California - 18" Quilt Block

The next block in our tour of the States is California. This nine-patch block is moderately easy to make using the "square-in-the-corner" method.

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 each red 3-1/2" square.

Step 2: With right sides together, layer a red 3-1/2" square on a yellow 6-1/2" square at the upper left corner. Sew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and yellow fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. Repeat three more times for a total of four red/yellow squares.

Step 3: With right sides together, layer a red 3-1/2" square on a green 6-1/2" square at the upper left corner. Sew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and green fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. Layer a red 3-1/2" square on the upper right corner. Sew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and green fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. Repeat three more times for a total of four red/green squares.

Step 4: With right sides together, layer a red 3-1/2" square on a purple 6-1/2" square at the upper left corner. Sew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and purple fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. Layer a red 3-1/2" square on the lower right corner. Sew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and purple fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. Layer a red 3-1/2" square on the upper right corner. Sew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and purple fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. Finally, layer the last red 3-1/2" square on the lower left corner. S ew along the line that you drew in Step 1. Trim away the excess red and purple fabric 1/4" above the seam and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric as shown below. One purple/red center square made.

Step 5: Arrange the units as shown in Diagram 1. With right sides together and using a scant 1/4" seam, sew together to form rows as shown in Diagram 2. Sew rows as shown in Diagram 3 to finish the block.

Here is my block: