BOW #41: Puss in the Corner

There are at least 2 blocks that are known as "Puss in the Corner."  The block we'll be making uses the other Puss in the Corner block, which is the Uneven Nine-Patch, but that is the center of this week's block.

The block is a 64-patch, or based on a grid of 8 x 8.  There are several ways you could put it together--from 64 individual 1-1/2" squares (not very efficient!) to uneven rows....but we're going to build it from the center out.

For this 12" block you will need:
(1) 3-1/2" square green
(12) 2" squares green
(12) 2" x 3-1/2" retangles red
(4) 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles background
(4) 2" x 6-1/2"" rectangles background

1) Working from the center out, we'll make an uneven nine-patch, using the 3-1/2" green square, 4 red 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles, and 4 green 2" squares:

To review:
a) sew red rectangles on opposite sides of the green center
b) sew green squares on ends of 2 remaining red rectangles
c) sew strips with green squares on the ends to the remaining sides of the large green square

(This is sometimes known as "Puss in the Corner" on its own.)



2) Then you'll make another round around this center, this time using 4 more green 2" squares, and 4 background 2" x 6-1/2" rectangles.  Again, sew background rectangles on opposite sides of the center block, add green squares on the ends of the other background rectangles, and sew those new strips to the remaining sides of the center block.

This is beginning to build what is called a "chain"--those green squares forming a diagonal line of green.







3) For the final round, first do the following piecing:
a) sew a red rectangle on opposite ends of the 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles, to make 4 long strips
b) on two of the strips from above, sew 2" green squares on opposite ends

4) Sew a strip from step 3a  to opposite ends of the block from Step 2:

5) Finally, add the last 2 strips, from step 3b, to the other two sides of the block.

The squares in the corners are also known as cornerstones, especially when you use them when putting borders onto quilts.   If using cornerstones when putting on borders, you would piece them the same way:  sewing a strip on opposite sides of the quilt top, then sewing the cornerstones on two other strips and sewing them on the remaining sides.

But I digress...
Here are a couple settings of this block.    First, a straight setting:

This has a certain charm.  Take a look at it from a distance...









Here's a second choice, this time with the blocks set on point.  This setting allows several choices for alternating plain blocks--different colors, maybe even a nice print in the "plain" (unpieced) blocks in the center.  I like this setting the best, I think.