Summer Sampler 2018 - Castillo block

Well, hello there! After taking last week off, we're back in business today with another Summer Sampler 2018 block! This one is called "Castillo" and it's by Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts.

I adore this block! Faith based it on Castillo de San Marcos in Florida (as seen from above), which makes for a really interesting, unusual shape in a quilt block.

As you may remember, Summer Sampler 2018 is a quilt-along in which all of the blocks are inspired by travel destinations. So let's put another star on the Summer Sampler 2018 map—now we've added Florida to our list of destinations. Want to go with us on our Summer Sampler road trip? Click here to get the pattern!

This week's tip: When you're paper-piecing, be sure to press well between every seam! I know it's tempting when paper piecing to just finger press, but for the most accurate piecing, it really is important to press those seams flat with a nice hot iron. Here's why: If your seams aren't pressed completely flat, when you go to trim the units, that not-pressed-quite-well-enough seam will actually change the size of your completed unit. Which, when you're sewing together strange angles like we have in this block, is enough to mess with how your seams line up when you put two units together. So press 'em nice and flat, trim 'em up, and I promise you'll get the most accuracy that's possible!

And that's another block down! See you next Monday for block number 9! Remember, it's not too late to join us—click here to get on the Summer Sampler bandwagon! And visit #summersampler2018 to see everyone else's gorgeous blocks!