Block of the Month
December-January

January's Block of the Month is called Dutchman's Puzzle. It is an easy block and just a little bit of extra effort will yield a pillow for the hospital from the trimmed triangles. Tone on Tone white is provided with the pattern. Select two shades of the same color from your stash and you are in business.

	From your fabric, cut four rectangles of each color measuring 6.5" x 3.5"
	From the tone or tone fabric provided, cut 16 squares measuring 3.5"
	To make your sewing more precise, it is recommended that you draw with pencil on the wrong side of the material a diagonal line that you can use to guide your sewing. If you plan to make the pillow, draw another parallel line 1/2" from the first one.
	With right sides together, line up the edges of the white square with one side of the 6.5" rectangle.
	Sew along the diagonal line and then another row of stitching 1/2" from the first. This will make it easy to create the pillow from these excess half square triangles.
	Trim between the two rows of stitching and set the trimmed portion aside for the pillow. Repeat these steps for the other side of the rectangle, making sure that the portion trimmed is always to the outside of the diagonal seam.
	Press all seams toward the color triangle and trim the 'ears' from the square made from the two triangles.
	Repeat these steps until you have constructed 8 rectangles - 4 of each shade. With right sides together, sew a rectangle of each shade together with the lighter shade positioned as shown.
	Be careful to use a 'scant' 1/4" seam. Verify each seam as you go and adjust as necessary. You will now have 4 6.5" blocks that will be sewn together.
	Show the four blocks together with a scant 1/4" seam in the orientation shown. Your single block should measure 12.5" square and will yield a finished block of 12" when set with others.
	Arrange the left over triangle squares in a pleasing pattern. Add a border or two and a back and voila - you've got a pillow to donate. Thank you to Marylynn Kleeman for this scrap saving idea!

Winner, Rose Shaw