Block o Month/Grandma's Hopscotch

Block of the Month

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Grandma's Hopscotch

Try this old-fashioned block with today's fabrics.

"Grandma's Hopscotch" is a traditional block that was printed in the Kansas City Star in 1950. Notice that you can alter the original design simply be changing the light/medium/dark fabric placement. this block would also look great in bright prints or 1930s reproduction prints. Or try it scrappy for a less controlled look. Fabric courtesy of WestfalenstoffeŽ

BLOCK SIZE: 12" square

MATERIALS

Dark print at least 8" x 13"
Medium print at least 9" x 11"
Light print at least 11" square

CUTTING Dimensions include a 1/4" seam allowance.

Cut 1: 4 7/8" square, dark print, then cut it in half diagonally to yield 2 large triangles
Cut 4: 3 3/4" squares, dark print, then cut 2 of them in half diagonally to yield 4 small triangles
Cut 1: 4 7/8" square, medium print
Cut 1: 3 3/4" square, medium print
Cut 1: 5 1/4" square, medium print, then cut it in quarters diagonally to yield 4 triangles
Cut 2: 5 1/4" squares, light print, then cut them in quarters diagonally to yield 8 triangles
Cut 1: 4 7/8" square, light print
Cut 1: 3 3/4" square, light print

DIRECTIONS

Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the 4 7/8" light square, 3 3/4" light square, and 3 3/4" medium square. Place the marked 4 7/8" light square on the 4 7/8" medium square, right sides together. Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line on both sides. Cut the square on the drawn line to yield 2 large pieced squares. Press the seam allowances open.
In the same manner, place the marked 3 3/4" light square on a 3 3/4" dark square and the 3 3/4" medium square on the remaining 3 3/4" dark square and sew, as before. Cut the squares on the drawn lines to yield 4 small pieced squares. Press the seam allowances open.
Lay out the large pieced squares, large dark triangles, and small dark triangles. Sew them into units, as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the triangles. Join the units to make the center unit. Press the seam allowance open.
Lay out a small medium/dark pieced square, a small light/dark pieced square, and 2 light triangles, as shown. Sew them into a row. Make 2. Press the outer seam allowances toward the triangles and the center one open.
Sew the rows to opposite sides of the center unit. Press the seam allowances toward the rows.
Sew a medium triangle to a light triangle to make a corner unit, as shown. Make 4. Press the seam allowances open.
Sew the corner units to the center section to complete the block. Press the seam allowances toward the corner triangles.
*Other Options:* Highlight a favorite print as in blocks 7 and 8 (see below). Instead of cutting the 4 7/8" light and medium squares, cut two 4 1/2" squares, centering the designs. Use one-piece corner triangles as in blocks 4, 5, 8, and 9 (see below). Instead of cutting two 5 1/4" light squares, cut one and then cut it in quarters diagonally to yield 4 triangles. Instead of cutting the 5 1/4" medium square, cut two 5" light squares and then cut them in half diagonally to yield 4 large corner triangles.