Woohoo! Block 10 - Duck Tracks
Woohoo! Block 10 - We are in the double digits! Duck Tracks!
Duck Tracks, by Nancy Page, appeared in the Birmingham News, December 3, 1935. You may remember, Block 1 Bear’s Paw was found to be known as Duck’s Foot. However, this is the only block I found to be known as Duck Track. It is similar to the Five Diamond block, only with eight diamonds. The outer round of Dual-colored Flying Geese creates a unique design. Similar to last week’s Federal Square block, color placement and tone placement, could affect which of the stars are dominate.
You will want to be very careful (I can not say this enough) when you lay out this block. I usually end with this reminder, but in case you don't read my full blog, I wanted to remind you to double check the lay out prior to stitching.
Those Dual-colored Flying Geese will get you everytime. You will want to look for the Medium Star points to come together on 2 corners and then the Light-Medium to come together on the opposite 2 corners. To add to matters; you now need to keep your Dual-Colored Square-in-a-Square (Yes! New Unit, New-to-the-series tool) oriented properly. My advise; layout, compare to diagram, take photo, walk away, come back, look at block, look at photo, look at diagram and double check. Then sew. If you don't you will most likely need to spend some time with the seam ripper. You will spend the time double checking or spend the time re-doing. Sorry, just a little advice.
Ok! Square-in-a-Square! We will be making Dual-Colored Square-in-a-Square and traditionally Square-in-a-Square. Both will be made with the Studio 180 Design Square² (can be purchased here: Square2 Ruler. You will LOVE this.
This week's pictorial is on Dual-Colored Square-in-a-Square, made with Studio 180 Design Square²
1. In the instructions, I have you cut the fabric for the center square slightly larger than needed. You will then cut down your strip, using the Square² or Large Square Squared (Part A) ruler to precision cut (4) Center Squares.
2. Lay the oversized strip on the cutting mat and place ruler on the edge of the strip end. Line up the corner of the strip with the noted Finished Center size. Cut up the side and across the top to trim each square to a precision size. Repeat until you have (4) Center Squares.
3. Gather the Center Squares (cut above) and the (8) Half Square Triangles of both the Light-Medium and Medium fabrics. These Half Square Triangles will become your Side Triangles. Stitch two Medium Side Triangles to opposite sides of all 4 Center Squares, placing the center square on the top when stitching your best ¼” seam allowance and press seams toward the Side Triangles. Trim the dog-ears to create a nice sewing edge and to alleviate bulk.
4. Stitch two Light-Medium Side Triangles to the remaining sides of all (4) Center Squares and press seams toward the Side Triangle.
5. First, position the Trim Down Section of the Square² (or Part B of the Large Square Squared) ruler over the pieced unit. Focus on aligning the tool’s “X’s” of the noted finished size unit over the sewn seams of the unit. Trim two sides.
Right Handed
Left Handed
6. Then lift the ruler, rotate the unit 180°. For the second cut, position the ruler on top of unit lining up the “X’s”, and then also lining up the cleanup lines on the ruler with the edges previously trimmed to the noted cut size.
Right Handed
Left Handed
7. You should have (4) Dual-colored Square² units.
Tada!
This post has kind of been written backwards compared to other weeks, sorry I have to shake things up!
Just wanted to cover my color selection before sending you on your way to the download and sewing!
For fabric selection 1; I went with a Triadic color plan, selection Red (19), Blue (11) and Yellow Green (3). I switched out my dark center for a fussy cut flower.
For color selection 2; I switched up my dark and light, since I have a darker background, and I went with a Complementary color plan, selecting Red-Violet (14) and Yellow-Green (3).
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you get yourself a Color Wheel and learn to use it as we go through this series. I have them available in my Etsy Shop. Click Here: Color Tools
I think that covers it for this week. Go get your download, available until Thursday night, March 15th! Download available here: Block 10 Duck Tracks
I'm off to host my Lancaster Spring Retreat!
