Five Patch Quilt Block Directions

A quick and easy quilt block, the Monkey Wrench is constructed using rotary cutting and speed piecing techniques.

Help, I need a quick review of Rotary Cutting and Speed Piecing.

Note: all seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise specified.

Fabric

fabric A

fabric B

One background fabric

Cutting the fabric

	one 4-7/8" x 9-3/4" rectangle of fabric A
	one 4-7/8" x 9-3/4" rectangle of background fabric
	one 2-1/2" strip of fabric B at least 11" long
	one 2-1/2" strip of background fabric at least 11" long
	one 2-1/2" square of fabric A

Piecing the block

	1) On the wrong side of the 4-7/8" x 9-3/4" background fabric rectangle, lightly mark a line 4-7/8" from the short side of the rectangle. This should divide the retangle into two equal parts. Next, mark a diagonal line through the center of the two squares as shown. Instead of drawing on your fabric, you can also use Easy Piecing Triangle Templates
	2) Take the 4-7/8" x 9-3/4" background fabric rectangle and place on top of the 4-7/8" x 9-3/4" fabric A rectangle, right sides together and edges matched. Holding the two rectangles together, sew 1/4" from the marked diagonal lines as shown.
	3) Cut the sewn rectangles apart on the marked line as shown. Press the seam allowance toward fabric A. This will form four half-square triangle units that should measure 4-1/2" square.
	4) Piece the 2-1/2" strip of fabric B to the 2-1/2" strip of background fabric using a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seam allowance toward the fabric B strip.
	5) Using the rotary cutter, first straighten the short edge of the strip sewn together in Step 4. After straighten the edge, cut four 2-1/2" rectangles from the sewn together strips. The completed rectangles should measure 2-1/2" x 4-1/2".
	6) Take two of the rectangles completed in Step 5 and piece together with the 2-1/2" square of fabric A as shown to complete the center of the Monkey Wrench block. Press the seam allowances toward the Step 5 rectangles. This completed unit should measure 2-1/2" x 10-1/2".
	7) Take two of the half-square triangle units completed in Step 3 and piece together with one of the Step 5 rectangles as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the Step 5 rectangle. Repeat with the two remaining Step 3 half-square triangle units and the remaining Step 5 rectangle. This will form the top and the bottom rows of the Monkey Wrench quilt block. These units should measure 4-1/2" x 10-1/2" when completed.
	8) Piece together the units completed in Steps 6 and 7 as shown to complete the Monkey Wrench quilt block. The completed block should measure 10-1/2" square which includes a 1/4" seam allowance on all sides.

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