Maryland - 15" Quilt Block

The next block in our state block series is Maryland. There are 85 patches in a single block!

Sewing Instructions:

Step 1: With a pencil (or your favorite marking method), draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of all light 1-1/2" squares.

Step 2: Place a light 1-1/2" square in the upper right corner of the dark 3-1/2" square (right sides together) as shown below. Stitch a seam on the diagonal line that you drew Step 1. Trim the fabric above the sewn line to 1/4" and press the seam toward the light fabric. Repeat on the lower left corner and press the seam toward the light fabric. Repeat on the upper left corner and then the lower right corner, pressing the seams toward the light fabric. Trim points.

Step 3: With right sides together, sew a dark 1-1/2" square to one end of a light 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangle as shown below (A). Make four light/dark units. With right sides together, sew a dark 1-1/2" square to one end of a medium 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangle as shown below (B). Make four medium/dark units. Press all seam allowances toward the darker fabric.

Step 4: With right sides together, stitch a light/dark unit from Step 3 to the long side of a light 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangle. Make four light/dark squares (A). With right sides together, stitch a medium/dark unit from Step 3 to the long side of a medium 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangle. Make four medium/dark squares (B). Press all seam allowances toward the 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangles.

Step 5: With right sides together, layer a light triangle (the largest size) on a medium triangle and stitch a 1/4" seam along one short side (1). Repeat until 8 light/medium triangle units have been made. Press seam allowance toward the medium fabric and trim points (2). With right sides together, sew two light/medium triangle units along the longest edge (3). Press seam allowance to one side and trim points. Repeat for a total of four light/medium hourglass units.

Step 6: With right sides together, stitch two small light triangles to two adjoining sides of a dark 1-1/2" square as shown below. Press the seam allowance toward the dark fabric after stitching each triangle. Repeat three more times for a total of four dark square triangles.

Step 7: With right sides together, stitch two small light triangles to two adjoining sides of a medium 1-1/2" square as shown below. Press the seam allowance toward the dark fabric after stitching each triangle. Repeat three more times for a total of four medium square triangles.

Step 8: With right sides together, stitch a dark square triangle to a larger light triangle as shown below. Repeat three more times for a total of four dark square triangle units. Press the seam allowance toward the light fabric and trim points.

Step 9: With right sides together, stitch a medium square triangle to a larger light triangle as shown below. Repeat three more times for a total of four medium square triangle units. Press the seam allowance toward the light fabric and trim points.

Step 10: With right sides together, layer a medium triangle unit on a dark triangle unit and stitch a 1/4" seam along the longest side. Repeat until four dark/medium squares have been made. Press seam allowance to one side and trim points.

Step 11: Arrange the sections as shown below and sew into rows (Diagram 1). Sew the rows (Diagram 2) together to finish the block (Diagram 3) .