X Marks the Spot: Block tutorial

This block sort of came to be as a happy accident.  You see, I had all these left over half square triangles from my Swoon Quilt from what seems like eons ago, and they were just sitting in a pile in one of the corners of my sewing room.  I'd look at them every once in a while and say "I really need to do something with those," but ultimately would put it off to work on something else.  

Flash forward to last week, I decided to pull them out, and sorted them by color and started playing around with the placement.  In the midst of my playing, this "X" pattern started to appear, and I just went with it.  In the end, I love how this block came together, and I think its great all scrappified like my version, but also would be just as great in a more planned color pattern with lots of these little guys arranged in a quilt.

My version finishes at 13.5" square, as my HSTs measured 2.75" square as leftovers.  As a 12.5" block is a little more versatile, I've adjusted the tutorial to finish at 12" square.

X marks the Spot block

12.5" unfinished block

You'll need:

(14) 2 7/8" squares white fabric

(14) 2 7/8" squares patterned fabric

(4) 2 1/2" squares white fabric

(1) 4 1/2" square patterned fabric

use scant 1/4" seam; press all seams open

1.  Draw a diagonal line down the center from corner on all white squares (wrong side).

2.  Match up each 2 7/8" white square with a 2 7/8" patterned square, right sides together and stitch with a scant 1/4" seam along each side of your diagonal line.  Cut along the drawn diagonal line and press seams open.  

4.  Trim to 2 1/2" half square triangle.

4.  Arrange your HSTs, white squares and larger center patterned square as shown below:

5.  We will be sewing the block together in segments of 4 blocks.  Sew each square into sets of 2 as shown below.

6.  Sew your sets of 2 squares into 4 block squares as shown below.

7.  Each set of 4 squares should measure 4 1/2" square (same as your centered patterned square).  Sew together the three blocks of each row.

8.  Sew together the three rows, press seams open and stand back and admire your work!

If you decide to make an X Marks the Spot block I'd love to see it!  Be sure to add it to the SewCraftyJess Flickr group!