Woot!  It’s time again for yet another 52 Blocks Twisted Tradition Quilt Along Block!  I have to say…I may have misplaced my lovely sketch book with my 30+ design ideas for this quilt along…so I’m starting all over.  BUT on the good side – great new ideas have been popping into my head as I look through traditional blocks again.  I will be sharing one of those blocks with you today.

Rocky Road to Love Block Tutorial for

52 Twisted Traditional Block Quilt Along

Finished Block Size – 12” x 12”

I twisted the traditional block ‘Rocky Road to Dublin’ for our next block. This twist is mostly about color choices but I do find it fun to pull out an unexpected image in a block – like a heart – simply by fabric placement. Enjoy!

Cutting Instructions

Yes – I am giving you quite a few ‘OR’ options for cutting. If you choose to go with more fabric cut you will have a scrappier block but you’ll have pieces you don’t use. They are still great to use for scraps or to even to use to make a second block.

Lights

12 – 2.5” squares
3 OR 4 – 5” squares (I used four – two squares of the middle fabric)

Darks (reds/pinks)
2 – 4 7/8” squares cut diagonally into 4 triangles OR 4 – 4 7/8” squares cut diagonally (discard 1 of each colored triangle): need 4 triangles total

4 – 2 7/8” squares cut diagonally into 8 triangles OR 8 – 2 7/8” squares cut diagonally (discard 1 of each colored triangle): need 8 triangles total

Mediums (blue/purple)

4 -2 ½” squares

Directions

We’ll be making basically three smaller blocks to make our one larger block.

First, we’re going to start by making three four patches. This is one of my FAVORITE methods for making four patches!

Place two 5-inch squares right sides together and sew a ¼ inch seam on both sides of the block.

Cut the block in half.

Iron out towards the darker of the two fabrics. You now have two rectangles – 4.5” x 5”.

Once again, place the fabrics right sides together. Abut the two center seams so they’ll match in the center when you’re done. Once again – sew a ¼ inch seam on both sides of the block.

Cut the block in half.

Iron to one side. You now have two 4.5” four patch squares.

Repeat this to make a total of three 4-patch blocks.

Now we’re going to make our heart blocks.

Take your two OR four 4 7/8” pink or red blocks and

cut them in half diagonally.

You will only need one of these triangles for each of the four heart blocks you’ll be making.

Take one OR two of the 2 7/8” red/pink squares and cut in half diagonally.

You will need two triangles for each of the four heart blocks. (8 total)

Sew the smaller triangles onto a background 2 ½” block to make a larger triangle.

You’ll have little ‘ears’ once the small triangles are added.

I used my rotary cutter and trimmed those ears off – makes for easier sewing but isn’t required.

Sew your two triangles together. Be careful as you’re now working with biased edges.

Repeat to make four ‘Heart’ blocks.

Next – let’s make two ‘bow tie’ bocks.

For these two blocks we need four background 2.5” squares and four medium print 2.5” squares. Draw a diagonal line on the four background squares.

Sew along the line you drew and trim one side of the triangles out.

You’ll be making four half square triangles. Iron toward the darker fabric.

Now take your four remaining 2.5” neutral squares and layout two bow-tie blocks like the ones shown above.

Sew them together.

And now – you have made three four patch blocks, four heart blocks and two bow-tie blocks. Place them on your design wall as shown above and sew them together into a nine-patch 12-inch block.

And there you have it – the Rocky Road to Love Block is done! Thanks for following along and I hope you enjoyed this block tutorial!

Get your FREE printable PDF of this block by heading to my craftsy store.  Don’t wait too long…after a month(4/19), the PDF will be $1.

I can’t wait to see what all your blocks look like!  Be sure to share you blocks and any projects you make using your blocks onto our flickr group: 52 Blocks Quilt Along

Instagram/Twitter Hashtag: #52bTT

Previous Blocks

• Block 1
  • Download the pattern ‘Square Dancing Whale’ Block for just $1.
• Block 2.
  • Download the pattern ‘Road Trip to California’ for just $1.
• Block 3.
  • Be sure to download the pattern ‘Homeward Bound Fish’ for just $1.
• Block 4.
  • Be sure to download the pattern ‘Flutterby Butterfly’ for just $1.
• Block 5.
  • Be sure to download the pattern “Sugar Fox” for just $1.
• Block 6.
  • Drunkard’s Owl
• Block 7.
  • Be sure to download the pattern “Heart Trick” for just $1.
• Block 8.
  • Be sure to download the pattern ‘Farmer’s Daughter’s New Neighborhood’ for just $1.
• Block 9.
  • Be sure to download the pattern “Apple Flagstone” while it’s free (until March 26th, 2014)
• Block 10.
  • Be sure to download the pattern “Lucky Clover Vision” while it’s free (until April 5th, 2014)
• Block 11
  • Flying Leaf Block

Stop back next Wednesday for another twisted traditional block tutorial!