  Electric Fan and Big Dipper The first block is called Electric Fan, which takes three colors. Below is the Big Dipper, which only uses two colors. For a six inch finished Electric Fan block you will need: (different sizes below) From red cut one 4 3/16 inch square, which you will cut into quarters diagonally From blue cut one 4 3/16 inch square, which you will cut into quarters diagonally From white cut two 4 3/16 inch squares, which you will cut into quarters diagonally Yes 3/16ths is an odd measurement and some rulers don't even have 16ths on them. Cut what some people call a scant measurement, or between an eighth and a quarter on your ruler) |
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Place a blue and white triangle right sides together and together sew on the short side. Repeat with the remaining blue and white triangles. Be sure to sew them all on the same side so all four are alike.
Now put the white and red triangles right sides together and sew them on the short side. I suggest you lay the first red & white unit and a blue & white unit together just to make sure you've sewn them together correctly.
(Because of the bias edges, it's not easy to take them apart without stretching them.)
Trim these squares to to 3 1/2 inches if needed. And then you can sew them together into pairs, make sure they are all going in the right direction. And then finish your block, it should measure 6 1/2 inches.
| Big Dipper Here's another variation of thisl block using just two colors. This block has even more names: Big Dipper, Bow Ties, Envelope Quilt, Hour Glass, Pork and Beans, The Whirling Blade and Yankee Puzzle To make this block you need two blue 4 3/16 inch squares, which you will cut into quarters diagonally and two white cut two 4 3/16 inch squares, which you will cut into quarters diagonally. Follow the same directions as above, but since you only have two colors it will go even faster. Just remember you have bias edges to handle them carefully so you don't stretch them out of shape. |
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(Remember, a 16th is a scant measurement, or between an eighth and a quarter on your ruler)
For a three inch finished Electric Fan cut your squares 2 11/16 inches, which you will cut in quarters diagonally
For a nine inch finished Electric Fan cut your squares 5 11/16 inches, which you will cut in quarter diagonally
For a twelve inch finished Electric Fan cut your squares 7 3/16 inches, which you will cut in quarters diagonally
For a fifteen inch finished Electric Fan cut your squares 8 11/16 inches, which you will cut into quarters diagonally.
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Updated November 2, 2022
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