Happy Stitching,
Michelle
 |
| Block 10- Duck Tracks |
Duck Tracks, by Nancy Page, appeared in the Birmingham News, December 3, 1935. You may remember, Block 1 Bear’s Paw was found to be known as Duck’s Foot. However, this is the only block I found to be known as Duck Track. It is similar to the Five Diamond block, only with eight diamonds. The outer round of Dual-colored Flying Geese creates a unique design. Similar to last week’s Federal Square block, color placement and tone placement, could affect which of the stars are dominate.
You will want to be very careful (I can not say this enough) when you lay out this block. I usually end with this reminder, but in case you don't read my full blog, I wanted to remind you to double check the lay out prior to stitching.
Those Dual-colored Flying Geese will get you everytime. You will want to look for the Medium Star points to come together on 2 corners and then the Light-Medium to come together on the opposite 2 corners. To add to matters; you now need to keep your Dual-Colored Square-in-a-Square (Yes! New Unit, New-to-the-series tool) oriented properly. My advise; layout, compare to diagram, take photo, walk away, come back, look at block, look at photo, look at diagram and double check. Then sew. If you don't you will most likely need to spend some time with the seam ripper. You will spend the time double checking or spend the time re-doing. Sorry, just a little advice.
Ok! Square-in-a-Square! We will be making Dual-Colored Square-in-a-Square and traditionally Square-in-a-Square. Both will be made with the Studio 180 Design Square² (can be purchased here: Square2 Ruler. You will LOVE this.
This week's pictorial is on Dual-Colored Square-in-a-Square, made with Studio 180 Design Square²
1. In the instructions, I have you cut the fabric for the center square slightly larger than needed. You will then cut down your strip, using the Square² or Large Square Squared (Part A) ruler to precision cut (4) Center Squares.
2. Lay the oversized strip on the cutting mat and place ruler on the edge of the strip end. Line up the corner of the strip with the noted Finished Center size. Cut up the side and across the top to trim each square to a precision size. Repeat until you have (4) Center Squares.
3. Gather the Center Squares (cut above) and the (8) Half Square Triangles of both the Light-Medium and Medium fabrics. These Half Square Triangles will become your Side Triangles. Stitch two Medium Side Triangles to opposite sides of all 4 Center Squares, placing the center square on the top when stitching your best ¼” seam allowance and press seams toward the Side Triangles. Trim the dog-ears to create a nice sewing edge and to alleviate bulk.
4. Stitch two Light-Medium Side Triangles to the remaining sides of all (4) Center Squares and press seams toward the Side Triangle.
5. First, position the Trim Down Section of the Square² (or Part B of the Large Square Squared) ruler over the pieced unit. Focus on aligning the tool’s “X’s” of the noted finished size unit over the sewn seams of the unit. Trim two sides.
Right Handed
Left Handed
6. Then lift the ruler, rotate the unit 180°. For the second cut, position the ruler on top of unit lining up the “X’s”, and then also lining up the cleanup lines on the ruler with the edges previously trimmed to the noted cut size.
Right Handed
Left Handed
7. You should have (4) Dual-colored Square² units.
This post has kind of been written backwards compared to other weeks, sorry I have to shake things up!
Just wanted to cover my color selection before sending you on your way to the download and sewing!
For fabric selection 1; I went with a Triadic color plan, selection Red (19), Blue (11) and Yellow Green (3). I switched out my dark center for a fussy cut flower.
 |
| Michelle's Fabric Selection 1 |
 |
| Michelle'e Fabric Selection 2 |
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you get yourself a Color Wheel and learn to use it as we go through this series. I have them available in my Etsy Shop. Click Here: Color Tools
I think that covers it for this week. Go get your download, available until Thursday night, March 15th! Download available here: Block 10 Duck Tracks
I'm off to host my Lancaster Spring Retreat!
Happy Stitching,
Michelle
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