Following the Instructions

Patterns today and in the past come with instructions...but they also have pictures.  I'll confess, I look at the pictures to figure out how the pattern goes together and then, when all else fails...read the instructions.

That is not the best way to make sure your piece will come out like the pictures.

Unfortunately, it is a lesson I have to learn over and over again....like this week.

This is the pattern I found this weekend.  Turkey Tracks by Quilt in a Day


I flipped through the instructions...okay, the pictures.  I was using scraps, so I didn't go with cutting the strips.  There are only two pattern pieces for this block.  Seemed pretty simple.

I marked all my pieces and then cut from the four colors.  But something didn't turn out right.

Notice that some of these pieces are turned to the wrong side.  It seems that the instructions said that I was to cut through two pieces at a time, laying right sides together, so that I would get mirror images of the pieces.

Back to the cutting board!

Got it right this time and now I have almost enough pieces cut to do two blocks.

I really like this lay out.

I marked all the pieces with the 1/4 inch seam allowance because getting all those points to come out right takes a little maneuvering.  I'm hand piecing this block.

After pining at the point where the seam allowances intersect, I sewed to that point, not through, on the long sides of the blue center.

Then folding the piece, I pined the short sides and sewed from the marked intersection to the outside.

Then I laid out all the seams carefully and ironed.

Following the instructions really worked out well for this block.  I really should start with the instructions more!