Oh my gosh! I am so happy with how this project came out! I have never been one for fussy cutting, because, well, it’s fussy… But I think I might be a new convert after this!
It all started with this ice cream cone fabric. I saw that and just had to figure out what to do with it :) I already had this cute multi-colored stripe in my stash from a million years ago (you guys know I hoard stripes like I have a problem). I had about 2/3 yds of each fabric.
My new 60-degree Tiny ruler was the perfect size to cut out those ice cream cones. This little ruler can cut 1½”, 2½”, and 3½” diamonds. I used the whole size of the ruler and centered the cones as best I could to cut out 3½” diamonds.
I had to be kind of choosy because I couldn’t cut out every single one. When fussy cutting, you have to isolate the motif or image that you want and that might mean cutting into surrounding motifs making them unusable. I managed to turn this ⅔ yds piece of fabric into Swiss cheese to make a total of 24 ice cream cone diamonds.
Now for the background. I cut 3½” strips from the striped fabric. Notice the stripe runs the length of the strip. I cut a couple of strips each of the exact same stripe section so I would have enough to cut enough matching triangles for each block.
With the same Tiny ruler, cut 3½” triangles. Using the triangle lines on the ruler, align the 3½” line along the bottom of the strip and the flat tip at the top of the strip. Cut on both sides of the ruler, then rotate the ruler 180 degrees to make the next cut.
From that same strip, you will get two very different-looking triangles. The top cuts get paired up for one block and the bottom cuts get paired up for another block.
Just look at that layout! This is the point where I started to get excited! I laid out six of my ice cream cone diamonds and twelve matching triangles.
Here you can see all four blocks laid out. Because my stripe had so many different colors, the background of each block looked quite different.
Stack up all the units for each block like this: the diamond in the middle with a stack of six triangles on each side.
Sew the triangles in place, press the first seam in towards the diamond and the second seam out towards the triangle.
All six units are laid out and ready to sew together. These go together into two halves, with three triangle units in each half.
Press the seams between the units open, before adding the next triangle unit. Now, sew the two halves together with one final seam up the middle. Press that seam open.
Pressing the seams open on blocks like this helps to eliminate bulk from the center making this a very flat block.
I made all four blocks and then sewed them to each other along one flat edge. I love the look of this zig-zag shape, so I decided early on that I wasn’t going to fill it in with another fabric. This requires binding those peaks and valleys, and that isn’t hard to do. You’ll find some helpful pointers I shared in my YouTube video on Binding Inside Angles here.
I quilted this with my typical straight lines ¼” apart and bound it in a lime green stripe. Now, isn’t that the cutest summer table runner?!
Happy Sunday everyone, and Happy National Ice Cream Day!
Krista