Row 11 of the Hometown Nostalgia Row Quilt

 This month's block is Card Trick.  It isn't really too hard to sew, but it might give you a challenge to lay out and get all the pieces in the right order!  Don't work on this one if you are not alert and awake!

Card Trick is a block that uses two varieties of triangles - half square and quarter square.  You can make this block with four different fabrics, or you can use three, just make sure you put your duplicated colors opposite each other.  

To make this block in all the same fabrics you will need 3/8 yard of background and 1/4 yard of each of your colors.

I'm using shades of black for my blocks on this row - I remembered I had a Stack of Island Batik Bodacious Blacks, so that gives me a nice variety for my blocks!  I'll be using each fabric twice.  The lightest ones I pulled out and substituted other fabrics from my stash. 

Now, on to the sewing!  I started out with sewing the 2 7/8 inch colored triangles to the 2 7/8 background triangles.  Use a 1/4 inch seam, then press the seam toward the background and trim off the dog ears.  Next I sewed one of each of my colored quarter square triangles to a background quarter square triangle.  Sew with the background triangle on the top and stitch from the corner to the point.  Press seam toward the colored triangle.

At this point you will need to lay out your block to make sure which triangles to sew together.  Take your time - and try taking a picture and looking at it on your phone to make sure everything is laid out right!

Here is an example of what not to do!  The center is fine, but I've got some pieces in the wrong places!  

This one was almost right, but I had the two dark fabrics switched in the center.  This is a tricky block, so take your time!  I hope to do better on the next ones.  

To sew the center, sew your triangles together in pairs, then sew the pairs together.  Press seams toward the dark for the pairs, then however you like for the final seam.  For the remaining units, sew your pairs to the half square triangles, and press the seam to the half square side.

When it's all sewn together correctly it should look like this!  Just take it slow and you will be ok, and if not, there's always the seam ripper.  I've learned my lesson on taking my time, and the next two blocks didn't need one!

I'm liking this row a lot so far!

Download the free pattern here!