Man’s Best Friend Quilt Block

One quick interruption

Do you have a dog that is your best friend? If you would like to share their picture, you can send it to me at moc.liamgobfsctd@sngisednoomebeohp. I will show it off here.

Fabric Requirements for the Dog Quilt Block

This is a great block for scraps or fat quarters. Here is what you will need:

Background Fabric:
(1) 2-1/2″ square
(1) 2-1/2″× 8-1/2″ rectangle
(2) 2-1/2″× 4-1/2″ rectangles
(3) 3″ squares. Cut (1) on the diagonal to make (2) triangles.
(2) 3-1/2″ squares. Cut (1) on both diagonals to make (4) triangles.
(1) 4-1/2″ square

Fur
(1) 2-1/2″ squares
(3) 2-1/2″× 4-1/2″ rectangles
(4) 3″ squares. Cut (1) on the diagonal to make (2) triangles.
(1) 3-1/2″ squares
(1) 4-1/2″× 6-1/2″ rectangle

Collar
(1) 3″ square
(1) 3-1/2″ squares.  Cut on both diagonals to make (4) triangles.

Grass
(1) 2-1/2″× 12-1/2″ rectangle

Let’s Get Started!

Things you will find helpful:

• A 2-1/2 square ruler
• A 12-1/2″ square ruler
• Best Press or other spray starch

How to Create and Square Up a Half Square Triangle (HST) Quilt Block

The Traditional Method of making Half Square Triangle Blocks (HSTs) is to place two identical squares right sides together. These squares should be 7/8″ larger than the finished size of the final HST. Draw a diagonal line on the back of one square. Sew 1/4″ on both sides of the line. Cut on the line and press to the dark.

You will have made two identical Half Square Triangle (HST) blocks. My personal preference is to cut squares 1″ larger than the finished size of the final HST and square it up to the correct size after pressing.

There are two ways you can square up your block.

You can place a square ruler so the diagonal line is directly over the seam and just cut two sides. Quilt-in-a-Day has a Square Up Ruler that uses this method.

Or you can press open the block (pressing to the dark) and square it up using a ruler the same size as the block you are making. A fussy-cut ruler with lines on both diagonals will be very helpful with this.

Assemble:
(3) 3″ Fur squares
(2) 3″ Background squares
(1) 3″ Collar square

Following the directions above, make (4) HSTs from the Fur and Background squares, and (2) from the Collar and Fur fabrics. Press to the dark. Square them up to 2-1/2″.

Making a 3-Part Quarter Square Triangle (QST) Blocks

Assemble:

• The (4) triangles from the 3-1/2″ Collar fabric square
• The (4) triangles from the 3-1/2″ Background fabric square
• The (4) triangles from the 3-1/2″ Fur fabric square
• One of the triangles from the 3″ Background fabric square
• One of the triangles from the 3″ Fur fabric square

Sew two triangles together, matching the design below, and press to the dark. You will have extra triangles. Set them aside for use in another project.

Press and square up both 3-part QSTs as shown below.

Putting the Block Together

Sew this block in rows. Press the seams of the even rows to the right and the odd row to the left.  That will help them nestle at the intersections, keeping the block flat.

Row 1
(1) 2-1/2″× 8-1/2″ Background rectangle
(1) 2-1/2″ Fur/Background HST
(1) 2-1/2″ Background Square

Row 2
(1) 2-1/2″× 4-1/2″ Background rectangle
(2) 2-1/2″ Fur/Background HSTs
(1) 3-part QST with a large Background triangle
(1) 2-1/2″ Fur square

Row 3
(1) 2-1/2″× 6-1/2″ Fur rectangle
(1) 2-1/2″ Fur/Collar HST
(1) 3-part QST with a large Fur triangle
(1) 2-1/2″ Fur/Background HSTs

Row 4
(1) 2-1/2″× 4-1/2″ Background rectangle
(3) 2-1/2″× 4-1/2″ Fur rectangles
(1) 4-1/2″ Background Square

Row 5
(1) 2-1/2″× 12-1/2″ Green rectangle

Sew the grass row on the bottom and you are done!  Enjoy your Scottie Dog Block!

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