@BrendaP and anyone else that could be remotely interested.
The pattern you see on top of the folded (in quarters) 15" + square of fabric is just used to cut the 64 pieces for each block, you literally slice through the paper and fabric ... it bears no relation to the final layout of the block.
AGS's take on the elongated block completely baffles me ... She suggests cutting the top and bottom large trapezoid 1/2" wider than the normal 1 1/2" width (of all the trapezoids).
This makes no sense to me whatsoever (But who the hell am I to question a renowned quilter and author of P&Q books???)
This is MY thinking .... Im doing a 5 x 5 layout.
1st row RED centre square,
2nd row WHITE centre square,
3rd row RED centre square,
4th row WHITE centre square
5th row RED centre square
I want to emphasise the white in this so ...
1st row half block top and bottom
2nd row 5 full blocks
3rd row half block top and bottom
4th row 5 full blocks
5th row half block top and bottom
AGS posted this pic on Craftsy for me and another girl who have flipped the layout to make it easier for us to work out the number of blocks (her pic had 49 blocks so I have cropped this to my size)
And you can see that the half blocks are chopped through the MIDDLE of the complete block not the top or bottom...
So WHY do you need to elongate the top and bottom trapezoid??? You are just going to sew those as per normal with a 1/4" seam to the last full block??? Arent you???
My thinking is you have to sacrifice a near half block in order to get a proper half block. I imagine someone clever could build half a block, but that someone is not me and they are quite easy and almost relaxing to make and Im sure I could do something with the excess bits sooooo ....
Linky in case of invisibubble pics