" squares from the leaf fabric (dark) Two 4-1/2" squares from background fabric (light) and One 6-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece of leaf fabric for stem |
On the wrong side of the light fabric squares, draw a line diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner with a pencil. Remember to use the 4 7/8" squares to make these HSTs. This will be your cutting line LATER Lay the lighter squares right sides together with the dark squares. You should have 2 sets now. Measure (and draw, if needed) scant 1/4" from the marked cutting line and stitch the light to the dark using a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn fabric and stitch scant 1/4" from marked line on other side. Do this for both sets of squares. |
| Cut each stitched square on cutting line. Finger press the seams flat on the right side of the seam and press seams to the dark fabric side. You should now have 4 HSTs . |
| STEP 1 |
| STEP 2 |
| STEP 4 |
| STEP 3 |
| STEP 5 |
| STEP 6 |
| Arrange the blocks on a table-top. You should be able to "see" the leaf pattern in your little squares. Sew the 3 squares from row 1 together - RST and with 1/4" seams. Repeat for rows 2 & 3. |
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| stitching line |
| stitching line |
| Cutting line after stitching |
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| The 6-1/2"x1-1/2" rectangle of leaf fabric will become the leaf's stem. Laying the rectangle right side down on the table and fold in half the long way to make a crease down the middle. Open rectangle up and turn each long edge into the middle using the crease you made as a guide. You are making bias tape. Fold both sides closed and you should have a 1/4" "stem". Place this "stem" on one of the light / background squares from corner to corner diagonally and attach. Attach by: hand-stitch, machine satin or button hole stitch or narrow edge stitching When your stem is secure to the square, trim the stem ends closer to square size being careful of cutting too much off. |
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| FROM THIS........ |
| TO THIS........ |
| AND FINALLY THIS!. |
| Aren't these HST's fun to play with? |
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