Happy Go Lucky Block Tutorial

This morning, I was visiting my friend Paula's blog,  The Sassy Quilter.  She had posted about her lovely "Virtual Quilting Bee Block #3".  This block's tutorial is found on {the studio blog} by April Roenthal.
It is called the Happy Go Lucky block.  However, my tutorial will show how to make that block without using triangle pieces.  That's right!  No bias edges!


You will need to double the ingredients shown in the photo below.

Using a 1/4" seam, with RST (right sides together), sew the small squares to the small rectangles.  You can either press the seams open OR press the seams toward the squares.

With the squares at opposite ends, sew the units together with RST along the long side.  If you are pressing seams open, you do not need to clip the seam allowance.  But if you are pressing to one side, you must clip the seam allowance half-way along the side, as shown.

 

Draw a line on a 45 degree angle from the corner of the rectangle section, through the point where the seam was sewn on the square, to the other side for both ends of the unit.

If this is not clear enough, here is a virtual sample of the one with the seams pressed open.

Here is a virtual sample of the one with the seams pressed to the sides.

Place your unit squarely onto the 4.5" x 5.5" rectangle and sew directly on each line from edge to edge.  Then, using your rotary cutter and ruler, separate the unit between between these lines, as shown with the red line.

 Press toward the large triangle, even if you have pressed all seams open up to this point.

Trim off the little 'dog ears' from the seam allowance.  Place the units into their proper order to make the block.  Sew them together... And Voila!

Please note: Although I had to make a second attempt at this block because of poor picture quality, no seam rippers were harmed during the making of this tutorial.



A really cute block... It looked familiar.  Aha!  I just seen it here...

Recent changes at our local library allow for us to now borrow books from additional libraries within the county.  For me, this is very exciting news! The number of quilting books available has zintupled!

Yesterday I picked up "Quilts from the Heart" by Karin Renaud (Martingale & Company, 2009).
In her book you will find instructions for making Mary's Triangle Block on pages 12 & 13.  Following Karin's directions will result in two of Mary's Triangle blocks.  And you will need 4 of Mary's Triangle blocks to make the Happy Go Lucky block.  Karin credits this method to Sally Schneider's "Scrapmania - More Quick Pieced Scrap Quilts"(Martingale & Company, 1994).  Karen says, "In the intervening years I have not found any method that works nearly as well."  And I would like to add that this method does not require the sewing of any triangle pieces.  Oh, ya!