RSC24 Hen & Chicks Block 4 - Shoofly

 

Shoofly is one of those classic and simple quilt blocks that just can't go wrong.  It uses Half Square Triangle (HST) units which add so much variety to block layouts.  There are SO many ways to make HSTs.  I usually use an easy angle ruler because it lets you get the pieces you need out of the same sized strips you use for the other pieces.  So far, my easy angle ruler is seriously missing in action!  I ordered a new one which will be here on Tuesday, so today I used the method of cutting larger squares which makes to HSTs at a time.  The math says that you should cut squares 7/8 inches larger than the finished size of the unit you want.  I will admit that I just cut squares 1 inch larger so that I can square them up.  Squaring up in a sampler quilt like this when I am making a few units at a time.  If I was making hundreds of HSTs it would make me crazy. 

Here are the pieces you will need, use the cutting chart above to determine the size of the units you will need to cut.   

Start with the HST units.   Place the green and background squares right sides together and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner of the background square.  sew a quarter inch to either side of this drawn line and then cut the two units apart of the drawn line before pressing.  

Because I made my squares a full inch larger than the finished size of the final unit, I had a tiny bit of squaring up to do.  This gives nice perfect squares.  If you use the 7/8 inch size, you should just be able to trim off the dog ears and be good to go.  

Here are all the pieces ready to go along with the waste from trimming the HSTs.  You can see that it isn't too much waste in exchange for a perfect subunit.  

Now arrange your subunits into a nine patch with the HST units in the corners.  Make sure all the green triangles point to the center.  

Sew the columns and rows together, pressing away from the HST units.  

Here is the link to the PDF pattern, check out the RSC24 Sampler tab for links to all the patterns so far.