Chasing the Sun - Clue 2

Welcome to week 2 of this year's mystery.  It's so bright and cheery.  May it rub off on each one of us so that our attitudes are the same.

Today's cutting requirements are:  (Everyone cuts everything unless it states differently - scrappy remember to mix up your strips).  Oh yeah --- PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM BEFORE STARTING TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND,

White (color 1):  EVERYONE:  Subcut 4 - 2" squares from your 2" strip.

Yellow (color 2):  IF DOING SCRAPPY:  Cut 8 - 2" x 4" bricks and 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks

Yellow (color 2):  IF DOING CONSTANT:  Subcut 8 - 2" x 4" bricks from your 2" strip and Subcut 8 - 3 1/2"  x 7" bricks from your 3 1/2" strips

Orange (color 3):  IF DOING SCRAPPY:  Cut 4 - 4" squares and 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks

Orange (color 3):  IF DOING CONSTANT:  Subcut 4 - 4" squares from your 4" strip and 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks from your 3 1/2" strips

Orange (color 3);  EVERYONE:  Subcut 32 - 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" bricks from your 1 1/2" strips

Red (color 4):  IF DOING SCRAPPY:  Cut 8 - 2" x 4" bricks and 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks

Red (color 4):  IF DOING CONSTANT:  Subcut 8 - 2" x 4" bricks from your 2" strip and 8 - 3 1/2" X 7" bricks from your 3 1/2" strips

Red (color 4):  EVERYONE:  Subcut 32 - 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" bricks from your 1 1/2" strips

Pink (color 5):  IF DOING SCRAPPY:  Cut 12 - 2" squares and 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks

Pink (color 5):  IF DOING CONSTANT:  Subcut 12 - 2" squares from your 2" strip and 8 3 1/2" x 7" bricks from your 3 1/2" strips

Pink (color 5):  EVERYONE:  Subcut 60 - 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" bricks and 60 - 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" bricks from your 1 1/2" strips

Lavender (color 6):  IF DOING SCRAPPY:  Cut 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks

Lavender (color 6):  IF DOING CONSTANT:  Subcut 8 - 3 1/2" x 7" bricks from your 3 1/2" strips

Okay - wow.  I think it's time to sew.  

UNIT D (make 4):

It's a pretty basic 9 patch.  Start by laying out your cut pieces.  You will need all the 2" white and pink squares, the yellow 2" x 4" bricks, the red 2" x 4" bricks, and the  orange 4" squares.  Each unit requires 1 white 2" square, 1 orange 4" square, 3 pink 2" squares, 2 yellow 2" x 4" bricks, and 2 red 2" x 4" bricks. 

At this point, I ALWAYS web 9 patches as I have discovered that I get the blocks in the right order more often.  It's as simple as that.  I really don't like to unstitch things so if I can find a way to reduce that risk, I am all over it.

To web, simply take the second column of pieces and lay them over onto the left ones they will be sewn to.  Run the ENTIRE block through at once chaining the pieces.  If you have laid out all four blocks, you can do this step for all before moving on.

Now, open out what you have sewn and lay the third column onto the middle one with right sides together and repeat the process.

At this point you should have a webbed 9-patch.

Okay, so it is hard to show a webbed block all by myself but I'm giving it the old college try.  HAHAHAHA

Now, make sure the seams are pressed (finger pressing is good here) so that they will nest as you match up seams into the 9 patch.

Sew your rows together and make sure that your unit measures 7" square.

Now, press the units and SPIN those seams if you know how.  If you don't, it's not critical.  If you have tiny 4-patches in your spin, you did it right.

Finished units - aren't they CUTE?

Now - go get the Unit A's from last week.  We are going to add onto them.  (Make 60):

With the 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" PINK bricks, sew one to each Unit A on the lower edge as shown in the graphic.

Press out.

 Add the remaining 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" PINK bricks to the right edge - opposite the orange.  Your unit should measure 4 1/2" square.

Remember the Unit B's from last time?  Go get them as we will be building on them next.  (Make 16)

Sew one of the 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" ORANGE bricks to each side of the unit as shown in the graphic.  Start with the left side and chain your way through all 16.  Press out and then do the same with the right side.

Your Unit B should measure 4 1/2" square at this point.

But we are not done with it.  Let's add a bit more to it.

Sew the 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" RED bricks to the top and bottom of Unit B as shown in the graphic.  Your units should measure 4 1/2" x 6 1/2".  Do they?  If they don't - fix it now.

We're almost done for the week.  Locate your UNIT C's and all the 3 1/2" x 7" bricks that you cut.  We are going to add onto them as well.

You should have 40 units, and 40 cut bricks.  MATCHING colors, sew one brick onto each unit along the long side with the color up against the black.  When they fold out, they will have a black stripe in them.

Chain your way through these and you will have a sweet stack of color behind your machine just as I do.

Your Unit C's should now measure 5 1/2" x 7" and you should have 8 of each color.

That's it for this week.  Please post your progress so I can see what's happening.  Picture below of Unit C's - both scrappy and constant.  Simply yummy and with a bit of a modern touch, don't you think?