Basic techniques

Summer Rain, Piece-by-Piece

By Barbara McInnis

Constructing the Summer Rain block
1. Cut out all the pieces as described in the magazine and set them out on a flat surface.	2. Make up the required half-square triangles – as described in previous blocks.
3. Half-square triangles ready for pressing.	4. Press seams towards dark fabric.
5. Resulting half-square triangles – ready to place in the block.	6. Set out pieces according to the assembly plan in the magazine. Note the spare half-square triangle. Poor little thing!
7. Follow placement instructions as shown in assembly diagrams in magazine.	8. Study the assembly diagrams in the magazine and piece the patches accordingly. This is completed Patch B for example.
9. Here is pieced Patch B amongst its close relatives!	10. Press seams as you go. Press seams open if in doubt.
11. Patches A, B, C, D in first row and Patches E, F, G, H in second row have been pieced and put in their respective places in the block. In other words, they 'know their place!'.	12. …..and more pieced Patches are put in their place.
13. Yet more . . Ah, methinks I see an umbrella emerging from the 'melange' of patches! It's a posh umbrella you see.	14. Time to piece the top row.
15. Time to piece the second row.	16. Time to piece the third row. Gosh – this is just too easy-peasy for words!
17. All four rows are now pieced. Better hurry - it’s going to start raining again.	18. Stitching the rows together. Start with rows 1 and 2. Press seams open.
19. Heading for the last round-up!	20. Oh dear! Is this an umbrella or a flying saucer about to land? Where’s ET?
21. Ah, 'tis an umbrella with a wide satin-stitched handle. Narrow binding might make an effective handle.	Ooh, just in time – it's raining!