New York Beauty – layout 3 (Week 1) – Lisa's Quilting Passion

The Island Batik Ambassador’s challenge for June 2022 is the New York Beauty Block. The easiest of the three New York Beauty blocks is Layout
3, for blocks 4 and block 5.

While creating this quilt, I wanted to have different looks for the blocks, and decided on different levels for each. If you are not completely sure of how doing curves will work, this is the simplest of the blocks, and you can use

Pick fabrics that work together, however, are not too close in color that you lose the detail.

Templates/Paper Piecing
You will need to download and print the Templates and Paper Piecing or Legal Paper Piecing.

At least the Paper Piecing sheet needs to be printed on a piece of Freezer paper. You can purchase this in the grocery store, where you get foil. I cut out a sheet at 8 1/2″ x 14″ (legal size) so I could print without having to piece the paper together. You can download the size you want.

Print on the dull side (not the shiny wax side).

You can do these instructions without the paper piecing, you can cut all the pieces to the exact size of the templates, and then piece together, just watch your seams, making sure 1/4″.

Cutting
Using the templates, cut out the pieces needed. Piece B will need to be combined from the two pages, each straight side should measure 9 1/2″ from seam allowance to seam allowance.

Piece layout and cutting pieces
(also on Templates)

The triangle pieces for the middle do not need to be cut exactly if you are doing the paper piecing, as you will trim as you go if needed. I cut mine a little large. If you are going to just piece together, you will need to trim to size.

Block 5 – one block needed

Fabric I used in this block from the Savannah collection
○ Center – Urchin
○ Triangles 1 – 4805
○ Triangles 2 – 4885
○ Outside – 6521

Step 1 – Paper Piecing

Trim the Paper piecing piece, it does not need to be exact, we will trim after we sew the pieces together.

Fold along each of the center lines between the shading. We will be sewing along the folds, to reduce having to print multiple copies, or to pull off paper. You will be able to iron the pieces as we go.

Fold on lines between triangles (towards the printed side)

You can start at one end, or in the middle, your preference. I decided to start with one end and work my way across.

The first piece, you will iron on to the paper piece, with fabric back against the paper. The rest of the pieces will be right sides together.

Iron on first 1/2 triangle with backside to paper

After ironing the fabric to the paper, fold back on the fold line, and trim to 1/4″

Flip over, still folded, and place the next fabric piece down with right sides together. Make sure to match the direct of the paper layout. (opposite of the previous piece.)

Add next piece, making sure fronts together

Then holding together, flip over, and go to sewing machine and stitch right along the fold of the paper (not on it).

Press open. Making sure to not run your iron over the shiny side of the paper, as it may stick to your iron.

Repeat the process, switching back and forth between the pieces and the direction. Fold next paper fold back, and trim the fabric to piece to 1/4″.

Flip over, and attach next triangle piece. Making sure the opposite direction.

Gently flip over, and go to sewing machine and stitch along fold of paper.

Continue going back and forth with the pieces, until you finish the row.

NOTE: The first and last pieces will be different pieces. (D & E)

Once you have attached all the triangle pieces across. Press again to set the seams.

Then trim the strip to the dotted outline, 1/4″ from the points of the triangles.

Carefully remove the paper from the back.

Note: If you start and pull with the direction of the paper pressed. This reduces the pressure on the stitching, resulting in less pulled stitches. Work from top to bottom to top to bottom along the piece.

Block Layout

Layout the pieces with Piece A (center) and Piece B (outside).

(Opps – took picture of backside of triangles) – Otherwise layout the same

Now match the center piece to the pieced strip, matching the center of the pieces and the edges. Sew 1/4″ seam allowance.

Note: I found that if you stitch on the pieced side, you can watch for the points to make sure that you don’t go over them.

Press the fabric towards the center piece (piece A) as it reduces the thickness. To sew multiple of these blocks together, you may want to switch and press towards the pieced strip, to make it where you can next the pieces, you may need to snip the seams to press easily.

Attach the outside piece (Piece B), matching the center and outside edges. Again, if you watch the points of the triangles, you can keep from losing those as you sew together.

Press the fabric towards the outside piece (Piece B) as it reduces the thickness, again, depending your layout, you may want to switch directions as needed.

Square the block to 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ (finishes at 9″ x 9″)

You have finished block 5, there is only one on this layout.

Next.. Block 4

Using the same templates, you will create three more of this layout using a second set of fabrics.

Block 4 – quantity 3

Fabric I used in this block from the Savannah Collection
○ Center – 5561
○ Triangles 1 – 6558
○ Triangles 2 – 3480
○ Outside – 6300

Repeat the steps for Block 5, three more times.

Only difference is to press the seams for one of the three blocks different than the other two, so they will next together when you sew the blocks together.