Block 2 in Summer in the Country Sew Along- Moonlight

Block 2 in the Summer in the Country sew-along is Moonlight, designed by Michele Kuhns of Crayon Box Studio. I warned you that I might veer from the pattern instructions from time to time and this is a good example of me doing just that. I have two significant changes in the method used for making this block.

Change number one: When I look at the block, I can see that the center is made up of four "Cat's Cradle" units. You can make them just as the pattern instructs, but I get the best accuracy (and sharp points) when I use my Creative Grids Cat's Cradle tool.

Using the instructions that came with the Cat's Cradle trim tool, I cut my pieces and marked them according to the finished 4" size. Once I sewed on the lines and cut the pieces apart I had four Cat's Cradle units. 

Before I cut the sections apart, I flipped back the fabric to check my point. It was dead on perfect.

Once you cut your units apart and press them, there is one more trimming step. Use the trim tool to line up your seam along the correct dotted line and trim your unit down to 4 1/2". Don't you just love a perfect unit where all the points are sharp?

Change number two: The pattern instructions call for making this block using a lot of half-square triangles. HSTs are ok, but if I can avoid the extra seams by making flying geese instead I am going to do it. See the red triangles that frame the center Cat's Cradle units? Instead of making all those half square triangles, I am going to make 8 flying geese.

There is one very important thing you need to take note of. That is that you make four flying geese as shown on the left, then make four flying geese with the opposite color placement as shown on the right.  If you mess this placement up, your block won't turn out right. Don't ask me how I know this...

Here are my block components all laid out. 4 blue dot corner squares, 8 flying geese and 4 Cat's Cradle units.


I opted to sew my block together in quadrants as shown above. Sew one flying geese unit to the appropriate side of the Cat's Cradle piece, sew your corner square to the other flying geese unit, then connect the two pieces to form the quadrant.

I am super pleased with how this block turned out. I am even more pleased that I found a shop in England that still had some of that blue polka dot fabric! It cost more to ship it to me than I paid for the piece of fabric, but I need more of this blue dot for other blocks coming up.

 

Comments

[Mary]

I love your extra bit of instruction!

[Sandra]

I appreciate the tips you provide. Sometimes I forget to look at a block to see what units are used to create the finished block. I think the cats cradle trim tool is so helpful, perfect blocks every time.

[Kerry L]

Holy smokes Nicole!!! As always super impressed with your tenacity to get things finished! Have a great weekend!

[Lisa D.]

I want to make this quilt but I'm in the middle of a couple of BOM projects, so it will have to wait a bit. Thanks for the tips to make this super accurate block with fewer seams! I haven't used it yet, but I bought that Cat's Cradle tool after you wrote about it in another post.

[Ina]

holy moly. that block took some serious thought. you shipped fabric from England? you are my kind of gal!

try to stay cool....

[Chris]

Thanks for all the tips. I am not sure I ever made a cat's cradle unit and for sure never used that ruler. Will keep that in mind when doing that block.

[Lisa]

I really love it when someone gives a step through advice on construction. I am always looking for improvements or skill set techniques.
I am trying to get back to sewing after hubby had some major health issues. I need my happy place activities to get refueled!