Paintbrush Studio 2016 New Block Blog Hop--Nautical Compass

Today is my stop on the Paintbrush Studio 2016 New Block Blog Hop.  Last year I participated in Fabri-Quilt's 2015 New Block Blog Hop with my Watermelon Taffy Block, so when Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs and Stephanie at Late Night Quilter extended an offer to participate again, I thought, why not?

This year's color palette was called Ocean Sunrise and featured six fabrics; Midnight, Daydream, White, Peach, Coral and Bordeaux.  The only rules for the design are: the blocks measure 12 1/2" and use at least three of the colors in the palette (and no additional fabrics).  I played around with many block designs until I came up with one that spoke to me.  So without further ado I present to you Nautical Compass.  

Cutting Instructions

Midnight (dark blue)                                                  Daydream (light blue)

1--2" squares                                                                 2--2" squares

8--1 1/2" squares                                                           8--3 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangles

8--2 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangles 

                                                                                       Peach

White                                                                             4--2 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangles

20--2" squares                                                                2--2" squares

4-- 1 1/2" squares                                                           8--1 1/2" squares

8--3 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangles                                          4--3 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles

Bordeaux                                                                      Coral (light pink)

6--2" squares                                                                  12--2" squares

8--1 1/2" squares

We are going to start off by constructing some half square triangles.  Combine the 20 White 2" squares with the 6 Bordeaux, 12 Coral and 2 Daydream 2" squares.  Start by drawing a diagonal line on the back of one square.

Place the squares right sides together, and sew a 1/4" away on both sides of the diagonal line.

Next, cut on the diagonal line, press the seams towards the darker color and trim to 1 1/2" square.

You should have a total of 4 Daydream/White, 12 Bordeaux/White and 24 Coral/White HST's.

In this block you will also be creating some pieced rectangle units as well.  Construction of these units are very similar to HST's.  You start with your rectangle and square pieces.

Place the square on top of your rectangle and draw a diagonal line in the direction you want your triangle to flip.

Trim your square leaving about a quarter of an inch seam.

Then press your HST open to create your completed rectangle unit.  Personally I do not trim the rectangle underneath to help ensure my unit is the size I need.

Small Block 1

8--3 1/2" x 1 1/2" Daydream rectangles
8--2 1/2" x 1 1/2" Midnight rectangles
8--1 1/2" Midnight squares
8--1 1/2" Peach squares
4--3 1/2" x 2 1/2" Peach rectangle

For this block you will need to create 4 of each of the following rectangle units using the Daydream and Midnight rectangles and Midnight and Peach squares

Step 1:

Sew the two Midnight/Peach rectangles together to create a total of 4.

Step 2:

Connect the Daydream/Midnight rectangles to the Peach 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangle to create 4 of the units below.

Next connect your units from steps 1 and 2 to create your finished Small Block 1 for a total of 4 blocks that measure 4 1/2" square.

Small Block 2

8--3 1/2" x 1 1/2" White rectangles
4--1 1/2" White squares
8--1 1/2" Bordeaux squares
12 Bordeaux/White HST's
24 Coral/White HST's

Using the White rectangles and Bordeaux squares construct 4 of each the following rectangle units.

Step 1:

Using the 4 1 1/2" White squares, 8 Bordeaux/White HST's and 24 Coral/White HST's construct 4 of the following unit.

Step 2:

Attach the correct Bordeaux/White rectangle to the 9-patch created in step one to form 4 of the following units.

Step 3:

Connect the remaining 4 Bordeaux/White HST's with the 4 Bordeaux/White rectangles.

Step 4:  

Connect the unit created in step 2 with the one from step 3 to form the block below.  You should have at total of 4 blocks, that measure 4 1/2" square.

Small Block 3

1-- 2" Midnight square

4--2 1/2" x 1 1/2" Peach rectangle

2--2" Peach squares

4 Daydream/White HST's

Step 1:

We will be creating the center of the block.  You will need the 2" Midnight square and the two 2" Peach squares.  Draw diagonal lines on the Peach squares and cut on the line creating four triangles.

Step 2:

Fold the square and triangles and finger press to mark the centers.  Then you will line the center of the square with the center of the bottom long edge of one of the triangles and sew a 1/4" seam.  Press toward the Peach triangle and then repeat on the opposite side of the triangle.

Step 3:

Next fold the square in the opposite direction to mark the center and repeat step two with the last two triangles to finish the Peach Midnight square in a square.

Step 4:

Next combine the square in a square unit with two 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" Peach rectangles.

                              

Step 5: 

Combine two Daydream/White HST's with a Peach 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangle to form the unit below.  Make a total of 2 units.

                                      

Step 6:

Combine the units from step 4 with the step 5 unit to finish the center block.  This block will measure 4 1/2" square.

    
Now we can arrange our small blocks to create the finished 12 1/2" Nautical Compass Block below.

You can download a printable copy of the Nautical Compass pattern here.

I thought it might be fun to give you a little preview of what Nautical Compass would look like in a full sized quilt.  Here it is in rows.

And on point.

There isn't a huge difference between the two.  Both make a nice secondary block with a star.  So why did I name this block Nautical Compass?  I love how the peach sections point to the four cardinal directions.  When I saw the secondary pattern of a star, I knew I had found my name.  When you can't find your compass you can look to the stars.

And what would a blog hop be without awesome giveaways?  Make sure you visit each of the hosts' post on their day of the hop for a chance to win a half yard bundle of Ocean Sunrise palette.  Below is a list of the hop schedule.  I hope you can take the time to bounce around and see all of the creative blocks these talented bloggers have designed.

If this is your first time visiting wonderland, please feel free to stick around and check out my tutorials, quilt gallery and Aurifil minis.  And please come back and visit me any time.

I would also like to thank Sandra at mmm! quilts and Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs for looking over my tutorial and giving some helpful feedback.  When writing a pattern, it's always nice to have a few other sets of eyes to make sure you're not out of your mind.  Thanks guys, you are the best!

Today I'm linking up with Let's Bee Social, Tips and Tutorial Tuesday, Sew Cute Tuesday, Linky Tuesday and Main Crush Monday.

Today, Tuesday, March 29th

Host: Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs

Kim @ Leland Ave Studios

Anderea @ The Sewing Fools

Cassandra @ The (not so) Dramatic Life

Stephanie @ Quilt'n Party

Irene @ Patchwork and Pastry

Abby @ Hashtag Quilt

Sarah @ Smiles Too Loudly

Carrie @ The Zen Quilter

Wanda @ Wanda's Life Sampler

Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

Wednesday, March 30th

Host: Stephanie @ Late Night Quilter

Vicki @ Orchid Owl Quilts

Shelly @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

Amy @ 13 Spools

Geraldine @ Living Water Quilter

Robyn @ Hoops & Thimbles

Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic

Sharla @ Thistle Thicket Studio

Jinger @ Trials of a Newbie Quilter

Kathryn @ Up*It*Is Quilts

Jane @ Jolly and Delilah

Josi @ Avocado Quilts

Deanna @ Stitches Quilting

Lori @ Sew Psyched!

Monday March 28th

Host:Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl

Jess@ Quilty Habbit

Silvia @ A Stranger View

Christy @ Love You Sew

Kelly @ Quilting It Out

Renee @ Quilts of a Feather

Bernie @ Needle & Foot

Terri Ann @ Childlike Fascination 

Chelsea @ Patch the Giraffe 
Mary @ Quilting Is In My Blood
Diana @ Red Delicious Life
Sara @ 123 Quilt