QAF Block of the Month
June 2008
Electric Fan
10 1/2" (unfinished), 10"
(finished)
We are getting ready
for summer this year with our June block. It's the Electric Fan, a block
attributed to Clara Stone, from her early 20th century catalog, "Practical
Needlework".
You will need a
medium blue, a medium green and a white or WOW for this block. You can
probably create these blocks from your 'scraps' stash this time. The block
looks harder than it really is - I think you will like this one.
You may make up to 3 of each fabric combination..
Cut for each block:
To assemble block:
Draw a line diagonally from corner
to corner in both directions on the back of each white square. Place one
white square RST on a blue square and the other on a green square. Stitch
1/4" on each side of one of the diagonal lines. Cut apart on the
drawn line and press to the darker fabric. You now have 4 HST, 2 green/white
and 2 blue/white.
Now, as if by magic, you will
turn these HST into Quarter-Square triangles. Place one blue/white HST
and one green/white HST right sides together, with the colored halves opposing
the white halves, nestling them along the center seam. It would be good
to place a couple of pins along that line so it does not shift while stitching.
You will be sewing across the nestled seam, so extend the diagonal
line that is showing on the white half out to the corner of the colored
half. Stitch on each side of the diagonal line. Repeat with other pair
of blocks. Cut apart on the drawn lines and you now have 4 QST!
Now it is time to square up your
blocks so you can stitch them together into the final block. You don't
want to skip this step. Trim to 5 1/2" square. Line up one diagonal line
with the diagonal line on your square-up ruler, making sure
the center falls on the 2.75" line on the ruler. Trim edges.
Lay out your trimmed blocks as
in the above picture. (Note that the green triangles always appear at the
outer edge of the block). Stitch the top two, then the bottom two. Press
in opposing directions. Stitch final seam and you are done! Using your
square up ruler, trim to 10 1/2".
Make and enter lots! It's a 'cool'
block, don't you think? It's especially effective when set into quilts like
below.
