Minnesota - 10" Quilt Block

The next block in our state block series is Minnesota. We'll paper-piece the diamond sections for greater accuracy in piecing this block.

Sewing Instructions:

Step 1: With a pencil (or your favorite marking method), draw two diagonal lines from corner to corner on the wrong side of all gray 5-1/4" squares.

Step 2: With right sides together, layer a gray 5-1/4" square on a pink 5-1/4" square. Sew a seam 1/4" on each side of one of the lines that you drew in Step 1. Cut apart on on both drawn lines as shown below. Press the seam allowance toward the pink fabric and trim points. Repeat once more for a total of eight gray/pink triangles.

Step 3: With right sides together, sew two gray/pink triangles together, as shown below. Press seam allowance to one side and trim points. Four gray/pink quarter square triangles made.

Step 4: Print out the paper-piecing foundations by clicking here. (This is a PDF file and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.) Trim around each of the 5 units about 1/8" outside of the dotted line of the seam allowance. Paper-piece each unit using a very short stitch length setting on your sewing machine. When you've finished paper-piecing each unit, trim away the excess fabric and paper by cutting along the dotted line of the seam allowance. Carefully remove the paper from the back of each unit. Not sure how to paper-piece? Try our Foundation Paper-Piecing Tutorial for Quilters to learn how!

Step 5: Arrange the sections as shown below and sew into rows (Diagram 1). Sew the rows (Diagram 2) together to finish the block (Diagram 3) .