Easy Eight Block

Today’s block is perfectly named. It couldn’t possibly be simpler to make, and when it’s done it looks exactly like the number 8 resting on its side. You start with a 6” square of background fabric. (No, not 6 1/2, just 6 inches.) Build a contrasting border around it using two 6x3 rectangles and two 11x3” rectangles. Press all the seams away from the center as you go. Then you take the resulting really boring square-within-a-square, and cut it into four equal parts. They should each be 5 1/2" square. Take the northeast and southwest quadrants and flip them 180 degrees. Sew all four patches together, and you have a 10” finished block! What I like best about it is that pressing the seams outward and turning half the block in on itself means all the seams will click together when you’re done. More than that, if you put these blocks together without sashing, they’ll all click, too!