fencing being put up? It was so strange the first time I saw it. Asked my father what it was - why would people put those "X" things in the middle of the fields? That was when I learned about 'storm fences' - they are to help in the open areas to avoid large snowdrifts in the winter. I thought it was most unusual until the first time I saw them work. Which brings me to what we are making this time . . . X-Patches! Please read all these instructions all the way through. You will need to gather the following from your stash of pieces and subcut as directed:Color 1: 5 (10) 5 1/4" strips
Subcut by 5 1/4" for 36 (80) 5 1/4" squares
Color 2: 9 (20) 2" strips
Subcut by 9 1/2" for 36 (80) 2" x 9 1/2" strips
Color 3: 9 (20) 2" strips
Subcut by 9 1/2" for 36 (80) 2" x 9 1/2" strips
Now we will need from these pieces:
Color 1: 18 (40) 5 1/4" squares
Color 2: 18 (40) 2" x 9 1/2" strips
Color 3: 18 (40) 2" x 9 1/2" strips
Yes - we are only going to use half of what we just subcut and we are going to put the rest away - NOW. This is important so that no errors are made from this point on. There is a method to my madness . . . and a reason for putting the other half of these pieces away that will be revealed later in another part. Believe me - the result will be well worth your patience and following exactly these instructions. So put those other pieces away for later.
1. Cut each Color 1 5 1/4" square once on the diagonal. Press each triangle in half to find the halfway point of their long sides.
2. Press a Color 3 strip in half, end to end, to find it's halfway mark. Matching halfway points, sew each triangle to the strip. Don't trim the ends yet.
3. Cut this unit in half on the diagonal using your rotary cutter and ruler. Press each half as before to find the halfway points for each half. Leave the ends alone!
4. Take a Color 2 strip, fold end-to-end to find the halfway point. Sew each half to the Color 2 strip, matching halfway points for each. Leave the ends alone.
5. Using a square ruler (a 9 1/2" will do nicely), square this block to 6 1/2", being sure to have the whole thing centered.
6 1/2 Inch Block
