RSC24 Hen & Chicks Block 7 - Antique Tile

 

Block number 7 has lots of nice simple rectangles and squares.  There is some strip piecing which should make things go more quickly.  This is one that would be super effective for a large quilt, but I think it is also adorable all on its own.  Especially in the tiny size!

First, decide which size block you would like to make.   I think it would be adorable in the 5 inch size, but I did it in 3 and 6.  

You will need a long set of strips in background and light red.  Then find a daker red and make a short strip set with the darker and lighter reds together.  Honestly, the hardest part of this block for me was finding two reds with enough contrast for the patten to show up.  After that it came together quickly.   

Next cut 4 rectangles in dark red and one center square in light red.  How cute would this be with a novelty print or cute floral right there in the center?     

Now sew the two short strips together and the two long strips together.  This is going to sound crazy, but press the long strip set with the seam going away from the red and toward the background.  I tried the seams both ways, and this worked out much better for nestled seams.  

The long strip set will get sub cut into squares the same size as the center square.  Just peek at the cutting chart above to see what that measurement is.  For my 6 inch block it was 2.5 inches.  For the 3 inch block it was a highly adorable 1.5 inch square.  

Then cut the short strip set into the same width as your initial strip width.  That was 1.5 inches for the 6 inch block and 1 inch for the 3 inch.  

To double check, make sure that the red and red strip set is the same width as the dark red rectangle.  Sew one rectangle to each red on red set and press toward the dark red rectangle and away from the pieced subunit.  

Now you should have 9 squares.  1 is the single center square, 4 are red and background, and the last 4 are light red squares with dark red frames.  Make sure all the squares are the same size!

Now it is just a nine patch layout.  Hopefully all of the seams will nestle nicely as they point in opposite directions. Take the time to press as you go on this one to make sure everything is going to lie nice and flat.  

There you go!  How cute is that little guy?  Step back and enjoy your work.