Charm Square Quilt Along Part 8

Welcome back to the Charm Square Quilt Along!  In this installment, we will work on block #7.

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<a href="http://moderntraditionquilts.blogspot.com" title="Charm Square Sampler Quilt Along"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQUYYoNu4QavbsYY-1Mdr801citK1JNlmeCnxkkGGovkvuiR1hO9zX2kNRdANUmspR21fQmn9i1x6v371eY65d9hHozBhD3WK7twCbsiirUnZPLVw6-6vxxCfBE44FgAr4EwwgC111DlP/w214-h212-p-no/" alt="Charm Square Sampler Quilt Along" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you are new to this QAL, visit the old posts.  To get fabric requirements and ideas, click HERE.

STEP ONE: Select 16 of your previously sewn HSTs and lay them out according to block #7 in the layout diagram above.

STEP TWO: Sew pairs together in columns.  Refer to previous posts if you are still unfamiliar with the technique.

STEP THREE: Press your seams looking at rows to "nest" and show the "X marks the spot".  Refer to previous posts for a review of this technique.

STEP FOUR: Making the center pinwheel of the block both spin and lie flat.

Next to the seams in the center of the block, make a small nick with the scissors in the seam allowance.  Be careful and do not cut the threads.  This allows the center units to be pressed in opposite directions.

An old friend of mine taught me this trick.  Once it is nicked, place your thumb on the center point of the pinwheel.  Rotate the block a full turn with your thumb pressing down.  This fans out all of those seam allowances in the center of the block, helping seams to align and splays out the bulk.  The center of the block will not be quite as bumpy.  This will reduce the risk of a broken needle when quilting.

Close-up of the center splayed out.  It looks like a rose!

Here we go, perfect points in the center, the bulk is moved around and the center lies flat.

Ta Da!  The block is all done.

I would love to see your progress.  Here is a link party and a flickr pool for your convenience.  Please understand, as I host KISMIF on Mondays, this link party is open only to block progress.  If you would like to share your posts that are not related to the Charm Square Sampler QAL, please share them on Monday on the KISMIF party.

Thanks!

flickrPool

An InLinkz Link-up