"Courtyard" Mystery Quilt: Clue 4

Courtyard—Mystery Quilt October 2016
Clue 4:  Half 4-Patches

You finished lots of 4-Patches last week; now we're going to do what I call "Half 4-patches."

1. As you did in Clue #3, sew a Purple 2-1/2” x WOF strip to a Background1 2-1/2” x WOF strip along the long side; press toward the purple strip. 

  Subcut into 2-1/2” segments.  Repeat with 2 more Purple and 2 more Background1 strips.  You will have 48 of the 2-1/2” segments.  DO NOT SEW THEM INTO 4-PATCHES

2.  Divide your stack of segments from Step #1 into two equal stacks of 24 segments each; set one aside for now and use the other as your working stack.

3.  Sew a segment  from your working stack to a Blue 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” strip, making sure the segment is oriented to the Blue strip as shown below.   Press AWAY from the plain blue strip.  I know this is the opposite of what the unit—and you—want to press it, but you’ll be glad later.)  This unit should measure 4-1/2” square.

Repeat with the remaining 23 Purple/Background1 segments from your working stack, and 23 more Blue 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” strips.

4. Now retrieve your reserved stack of Purple/Background1 segments from Step #2.  Sew a segment from this stack to a Blue 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” strip, but this making sure the segment is oriented as shown below; note that this is a different orientation than those you sewed in Step #3.   Press AWAY from the plain blue strip.

Repeat with the remaining 23 Purple/Background1 segments and the Blue 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” strips.

That’s all for this clue; see you next week!

Print friendly version of Clue 4

Previous clues/posts:

Clue 1

Clue 2

Clue 3

"Courtyard" Mystery Quilt, Clue 3

Four Patch Units

You’ll be making sets of 4-Patch units, one set made with each of the Main Colors.  Easy as pie.  

1. With RST and using a scant ¼” seam, sew a Blue 2-1/2” x WOF strip to a Background1 2-1/2” x WOF strip along the long side; press toward the Blue strip.  

2.  Straighten the edge, then subcut the strip set from Step #1 into 2-1/2” segments.   You’ll get 16 segments from this strip set.

 A couple of cutting tips:

• You are cutting 2-1/2" segments, and the fewer times you have to lift the ruler and shift fabric the better.  So, after you cut the first 2-1/2" segment, don't lift the ruler but shift it another 2-1/2", and line up the edge with the 5" mark on the ruler:  2-1/2" + 2-1/2" =5".  It's half as many times you have to lift the ruler and pull out a segment; it may not seem like much, but when you have many segments to cut, it makes a difference.

• If you have a Stripology ruler,  or similar ruler that lets you cut segments quickly, this is a great time to use it. 

3.  Repeat Steps #1-2 with two more Blue and Background1 strips.  You will have (48) 2-1/2” segments.

4. Sew two of the segments from Step #3 into a 4-Patch, making sure the segments are oriented as shown in the photo below.  Because of the pressing in the previous steps, the seams should nestle against each other.  

Press toward the right.  You will end up with (24) 4-Patches.   Square up to 4-1/2” square, if necessary.

5.  Repeat Steps #1-4, but using Purple with the Background1 strips. (Note that you will not be using all the Purple 2-1/2” strips, just three of them.)  Press toward the left, noticing that this is the opposite direction from which you pressed the Blue 4-Patches.

6.  Repeat Steps #1-4, but using Pink and Background2 strips.  (Note that this is Background2 now, if you are using two different backgrounds.)  Press toward the left.

That’s it for this clue.  Whew!  You’re well on your way now!

Print-friendly version of Clue 3

Previous clues/posts:

Clue 1

Clue 2