Quilting Jane at the Farm: C-1 Trooper Green's Badge

This is another relatively easy block. You could trace or photocopy the pattern from the book to do by foundation piecing.

I measured the different elements and pieced it.
Starting with the center, I measured across the square and added 1/4 inch all around and cut a white square that was 2 1/4 inches.

Next I cut 2 squares from the focus fabric 2 1/2 inches then cut them across diagonally to get 4 triangles. I like to have a straight of grain on the outside of the triangle if I can to avoid all the stretching and distortion that happens with bias edges.

I sewed the triangles on opposite sides using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Pressed away from the center.
Then I sewed the other 2 triangles on and pressed away from the center.

Next, I squared it up being careful to have exactly 1/4 inch between the white center points and the seam allowance.

I sewed all the next strips on in a log cabin format.

I originally learned this technique a hundred years ago from Quilt in a Day. But I am more careful now.

Using the pre-cut 1 inch background strips, I sew one onto one side.

Pressed it to the outside, away from the center.

Then, I squared up the edges and cut off the extra.

Sewed on the next strip.

Note that I did not measure and precut these strips. I just lined them up with one of the edges of the square.

Pressed it open away from the center.

Squared the edges.

Same for the 3rd side.

And the 4th side.

I repeated this for the next round of border strips.

I pre-cut a strip of the blue a bit wider than I needed to make sure that it was going to be big enough all the way around.

I cut it 2 1/2 inches wide.

Second side.

Third side.

And finally the 4th side. Press it neatly.

Remember there is a significant difference between pressing and ironing. You iron shirts by gliding the hot iron across the fabric to remove wrinkles.

You press seams by holding the hot iron over the seam with out moving to flatten the seams. This avoids stretching and distortion. Also, I avoid using steam for the same reason.