Machine Piecing Prairie Queen

12 Inch Finished Size

You could use the same directions for hand piecing just use the templates with the ¼” seam allowance included or try machine piecing this way.

Machine piecing instructions for the Prairie Queen block include paper piecing the four corner units.  The corner unit template is in a PDF file which you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print.  If you do not have the reader installed, use the link on the BOM page to download this useful program.

For those of you who haven't done any paper piecing, good instructions can be found at either The Foundation Piecers Web Site or on Christine Thresh's site.  Both locations have text and image instructions.  Another good instruction source would be any of Carol Doak's books on paper piecing.

If you own the Corner Cutter tool the cuts are given below. 

A = White         

B = Light Gray  

 C = Dark Gray    

Prairie Queen has three color values.  Use the drawing at the left as a color value guide (note the letters describe the color value not a specific template).

Choose three fabrics and label them with these letters.

                          A = lightest

                          B = medium

                          C = darkest               

Cutting instructions:

From Fabric - A - for the paper piecing pattern have a piece ~ 8" x 18" or more

                               cut   4 rectangles 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

                               cut   8 square 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

           -OR -                  If you are using the Corner Cutter tool cut 1 square

                                      5 1/4" x 5 1/4" instead of the 4 rectangles and cut the

                                      4 squares 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" (this makes four Flying

                                      Geese units

From Fabric - B - cut   1 square 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"

                              cut   4 rectangles 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

                              cut   8 squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" 

          - OR -                  If you are using the Corner Cutter tool cut 1 square

                                      5 1/4" x 5 1/4" instead of the 4 rectangles and cut the

                                      4 squares 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" (this makes four Flying

                                      Geese units)

From Fabric - C - for the paper piecing pattern have a piece of fabric ~ 6 1/2" x 18" or more

Assembly:

1.    Assemble the eight flying geese units.  Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 8 - A - and   - B -  2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares.

2.   Place a - A - square right sides together on the left side of each of the - B - rectangles with the diagonal line drawn on the 2 1/2" square running from the center side to the center top of the rectangle unit.  Sew a needle's width to the outer side of your drawn line to compensate for the thickness of the fabric and thread.  Trim away the outer triangle (two layers), open and press toward the light fabric to control bulk.  Repeat this step with a 2 1/2" square placed on the right side of the each rectangle.   

      Make 4.   If you have the Corner Cutter tool, make the four - A - B - units following the instructions provided with the tool.

3.   Place a - B - square right sides together on the left side of each of the - A - rectangles with the diagonal line drawn on the 2 1/2" square running from the center side to the center top of the rectangle unit.  Sew a needle's width to the outer side of your drawn line to compensate for the thickness of the fabric and thread.  Trim away the outer triangle (two layers), open and press toward the medium fabric to control bulk.  Repeat this step with a 2 1/2" square placed on the right side of the each rectangle.

      Make 4.   If you have the Corner Cutter tool, make the four - B- A - units following the instructions provided with the tool.

4.   Assemble the 4 flying geese patches.  There are now four units of - A - B - fabric and four units of - B - A - fabric.  Sew them together into 4 patches that look like this. 

5.   Assemble the four paper pieced patches.  You can use the paper as it comes from the printer or trace (or make multiple patterns at once by sewing with your unthreaded machine) on a transparent paper following all the lines including the outer seam allowance.  Copiers distort or change the size of the pattern, copies from originals are usually ok, but do not make copies from copies.  Printers are less apt to, but check the size of the patterns.  The patterns should measure 4 1/2" square unfinished.  Hint #1:  Templates # A, B and C from the hand piecing instructions make great fabric cutting guides for estimating the size chunk of fabric needed to paper piece these patches.  Hint #2:  Cut the light elongated triangle shapes two at a time from fabric layered right sides together and you will automatically get the reversal (mirror image) needed to make this patch. 

6.    Sew pieces in this order  Place fabric piece #1 right side up on the back (unmarked) side of the paper.  Place fabric piece #2 right sides together on the #1 fabric.  Check to see that it will cover the entire triangle and seam allowance when flipped into place.  Pin through all layers to hold in place and sew this seam from the right side of the paper on the line.  Fold the paper pattern out of the way and trim the seam allowance to 1/4".  Press the fabric flat.  Repeat this exact process with the light fabric pieces # 3 and #4.  Cut the # 4 piece from a generously sized square.  Trim the completed squares to the seam allowance lines.  Leave the paper on until t he block is assembled.  Make a total of 4 paper pieced patches.   

7.   Layout and assemble the block.  Press in the directions of the arrows as shown: