Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along ~ Snowflake - Block #6

I am so pleased that you have come back for another "Chapter" of the Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along!  If you're new here or just learning of the sew along, every two weeks I release a new block pattern for the Little House Sampler Quilt.  All of the previous blocks can be found at the tab above labeled Little House Sampler Sew Along.

Book 6 of the Little House series is The Long Winter.  The Ingalls family is in De Smet and have claimed their homestead.  The winter they endured in the previous year was mild, though they had a late blizzard in the spring.  De Smet was being built up rapidly and Ma didn't want the influence of the growing town to have a negative impact on the girls.  

The first blizzard came in October... the last was in April.  Temperatures dropped to -40 F.  Snow reached the rooftops.  And no trains could get through with food and coal.  The townspeople began to starve.  The Ingalls family barely survived the winter.  Alas, Almonzo Wilder would risk his life to save the town!

No wonder Laura fell in love with him. ;)

Like the previous block (Rails), this is not a block that I have used in another sew along.  The math lesson begins with noticing that the block is a 16-patch unit... 4 across, 4 down.

The finished block is to be 6-inches square, making each finished square of this block 1-1/2" square...

6 divided by 4 = 1.5"

Notice that every square of the block is a half-square triangle.

We've learned in previous math lessons that we simply add 1" to the finished unit size (1-1/2")

Cut the units for the HSTs 2-1/2" square.  After making the HST units, trim to 1-1/2" square.  

When making HSTs you get two units from each pair of pieces... you will need 8 light and 8 dark squares to make 16 half-square triangles. :)  Layout as shown in the photo.  Easy-peasy!

Like snowflakes gently falling over the months that the Long Winter takes place, I have noticed a steady increase of interest in this sew along.  For all of you that are joining the sew along and sharing in the block parties...  For all of you that are sharing blocks on your blog or social media... THANK YOU!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We are now 2/3 through the sew along.  How are you handling the "math lessons?"  

Are they helpful?  Are they confusing?

Would you miss them??

I'd love to hear your thoughts... Leave a comment!

We are still enjoying our camping trip, so this is short and sweet.  Head over to Payhip to get the Snowflake pattern.  Be sure to come back and share your block.  I'd love to see all of them!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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