Merry Christmas!  I'm Carole, blogging at From My Carolina Home.  Today I have a Candy Twist Block to share.  I used to get these cinnamon candies at the local five-and-dime when I was a kid, but only at holiday time.  This block is inspired by that memory, and like the others in Moda's Countdown to Christmas, finishes at 6 inches square.  Moda provided the fabrics in a modern color scheme of rich red polka dot with snow white Bella Solid, and a light lime green gingham check.  Use up your scraps, or cut from fat quarters acquired for some of the previous block designs in the Countdown to Christmas event.

Red print - cut two 3-1/2-inches squares, and one 2-1/2-inch square
Green print - cut two 3-inch squares
White solid - cut two 3-1/2-inch squares, and three 3-inch squares

Draw diagonal lines on the back side of all of the white squares 1/4-inch away from a center diagonal line.  I use a special ruler for this, shown in the picture below the next one.  (Alternatively, you can draw one diagonal line from corner to corner, and sew 1/4-inch away from the line on each side.)  Match the red 3-1/2-inch squares with the same size white squares. Chain sew on each line, creating four half square triangle units in red and white. You'll only use three of them.

Cut apart and press to the red side. Match two of the HSTs with red to white. Draw a line perpendicular to the sewn line. Sew across the seam on the drawn lines to create two quarter-square units, in a red hourglass design.

Using the third red/white half square triangle, match with a white 3-inch square, with the diagonal drawn lines perpendicular to the sewn line on the HST. Sew on the drawn lines to create two units with a red quarter square triangle and three sections white.

Match each green print square with a white 3-inch square, and in the same manner, make four HSTs. Cut apart and press to the green.

When you are done with these steps, you'll have the units pictured below. Square up all the units to 2-1/2-inches square.

Arrange the units in this configuration.

Sew in rows to make the final block.

This block finishes at 6" x 6".

Finished and ready to add to your sampler of Countdown to Christmas blocks.

If you like the Candy Twist block, making a lot makes a fun quilt. Here's an idea of what 30 blocks would look like, turning each one 90 degrees from the one next to it.

Come visit my blog at FromMyCarolinaHome.com to see the holiday quilt along in progress, new holiday recipes, great crafting ideas, decorating and more for this season.  My next mystery quilt will begin in January.  From My Carolina Home is on Facebook too!  Happy Quilting and Merry Christmas!!

Carole Carter

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