June 2019 Block of the Month: Square Dance Quilt Block

2019 Block of the Month—June: “Square Dance” Quilt Block

In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the first of 12 blocks in the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series. Find the January through May Quilt Block Tutorials under Popular Blog Posts: 2019 Block of the Month. Join the New! Summer Picnic 2019 Block of the Month Series, anytime, by viewing the supply listing in the January 5th NZP Blog Posting.

Each month, we’re featuring one quilt block design. The quilt blocks are created using Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack* from Riley Blake Designs (*18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) plus background, sashing, border, and binding fabrics. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create this Month’s “Square Dance” Quilt Block (below).

Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner HERE. Make notes or pin swatches to remind you of the fabric placements.

2019 Block of the Month Afternoon Picnic June PDF

Choose the Fabrics

For the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series, “Square Dance” Quilt Block, select the following fabrics from your Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack from Riley Blake Designs and aNancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover.

Afternoon Picnic Red Flower, Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal, Afternoon Picnic Blue Main

“Square Dance” Block

Some quilt block names have a long history; others are simply made up on the fly. You decide the authenticity of the block named the 1/4-Square Dance! A great quilt block for our busy summer schedules.

Instructions: (Each block is a 12″ finished square. Finished quilt measures approximately 44-1/2″ x 57-1/2″)

Cut Fabric for Block

1. Create four 1/4-square triangle block sets

• Cut one 7-1/4″ square of Afternoon Picnic Red Flower.
• Cut one 7-1/4″ square of Afternoon Picnic Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal.
• Cut two 7-1/4″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Afternoon Picnic Blue Main.

Construct The Units

All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

The step-by-step photos illustrate construction of the block.

Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

1. Create two each 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Red Flower and Afternoon Picnic Blue Main and Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonaland Afternoon Picnic Blue Main.

• Align 7-1/4″ squares cut from Afternoon Picnic Red Flower and Afternoon Picnic Blue Main; and Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal and Afternoon Picnic Blue Main right sides together to create block sets.
  

• Mark blocks using a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge and an erasable gel pen.
• Use a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge and move to size of the desired 1/2-square triangle.

     The advantage of using the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge is accuracy. It’s easy to double check that the block set fits within the confines of the gauge. If the block set extends beyond or is shorter, trim or cut another block.

• With block sets right sides together, place No-Hassle Triangles Gauge corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with an erasable gel pen.

• Rotate block, stitch along other side of center mark.

• Cut blocks apart along center markings with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.

• Create two 1/4-square triangle blocks of each color combo.

 Stitch Quarter Square Triangles

• Meet right sides of fabric 1/2-square triangle blocks, with print opposing sides, as you match centers.
• Create 1/4-square triangle blocks from two 1/2-square triangle blocks.
• Use a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge. The right side of the gauge is designated to create 1/4-square triangle blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge and move to size of the desired 1/4-square triangle.
• Draw a line from corner to corner across the 1/2-square triangle blocks.

• Align presser foot along one side of center mark, stitch.
• Kiss the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch from one block to the other.

• Rotate block, stitch along other side of center mark.

• Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.

• With a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, cut the blocks apart along centerline markings.

• Press seams to one side.

Assemble Blocks

2. Lay out Square Dance block, rotate squares as necessary

Join Squares

3. Stitch the Square Dance block together.

• Place squares from second column onto first column, right sides together.
• Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between blocks.
• Press seams open, or press seams to alternate sides.

• Stitch top row to bottom row, right sides together to create the complete Square Dance block.
• Press.

Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks book shows how to create 12 additional quit blocks. For best results, use the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge.

Watch No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks (Part One and Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.

For a chance to win Nancy Zieman’s New! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack please leave a comment below.

The randomly selected winner of a copy of the Hot and Handy Projects book from Nancy’s Notions, from the June 8 blog post is Kelly Sas.

Her comment is: I would definitely make new casserole holders using this method! I have one I made that was so much more complicated to sew, took hours on end, and is way too bulky. Of course Nancy would come up with a much simpler way, yet lovely and very handy!

Happy Quilting!

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.

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