Cutting & Piecing the Center Section

I’ve just started work on my second design, Navajo Nation. This is my second design project but my first design using Electric Quilt 6 from the start. Once I’ve determined the blocks go together as indicated in the program, I’ll publish the pattern. I’ll also provide periodic updates here as I progress so you can see where I’m at.

This block went together nicely using the measurements for the cutting in the pattern. I discovered you need to pay close attention when piecing together the surrounding rows of small triangles…two sides are mirror images of the other two sides. It was helpful to have the image beside the sewing machine while piecing together.

12-1/2 x 12-1/2 Navajo squares

	One 7- 5/8 x 7-5/8 square (center) Two 5-7/8 x 5-7/8 squares (outer corners) cut diagonally to make 4 triangles Six 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 squares – blue Six 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 squares – cream
	With five of the 3-1/4 squares, I placed wrong sides together using one each of the blue and cream. Then I sewed around the perimeter using 1/4 seam allowance. I cut diagonally twice to make 4 smaller squares comprised of blue and cream triangles and pressed seams and trimmed. With the remaining cream and blue 3-1/4 squares, I placed wrong sides together and cut diagonally twice to make four pairs of small triangles. Only 2 pairs were used for this Navajo square and the remaining were reserved for the next.
	Next I made 4 rows of small squares with each row comprised of 5 squares. I assembled using the pattern above to ensure two rows mirrored the other two rows.
	Then I attached two matching rows to opposite sides of the large center square and pressed open. Then I attached the small triangles following the illustration to the ends of the small triangle rows.I attached the remaining two rows of matching squares to the remaining open sides of the center square and pressed open.
	The final step was to attach the long side of the outer triangles to the rows of small squares and press open.
	The finished block. I’ve made two for the center section. I’ll need to make 14 more for the outer border later.