The blocks in this book can be made using whatever combination of fabrics your imagination can devise. I’ve provided three examples for each block using different fabrics, but that’s really only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the possibilities. You may find that you want to emulate some of my fabric choices, you may want to use them as jumping-off points, or you may want to ignore them entirely. The most important thing is to have fun and express yourself with fabric!
Each of the block designs includes a diagram that has the pieces of the block labeled with a letter or letter/number combination, and a corresponding chart detailing the size and required quantity of each rotary-cut piece. Use the diagrams and charts to determine how much fabric you will need in order to make each block. Some of the blocks use one or more freezer-paper templates; full-size patterns for these templates can be found on the pattern pullout sheets.
The cutting charts for each block design include columns labeled “Size to Cut” and “Trim Using.” For many pieces, the entry in the “Size to Cut” column is just that—the exact size of the rotary-cut piece. Whenever the “Trim Using” column is blank, the dimensions in the “Size to Cut” column represent the exact size needed.
For blocks using template pieces, you will find dimensions in the “Size to Cut” column and a pattern number in the “Trim Using” column. That means that, for example, for the Forest Park block, piece A should be cut using Template A from Pattern 1 and that a 4˝ × 5¼˝ piece of fabric should be large enough for the task. In these cases, the information in the “Size to Cut” column is simply intended as a helpful reference. You may find that you’re able to squeeze a template shape onto a smaller or oddly shaped scrap of fabric. If you’re fussy cutting (see Fussy Cutting) or shortcut piecing (see Shortcut Piecing) you may find that you need slightly larger pieces of fabric than what is listed in the “Size to Cut” column.