Week 37, wow, time really is flying by! This week we are making the Kansas Troubles block. You will be making units larger and trimming down as we go. I grabbed a red fabric from a previous month's colors and added it to this block.

You will need 4 colors and a background

Fabric A - Color 1

Fabric B - Color 2

Fabric C - Color 3

Fabric D - Color 4

Fabric E - Background

Cutting:

Fabric A - Cut 6 - 2 1/2" squares

Fabric B - Cut 6 - 2 1/2" squares

Fabric C - Cut 2 - 4" squares

Fabric D - Cut 2 - 7" squares

Fabric E - Cut 8 - 2 1/2" squares

Fabric E - Cut 4 - 2" squares

Sewing:

We are starting with Half Square Triangles. You will need 4 Fabric A squares, 4 Fabric B squares, and the 8 Fabric E 2 1/2" squares.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the 8 Fabric E squares.

Sew 1/4" seam on both sides of drawn line.

Cut them apart on the drawn line.

Press toward Fabric A and B. You will have 16 slightly oversized Half square Triangles (8 Fabric A and 8 Fabric B).

Trim these Half Square Triangles to 2".

Take the remaining 2 Fabric A and B squares and cut them in half on the diagonal as shown.

Layout the following pieces as shown.

Sew these together in a row. (Make 2 units like this). Press toward the right.

Layout the following pieces as shown.

Sew these together in a row. (Make 2 units like this). Press to the right.

Repeat these steps for Fabric B.

Take the 2 Fabric C squares and cut them half on the diagonal.

Take a Fabric C triangle from above and the Fabric A unit as shown.

Sew the Fabric A unit to the Fabric C triangle. Press toward the Fabric C triangle.

Take the other Fabric A unit and sew it to the above unit.

Press toward the Fabric C triangle. 

Repeat these steps so that you have 2 Fabric A units and 2 Fabric B units.

These are slightly oversized. Place your ruler as shown to trim off any excess, making sure you have 1/4" seam allowance.

This is what your units should look like...

Take the Fabric D squares and cut them half on the diagonal as shown.

Fold a Fabric D triangle in half to find the center and put a finger crease to mark it.

Fold one of the Fabric A units to find the center and place a finger crease to mark it.

Place the Fabric A unit right sides together with the Fabric D triangle. Line up the finger creases and pin in place. **Note: the Fabric D triangle is slightly larger so you should expect to have a little bit showing.**

Sew the Fabric A unit to the Fabric D triangle. Press toward the Fabric D triangle. Trim this unit to 6 1/2" square.

Repeat for the other Fabric A unit and the 2 Fabric B units. Once you have trimmed them to 6 1/2", lay them out as shown below.

Sew the top 2 and bottom 2 together. Press toward Fabric D.

Lining up that center seam, sew the top row and bottom row together to complete the block. Press this final seam open.

You did it! Kansas Troubles block is complete.

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