from Sue McPeak!

To make it from the the 2.5 charm sqs. you have to cut each square into a diamond (actually a stretched diamond).  Then make your block (also a diamond) from 25 diamond charms.  This can be done quicker by stacking 6-8 squares, using a diamond template and rotary cutting...ie...stack and whack.  Once your diamond squares are cut....arranging to create the light/dark design is a matter of laying out, chain piecing into rows, and rows into diamond blocks.  It takes three diamond blocks to make one baby block.  Making the block requires inset sewing, but there are several quick method techniques that makes this eaiser.  I designed the quilt in Electric Quilt 3 which offers the baby block setting and got the overall pattern by rotating the blocks.  It is interesting to see the different secondary patterns that pop out.  With the scrap theme that the Y2K squares strongly promote....creating a planned overall pattern becomes increasingly more difficult.  However, some wonderful surprises might be the result of a random layout.  I haven't made this yet except in the virtual reality quilt world, but I may try a few blocks to see how it works. 

If you are interested in having the template printout, email me your postal addy, and I'll send it to you, or you can make the template by cutting 60 degree angles from the 2.5" square.  That's another whole math process, and if you are a math person it will be no problem.  I'm not very good at that part, and have to rely on my visual geomerty.  Usually work from the end result back to the beginning.  It would be eaiser for me to send you the template. LOL  

Ok, that's about it for the baby block quilt.  I bet you just got more than you bargained for....but would love to see you do this design.  I sure want to see a picture if you do.  Talk to you again......Sue McPeak