These notes are from memory, and are not meant to teach anyone how to sew quilts, but as an aide memoire for me of what I did and how I did it! I would strongly recommend newcomers to patchwork and quilting look into either books or courses in order to learn the correct methods and techniques.
So the second block we made was still fairly simple straight line sewing, and another 9 patch block, but this time with the addition of triangles. The main lesson we had to learn for this block was how to make two of the triangle blocks from two squares. In order to create two blocks at the same time, we cut out two 4 7/8″ squares, one of each colour.
On the back of one of the squares, draw a diagonal line from the top right corner to the bottom left corner on the square. This should leave you with two triangles marked out, which will have 4″ length sides and a 1/4″ seam allowance on all sides. Measure 1/4″ from the diagonal line to give you where the long side of the triangle template will be, and 1/4″ in from the bottom and 1/4″ in from the right, to give you the other sides right sided triangle, then draw around a right angle triangle template with 4″ length sides. Repeat on the other side of the diagonal line to give you two triangles.
Repeat on the other square of fabric, and pin the two squares (right sides together), matching up points as on the square patches in Block 1. Sew along the long side of both triangles, matching points and seams between the front and back. Once both are sewn, cut along the diagonal centre line, and this will give you two triangle blocks, which can then be pressed open. The square blocks will have “dog ears” where the excess fabric from the seam allowance is visible – these can be trimmed to be make your square again.
There are also four square blocks to be created with two rectangle templates. These should be 4″ x 2″ with a 1/4″ seam allowance added.
This will give you eight blocks, with a single 4″ square (plus 1/4″ seam allowance) needed to be marked and cut out of either one of the colours already chosen, or a third contrasting colour for the centre square of the nine blocks.
Join together the blocks into three rows and then join the three rows together to form the finished block. Press and square up to 12″ at this point.
This is the finished square, the reverse and the detail of the churndash block:
