Broken watermelon dishes part 2 for October 2012

First let me say that I had already picked the block, made the samples & written the directions before it registered that this block (Brackman 1193a-Broken Dishes) is very very similar to (OKay, the same as) the component block from last year.  Yes it is a 4-patch of 1/2-square triangles but I promise that is where it ends... 

What can I say, the end of summer/beginning of school quilt block swap can be tricky.  In general interest is high but available time is low.  I thought if we could make a component  block again; that is a block that can stand on it's own, but also is part of a larger block & then I thought wouldn't it be great if I came up with a pair of component blocks & we could do a swap for all the pieces, then I found a larger block made up of equal parts of two smaller blocks & thought YAY! I got started & finished before that penny dropped that we were making the same block.  Sorry.

The name of the larger block in this case is not entirely clear, but I have been calling the whole thing broken dishes ( I made a version of this quilt once before & you can see the completed quilt here).  "Broken Dishes" is actually the name of just this block.   The quilt was made from alternating "Broken Dishes", a 4-patch of 1/2-square triangles & a variation on snowballs (our August block "Broken Plates" ) & I will put up directions as well as other suggestions when the swaps are further along. 

To make one October 2012 swap block you will need eight (8) different fabrics.  The good news is a 4" square of each of these fabrics should be enough to make two (2) blocks.  Everyone has scraps hanging around right?

Now for part deux.  As with the August block, all your fabrics should be limited to colors found in ...a watermelon.  The fabrics don't have to show the image of a watermelon (it is better if they don't actually).  They don't even have to read-as-solid (although it is better if at least half of them do) just so long as EVERY color shown is a color you could find in a watermelon.  I promise this is not so limiting as it sounds:  watermelons include green, from dark to light & well over into the yellows, pink from hot pink to palest baby pink, black, brown, white, off-white, etc.  Because this is a component block (that is, this block paired with another block to make a larger overall pattern), I am asking people to avoid using an all white, white on white or even mostly white fabric; the other component is almost all white & the edges will be blurry if any of these are as well.

& while I do not want to be the color police I am also asking people avoid using ANY blue or purple-colors never found in watermelon, at least not one you would ever eat.  I discarded a dense pink floral that had just a few flowers with pale blue centers.  On the other hand, while orange is not a color usually associated with watermelon, general melon yes but not watermelon, although I think General Melon would be a great name for an alternative superhero.  Maybe a sidekick.  I digress.  Let me start again: I had trouble finding pinks without some orange or coral overlap, so I guess a little very little orange, mixed in won't kill anyone (sorry Mom, I know you had strong feelings on this one).  Ditto red.  But for both of these less is a whole lot more.

Let's begin:

Cut eight (8) different fabrics into 4" squares.  Sort them into pairs of one light & one dark, or rather lighter to darker.  I find the easiest way is to identify those fabrics that are without a doubt dark & without a doubt light & pair those with the mediums.  

Make 1/2-square triangles using your preferred method.  My preferred method is described in previous posts here & here, but it is results that matter.  You should end up with a 1/2-square triangle that is 3.5" square. Actually, you should end up with 4 different squares (2 of each) for a total of eight & enough for two blocks.  If they are a bit big (mine were), please do square them to 3.5" before moving to the next step

Take the 4 1/2-square triangles & arrange them, 2 with the darkest side to the center & 2 with the lightest side to the center.  Keep in mind, the light/dark thing is relative to the pair; the contrast is not going to be super-sharp & that is OKay.

 As always, we swap in sets of FIVE.  Blocks are due IN HOUSE the last Saturday of October, October 27th.  You send five blocks & get five back (you are welcome to include a 6th block for a donation quilt; if no one asks to be the 6th block person you will get your own block back).   If you would like to include these blocks to be swapped in your August swap block package, you can BUT keep in mind you will not get any blocks back until after the second swap (this swap, the October swap) has happened.  Lastly, you do not need to participate in both swaps to participate in one, nor do you need to participate equally in both.  You can make multiple sets for this swap & none for the other.