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, Tuesday, March 29th
Wednesday, March 30th
Monday March 28th
Chelsea @ Patch the Giraffe
Mary @ Quilting Is In My Blood
Diana @ Red Delicious Life
Sara @ 123 Quilt
