Moda Blockheads-Block 2: Aunt Dinah

Block 2 looks like fun.  This is Aunt Dinah designed by Betsy Chutchian
and you can find the pattern on her blog here:
 http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2017/03/moda-block-heads-block-2-aunt-dinah.html

All of my pieces have been cut and starched and I am ready to start sewing.

I usually try to avoid sewing triangles, but I am feeling brave so will follow the directions 
​and... gulp...cut my A squares on the diagonal.

Betsy directs us to sew two A triangles to a B square-okay then, a chain-piecing I will go.

One side is done. Just need to lay the second triangle in place and sew together.

​Before pressing I trim off the little extra bits.

​A word on pressing.  
In the first photo I am "setting" the seam.  Simply set the hot iron on top of the piece I have just sewn without opening up the piece.  Since these triangles are sewn on the bias
​ I need to take care not to distort the seam by aggressively ironing.  
Instead I gently press the triangle open in the second photo.

Looking good.

​The C squares need to be cut into triangles too.  
They will then be sewn to the units I just made.  (My C triangles look a little more green here, oh well-they really are that cheery yellow.)

​By sewing with the pieced unit on top I can watch that my needle goes right over the X made by the previous seams ensuring perfect points.  At least when all goes as planned.

​Those little bits will be trimmed off and then I check 
​to see if my unit measures 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.

​It is always exciting to start putting the block together on my design wall.  
​Here the units I just made are in place.

Now I need to work on the second unit for this block using my D and E squares.  

​These need to be cut on the diagonal twice giving me four triangles.

Making sure I have the triangles in the right order before sewing.  
​It is important that the D and E triangles are laid out exactly like this.

Now that those are stitched and pressed I need to add an F triangle to complete this unit.

Tip:  I sew with my needle in the down position;
use leaders and enders (scraps of material) to start and end my chain piecing;
When adding a new piece I butt it right up to my needle and then start sewing.
These things have solved the issues I used to have when joining small pieces.

Okay, those units are done.  I have trimmed off the little points and checked to see that they measure 2 1/2 inches square.  Looks like I am good to go.

Time to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together.

​Excitement mounts as I start to join the units together in rows.

​I pressed the rows in opposite directions to better line up my seams later on.

​Before proceeding I also checked to make sure that my middle squares
​measured 2 inches across.  Good-that means I am having success with 
​my scant quarter inch seam and everything will fit together nicely.

​Time to pin the rows together after laying them out to check that I have them the way I want.

"Nesting" the seams.  I place a pin at this point to ensure my seams stay locked together.

When I reach the pin I stop with my needle in the down position and pull out the pin before continuing.  Since I use a fairly small stitch length I am always hitting pins if I leave them in.  Broken needles and bent pins do not make me happy.

Just like in Block 1  I am nesting the seams to reduce that lump where they all come together.

​I am very happy with how my Aunt Dinah came out.  Here it is joined by Block 1.

Are you joining in on the fun?  
​All of the photos being shared on the Moda Blockheads Facebook group are really inspiring.  It is  like a virtual quilt guild; full of wonderful people from all over the world who have come together to share a common love of this artform.  I am looking forward to several weeks of learning new things and being challenged to improve my skills with every block.
So, until next time...

Happy Quilting!