Clue #4 is here!! Whoohoo! Today we have the instructions to sew up our blocks. Material Girlfriends Shelter in Place Mystery Clues #1, #2, #3, and now #4 are hidden on inbetweenstitches.com. Click the link on the main page and then hunt for the pink Mystery Icon to download for the clues. The final Clue #5 will be released April 3.

Piecing tips for Clue #4:

In Clue #3 you cut your blocks twice on the diagonal. What you have now are triangle units. The triangle units look like Mountain Peaks and Houses. Do you see the house image and mountain peak?

Mountain Peaks

Houses

You will sew two light Mountain Peak triangles and two dark Mountain Peak triangles together to create the Mountain Peak block. Likewise, you’ll sew two light House triangles and two dark House triangles together to create the House block.You can choose to use the same fabrics or mix up your fabrics.

Refer to the diagrams in the Clue #4 download page for sewing instructions. For a successful block, it is important to nest the seams. Because you pressed your seams toward the darker fabric, the seam allowance creates a slight hump. Nest those two humps together by sliding and meeting the two humps. You can feel with your fingers when the seam humps are nested, there will be no tiny gap. Stick a pin in it. Then ease the two ends together by gently tugging the fabric if necessary.

We’re working with the bias with this seam. The good news is, the fabric with stretch when you need to ease the ends. The bad news is the fabric will stretch. LOL! Seam ripping can cause the fabric to stretch out so nesting and pinning is important. Seam rip carefully without tugging the fabric. No steam and press gently, not vigorously. Otherwise, your blocks will get a little wonky.

Last step is to square up your block to 8″. Align the 45 degree line of your square with a diagonal seam. Pull corners in the correct position and trim with your rotary cutter. You’ll just be trimming slivers of fabric.

Have fun!

Absewlutely,

Lisa Norton