Civil War Quilt – Block 11 – London Square

This is block #11 in the Civil War block-of-the-week series offered by Barbara Brackman.  It is called London Square. Go to Barbara’s blog to get the pattern and to see the story and pictures related to the block.  I used a different procedure for cutting and sewing the half-square triangles B.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/03/11-london-square.html

The only tricky thing about this block is keeping the pieces in order in the center section.  For new quilters, this is the way I assembled the block.  Use 1/4 inch seams throughout.

• You will need four half-square triangles.  Cut 2 dark and 2 light pieces of fabric 2-7/8 x 2-7/8 inches.  Draw a line down the center from point to point on the light squares, place on top of the dark squares, right sides together, and stitch 1/4 inch from the drawn line on each side.

• Cut on the drawn line, press to the dark fabric and trim tails.  These pieces should measure 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 inches.
• For the remaining triangles B, cut 2 light and 2 medium pieces of fabric 2-7/8 x 2-7/8 inches.  Cut diagonally to make 4 triangles each of light and medium.  You will need 3 triangles of each for the block.
• For triangles A, cut a dark square and a medium square 6-7/8 inches.  Cut each in half diagonally to form 2 triangles from each piece.  You will need 1 triangle from each piece for the block.
• Lay the pieces out on a mat in the proper order.

• Sew each of the sections together, referring to Barbara’s diagram.

• Sew the four sections together, press and trim.  Piece should measure 2-1/4 inches wide x 12 inches long.

• Sew the A triangles to the center section.  There should be 1/4 inch tails on each end as you are sewing.  Trim tails, press.  Piece should measure 8-1/2 x 8-1/2  inches.