Block of the Month

May 1997 - 12" Block

 Capital T

 Make this Block in other sizes - 3", 4-1/2", 6", 9", 15", & 18"

Fabric

The Capital T Block uses two different fabrics with good contrast.

 One focus fabric

 One background fabric


Cutting the fabric

This Block requires:

 one 4 1/2" square of the background fabric
 one 4 7/8" x 9 3/4" rectangle of the focus fabric
 one 4 7/8" x 9 3/4" rectangle of the background fabric
 eight 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles of the background fabric
 sixteen 2 1/2" squares of the focus fabric


 Piecing the Block

 1) Place the two 4 7/8" x 9 3/4" rectangles with right sides together, lightest of the two fabrics on top. Lightly draw a straight line 4 7/8" from the short edge dividing the rectangle in half and forming two squares. Then draw two diagonal lines through the center of the two squares as shown.

Instead of drawing on your fabric, you can also use Easy Piecing Triangle Templates.

 2) Still holding the two rectangles together, sew a 1/4" away from the diagonal line on both sides.

3) Cut the rectangles apart on the drawn lines creating four half square triangle components. Press the seams to the lighter fabric. The finished units should measure 4 1/2".
 4) Lightly mark a line from one corner to the opposite corner on the wrong side of the sixteen 2 1/2" squares of the focus fabric.
 5) Take a 2 1/2" focus square and place it, right sides together, on top of one of the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" background fabric rectangle matching edges and making sure that the diagonal line runs as shown. Sew on the marked line. Repeat with the remaining seven 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" background rectangles and seven more of the 2 1/2" marked squares.

6) Cut 1/4" away from the sewn line as shown. Press the seam toward the focus fabric.
 7) Take the remaining eight 2 1/2" focus fabric squares and place them on the units created in Step 6, right sides together, so that the marked diagonal line is as shown. Sew on the line.

8) Cut 1/4" away from the sewn line as shown. Press the seam toward the focus fabric. One "geese" unit is completed. This unit should measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2".
 9) Piece two of the geese units created in Step 8 together as shown. Press seam away from the point of the geese. Repeat with the remaining six geese units to create a total of four new units. These units should measure 4 1/2" square.
 10) Piece the top and bottom Block rows by piecing two right triangle squares with one of the geese units as shown. Press seams toward the right triangle squares.
 11) Piece the middle row of the Block by joning the remaining two geese units with the 4 1/2" background square as shown.
 12) Complete the Capital T Block by joining the three rows as shown. The complete quilt Block should measure 12 1/2" square which includes a 1/4" seam allowance on all sides.

WWQP Quilt Coloring Book page for the Capital T Block

© Susan E Traudt 1997
 World Wide Quilting Page * Block of the Month 1997