Welcome to Day 6 of the Moda Bake Shop Countdown to Christmas!  My name is Jen Daly and I'm so happy to be here today to share my "Reindeer Games" block—so named by my daughter because of the checkerboard center.  Reindeer Games is a variation on my favorite quilt block, the Sawtooth Star, and I just love how using two different red fabrics gives this block a layered, three-dimensional look.

This block finishes at 6" or 12" square.

6" Block	12" Block
From white solid fabric, cut: (2) 3” squares, (4) 2" squares, (4) 1½" squares	From white solid fabric, cut: (2) 4¾” squares, (4) 3½" squares, (4) 2½" squares
From red solid fabric, cut: (2) 3" squares, (5) 1½" squares	From red solid fabric, cut: (2) 4¾” squares, (5) 2½" squares
From red print, cut: (4) 2½” squares	From red print, cut: (4) 4” square

The following instructions are for the 6" block.  The 12" block is made exactly the same way, but the 12" block patch sizes are listed in the brackets [ ].

Make Split Quarter Square Triangles (Split QSTs)

1.  On the wrong side of a white 3" square [4¾" square] use a pencil to lightly draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.  Layer the marked white 3" square [4¾" square] atop a solid red 3" square [4¾" square] with right sides together.

2. Stitch the pair together a scant ¼" from either side of the drawn line.  Press to set seams.

3.  Cut the unit in half on the drawn line to make 2 half square triangle units ("HSTs").

 

4.  Press the seam allowances toward the red and trim the HST units to measure 2½" x 2½" [4" x 4"] unfinished.

 

5.  On the wrong side of 2 red print 2½" squares [4" squares] use a pencil to lightly draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.  Layer the 2 marked red print 2½" squares [4" squares] atop the white/red half square triangle units with right sides together.  Make sure that the lines drawn on the red print squares are perpendicular to the seam between the white and red triangles on the HSTs.

 

6.  Stitch the pairs together a scant ¼" from either side of the drawn line.  Press to set seams.

 

7.  Cut the units in half on the drawn lines to make 4 split quarter square triangle units.

 

8.  Press seam allowances toward the red print and trim the 4 split QSTs to 2" x 2" [3½" x 3½"] unfinished.  Note that you'll end up with 2 split QSTs that are the mirror of the other 2.

 

9.  Repeat with remaining white and red solid 3" squares [4¾" squares] and red print 2½" squares [4" squares] to make 8 split QSTs—4 with the white in one quarter and 4 with the white in an adjacent, or mirror, quarter.

 

Make Checkerboard (9-Patch) Center

1. Lay out 4 white and 5 red solid 1½" squares [2½" squares] in 3 rows of 3 squares each as shown.

 

2.  Join the pieces in each row, pressing seam allowances toward the red solid.  Join the rows together, pressing seam allowances open, to make a checkerboard center measuring 3½" x 3½" [6½" x 6½"] unfinished.

 

Assemble Block

1. Join together 1 split QST and 1 mirror split QST as shown to make a split QST pair.  Press seam allowances open.

 

2.  Repeat to make 4 split QST pairs.

 

3.  Sew a white 2" square [3½" square] to opposite ends of 2 split QST pairs to make a split QST row.  Press seam allowances toward the white square.

 

4.  Lay out 2 split QST rows, checkerboard center, and 2 split QST pairs in 3 rows as shown.

 

5.  Sew a split QST pair to the left and right sides of the checkerboard center.  Press seam allowances toward the checkerboard.

 

6.  Sew a split QST row to the top and bottom of the unit from step 5.  Press seam allowances toward the checkerboard.

 

This block finishes at 6" or 12" square.

If you share your blocks on Instagram or Facebook, please tag me @JenDalyQuilts—I'd love to see what you come up with!  And if you're looking for a little extra Christmas sewing to get you into the holiday spirit, check out my Deck the Halls QAL, it's not too late to join us!

Jen Daly

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