TreadleOn Block Exchanges - Basic Blocks - Maple Leaf
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These instructions are for the regular, easy, beginners' blocks and are useful for all sorts of projects
This block's instructions assume a degree of accuracy - if you find that this is beyond your skills or those of your machine, check your seam allowances carefully, or maybe consider an easier exchange!
You need:-
Pre-washed cotton fabrics.
Blocks should finish at 6-1/2 inches trimmed, for 6 inches when sewn into a quilt
TOBE fabrics should always be pre-washed and pressed before cutting
Square ruler at least as big as your trimmed block size
Cutter and mat
Pencil
Treadle or hand-crank machine(s)
Cotton thread, please
Two 3-1/2 inch squares in each of your background and leaf colour for half-square triangles and one more 3-1/2 inch square of back ground
And one strip about 5 by 1 inch for the stem of your leaf
Samples are made in plains for clarity, but please make a note of the colours and or patterns required for the exchange
All seams are made by putting the Right Sides Together and using a 1/4 inch seam. Pin if needed, but don't sew over your pins!
Now, this looks wasteful, but it's sooo much easier to trim a bit more off than a sliver, and I know you aren't short of fabric.
Of course, as you get better at this, you can start with slightly smaller squares, maybe 3-1/4 inches
(Note, many of the online sites say "add 7/8 to your finished size for perfect HSTs". Yes, if you are very accurate, but you still have to trim off the "ears". I always make oversize and trim)
CHECK the size when you have made one block, if it is too big or too small you need to check your seam allowances