Originally Posted by
running1
Thank you Wild8580!! This tells me I need to get out there are start finding more shirts!! I hate to bother you again, but could you tell us how wide your strips are cut to give us an idea of the size of your wonderful blocks? I might have missed how you are constructing your blocks and if I did, I apologize for the repeat question... but are you using foundation piecing? (I'm not really sure how to ask that question?) and just one more question... were your 25 lights fat quarters?!
The pattern I'm using is from the book "Positively Pineapple" by Lynda Milligan and Nancy smith. They use a ruler I think they invented called Pineapple Rule. The strips are 1 1/2" wide in various sized except for the last row which is 4 1/4" wide. The center is a 2" finished square. You sew the rectangles similar to a courthouse step block and then use the ruler to trim the angles. I have the pineapple ruler but I only use it for the first go around. After that I just use my square rulers to square the blocks. You really don't need the pineapple ruler, but it has some good orientation lines especially for the square in the square. The finished block is 12".
For the lights I used fat quarters, scraps, and yardage. I have an accuquilt studio cutter and this was a real advantage to cutting. I cut the fabric in strips, 2 1/2"' 3 1/2", 5, 6, and then ran them through my 1 1/2" die. The last row for the darks is 4 1/4" x 7 1/2". I don't have the pattern in front of me but I think the lights have a 4 1/2 " 1 1/2" strip for the second row of lights.
I now have 12 blocks completed. I have made a note in the book if I make another pineapple quilt (this is my second one-the first one I only used yardage and 3 fabrics), I will cut over-sized triangles for the last row. Using the rectangles and trimming puts the bias on the outside edge. I am being careful not to stretch as I am pressing and the blocks will all be sewn in when I finish the quilt.
Thanks for all the comments. I am truly amazed at the response to this post.