Variation on Tumbling block

In the previous post, the quilt mentioned was made a couple decades ago.  This one, however, I've just finished for my son.  The pattern was based on a stack and whack concept, but it wasn't made exactly that way.   You cut 1/2 square triangles and squares only.  So, there are no "y" seams.  The pieces are sewn together using the strip piecing method.  This technique allows you to fussy cut the squares so that your theme fabric is not pieced.  I did not fussy cut my squares.   The finished size turned out to be 24"X26".   But, this can change dramatically if your squares and triangles are increased in size by just an inch or more, OR of course, adding more of these same size blocks.
Cut:
squares = 36 novelty fabric =  3" square
triangles = 36 dark (black), 30 medium dark (grey), 30 medium light (coral), 36 light (red) = 3 1/2" cut squares, then cut in half on diagonal. 
Piece together with the square on point, sew on top left corner one dark triangle.  Bottom right corner sew on one medium dark triangle.  Top right corner sew on one light triangle and finally bottom left corner sew on one medium light triangle.  All the blocks are sewn in the same order, so line them up to strip piece one color at a time.  Cut apart and sew on the next color until all squares are finished.  You will need to square them up before sewing them into rows.  On your design wall, arrange the blocks to your own taste.   Sew blocks into rows and rows together to finish the top.  Add a border if desired. 

 



I bought a roll of "quilting made easy" paper to try it out.  Instead of safety pinning the sandwich, I had to go the old fashioned way and baste with needle and thread.   Attaching the first strip to the very middle was easy.  I sewed on the lines indicated from edge to edge and peeled off the paper.  The next two strips (one on top and one on the bottom) were placed on one at a time.  There was only a slight fudge factor.  If you've ever paper pieced, you know that tiny specs of paper can be left behind and be irritating to remove, but I like the ease of not having to concentrate on making my pattern exact by freehanding.  The designs used are easy continuous line designs.  The roses design was used on this quilt.  Though this block looks complicated it wasn't and only took me a week total to cut, construct AND quilt. If you know me, that is really fast.  ;o)