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Autumn A Quilt Block from

Tales of First Ladies
at the White House By Eleanor Burns
About the Block
The pattern was given its name by Mabel Obenchain of Famous
Features, a syndicated, mail-order source that began in the 1940’s.
The pattern was also simply called White House by Nancy Cabot in
1937. At the time, Eleanor Roosevelt was in the White House with
her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Fabric Selection
Select four color families for Corner Squares, Triangle Squares,
and Nine-Patches.

Learn More about Eleanor's Book

Tales of First Ladies at www.quiltinaday.com

This Yardage Makes Two 12" Blocks

Multiple Lights
Nine-Patches (10) 1½" x 7"
Center Triangle Squares (4) 4" squares
Setting Squares (8) 3½" squares
First Color Family
Nine-Patches (2) 1½" x 7"
Center Triangle Squares (1) 4" square
Corner Squares (2) 3½" squares
Second Color Family
Nine-Patches (2) 1½" x 7"
Center Triangle Squares (1) 4" square
Corner Squares (2) 3½" squares
Third Color Family
Nine-Patches (2) 1½" x 7"
Center Triangle Squares (1) 4" square
Corner Squares (2) 3½" squares
Fourth Color Family
Nine-Patches (2) 1½" x 7"
Center Triangle Squares (1) 4" square
Corner Squares (2) 3½" squares
 Making Eight Nine-Patches 5. Flip strips right sides together, and assembly-
line sew.
6. Set seams with dark on top. Open, and press
1. Assembly-line sew six dark strips to six toward dark.
light strips with ¼" seam.
7. Layer strips on cutting mat. Trim left edge.
Cut each strip set into four 1½" pieces with
12" Block
6" Square Up Ruler. Optional: Cut with
1½" x 7"
Shape Cut Plus.

12" Block
1½" pieces

12" Block – Width should be 3H".

Correct seam allowance if necessary
based on your own sewing machine.
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

45˚ 45˚

2. Set seam by pressing with iron with dark 4

60˚
4
Cut (4) 1½" pieces 4

from each set.

on top. 5

5 4 3 2 1
5 5

5 4 3

5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1

1 1 1 1

2
3. Open, and press toward dark.
2 2 2

Clip apart. 3 3 3 3

45˚ 45˚

4
60˚
4 4
60˚
4
Cut (4) 1½" pieces
5 5 5 5 from each set.
5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3

4. Divide into sets. 1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3
45˚ 45˚

4 4 4
60˚

5 5 5

5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3

5 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2 1

1 1 1 1

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2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3
45˚ facebook.com/quiltinaday
45˚

4 4 4 4

for more Free Patterns!

60˚ 60˚
Make two sets with Make four sets with
5 5 5 5
dark/light/dark.5 4 3 2 1
light/dark/light. 5 4 3 2 1

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Sewing Blocks Together
1. Stack eight Nine-Patches. Assembly-line 4. Assembly-line sew third stack.
sew first two stacks together.

Place eight in each stack.

5. Set seams with light/dark/light

on top.

6. Open, and press toward

light/dark/light.

2. Set seams with light/dark/light on top.

7. Measure. Sliver trim edges if necessary.

12" Block
3½" square

3. Open, and press toward light/dark/light.

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 Making Eight Triangle Squares 12" Block
Place 3½" red dashed line on 6½" Triangle
1. Place four 4" light and four 4" dark squares Square Up Ruler on stitching line. Center
right sides together, with light on top. ruler on patch. Trim two sides.

12" Block
4" squares

Red dashed 3½" line

and stitching line are
on top of each other.

6. Set seam with dark on top, open, and press.

Pair four darks with four lights. Seam is behind dark. Trim tips.

2. Draw diagonal line corner to corner.

7. Make two stacks of four different triangle

squares, one for each block.
3. Assembly-line sew ¼" seam from both sides
of diagonal line.

4. Cut in half on line.

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5. Square to 3½" with 6½" Triangle
Square Up Ruler. for the latest products and promotions
from Quilt in a Day and Eleanor Burns
12" Block
3½" squares
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Sewing Blocks Together Sewing Remaining Rows
1. Lay out blocks. Work on one block at a Follow directions closely so Triangle Square
time. seams lay flat.
2. Flip second vertical row right sides 1. Turn block.
together to first vertical row. Stack
2. Flip right row to row on left, right
patches from top to bottom.
sides together.

3. At seams, push top seams down, and under-

neath seams up. Sew.

3. Assembly-line sew.
Do not clip apart.
Open.
4. Continue to stack
and assembly-line
sew, carefully locking
Triangle Squares.

4. Flip second row to third row, right sides

together. At seams, push top seams up, and
underneath seams down. Sew.

5. Do not clip apart.

Push top seam up, and

underneath seam down.

5. Flip third row to fourth row, right sides

together. At seams, push top seams down, and
underneath seams up. Sew.
5
 Swirling Center Seam
1. At center seam, clip connecting thread. 5. Press center flat with your finger, and swirl
See red loop. seams around center clockwise.

Center will pop open and make

a little pinwheel.

2. Remove three stitches in seam allowance. 6. Press remaining vertical seams

See red thread. away from center.
7. Measure block.

12" Block
12½" square

If your block is not designated size, you need

to make an adjustment in your seam allow-
ance and resew blocks.

3. Turn block over and remove three stitches

in seam allowance.

4. Place on pressing mat wrong side up. Push

top vertical seam to right, and bottom ver-
tical seam to left. Center will pop open and
make a little pinwheel.

You can find 6" block directions and full

quilt instructions in Tales of First Ladies,
as well as similar traditional blocks
done the Eleanor Burns way!
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