Echinacea Field Block SAL Week 3 -

What?!? Can you even believe we are heading in to week 3? Probably since you officially get to start sewing. wink wink. I am sure many of you have tested the sewing waters already. I know when I do a sew a long it is very hard to wait.

Okay so this week we are sewing… probably next week too…. Anyway. Sewing up your block is rather easy. There are a few half square triangles to sew. If you have never sewn those before I would suggested searching google for a good tutorial. I am going to give you the basics here.

First, when I am sewing a block up I like to lay out the block with all the pieces in there place. The diagrams on page 2 (all the variations) and page 3 show you where each piece you have goes in the block and I find if I lay out the block in that way I can just place the diagram near me to reference the piece letters if needed.

All the pieces with HST’s pulled to side.

Second, I grab all my half square triangle pieces, or HST’s for short, and bring them to the side and mark the diagonal line on the backs of all of them. This way I can piece them all at once with my regular presser foot and then switch to my 1/4″ presser foot when I am piecing the blocks. So the pattern tells you to do the HST’s along the way. Which is a great way to do it for your first shot if your not used to patterns like this. Once you have one under your belt, sewing them all at the beginning is really a time saver.

Mark all diagonal lines on backs of HST’s.

Sewn on the marked line. I tend to sew just inside the line toward the seam allowance.

Trim 1/4″ away from sewn line for seam allowance.

Press open. note* this petal has another HST on the bottom which appears below. ;)

Place finished piece back where it belongs in laid out block.

Third, after I have done all the HST’s I lay them in their spots among all the pieces I have laid out for the block. Then I follow along with the pattern and 1/4″ piece all the pieces together for the final product. TA-DA!

That wasn’t to hard right? I love how quick this block comes together, and if you are making multiple at a time you can just chain piece them all. Yay! Chain piecing can be such a time saver in a crunch or if piecing is not your favorite part. ahem…

Before you know it you are going to have some beautiful Echinacea to keep you company.

Happy Sewing!!! Don’t forget to pop over to Instagram to see how to enter for this weeks prize. The prize was generously donated by Windham Fabrics. and is a sweet Fat Quarter Bundle of (not in stores yet) Pink Lemonade by Tessie Fay. It is such a cute fabric line! Thanks Kait for the awesome Prize.