It's time for another extra block for the Harry Potter Sew Along! There are now officially more extra blocks than original blocks! They're so much fun to draw, and I keep getting suggestions. (and help from Kay with sketching some of them!) One such suggestion was the Hogwarts Express! 




Off I went to google what the front of it looked like, to try to figure out how to make it fit on an 18" block. It went through several variations, some of them hideous, before ending up here.

This is the Wikipedia pic that I used for inspiration.




I have to say, there are quite a few clip & flip corners in this one, BUT if you take it one small section and one step at a time, it's not too hard, I promise! It's all straight seams, just take your time, and you'll get there.

Here's how it goes together. 🠟

First, the cutting. It's a lot of pieces but don't be discouraged! When I diced it up, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There are only four big sections.




Fabric A (background):
(4) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(3) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)
(2) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" (***)
(2) 1 1/2 x 4"
(1) 1 1/2 x 8 1/2"
(2) 2 x 2 1/2"
(2) 3 1/2 x 4 1/2"
(2) 3 1/2 x 5 1/2"
(2) 4 1/2 x 5 1/2"

Fabric B (dark gray):
(4) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(6) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)
(1) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" (***)
(1) 2 x 2 1/2"
(1) 2 x 3 1/2"
(4) 2 1/2" sq.
(2) 4 x 7"


Fabric C (dark red):
(3) 1 x 2 1/2" (>>)
(2) 1 x 3 1/2" (>>>)
(10) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(2) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)
(2) 2 x 2 1/2"
(2) 2 1/2" sq. (##)
(2) 2 1/2 x 4"
(1) 4 x 6 1/2"


Fabric D (darker yellow):
(1) 1 1/2 x 6 1/2"
(2) 3 1/2" sq.


Fabric E (black):
(2) 1 x 1 1/2" (>)
(10) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(2) 1 1/2 x 2" (#)
(3) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" (***)
(2) 1 1/2 x 5 1/2"
(2) 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
(2) 3" sq.


Fabric F (lighter yellow):
(2) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(1) 2 1/2" sq. (##)


Fabric G (gold):
(1) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)
(2) 2" sq.


Fabric H (white):
(1) 3 1/2" sq.







Part 1:

Right Lower Clip & Flip

1. Place square at lower end or right lower corner of rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.



~Using the above method, a 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric B and a 4 1/2 x 5 1/2" rect. of Fabric A-long edge at the top, make a right lower corner clip & flip unit.

~On this same unit, using a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric C, repeat this right lower corner clip & flip technique.


Left Lower Clip & Flip

1. Place square at lower end or left lower corner of rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from left upper to right lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.


~Using the above method, a 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric B and a 4 1/2 x 5 1/2" rect. of Fabric A-long edge at the top, make a left lower corner clip & flip unit.

~On this same unit, using a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric C, repeat this left lower corner clip & flip technique.


Double Upper Corners

1. Place a square at the left end or left upper corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or right upper corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.










Part 2:

~Using the right lower corner clip & flip method shown in Part 1, a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric E, and a 3 1/2 x 4 1/2" rect. of Fabric A-long edge at the top, make one right lower corner clip & flip unit.


Left Lower/Right Upper Double

1. Place a square at the left end or lower left corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or upper right corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.




Left Upper/Right Lower Double

1. Place a square at the left end or upper left corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper corner to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or lower right corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from right upper corner to left lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.















Part 3:

~Using the right lower corner clip & flip method shown in Part 1, a 1 1/2" sq. Fabric E and a 3 1/2 x 5 1/2" rect. of Fabric A-short edge at the top, make one right lower corner clip & flip unit.

~Repeat using a 3" sq. of Fabric E and a 4 x 7" rect. of Fabric B-short edge at the top.










Part 4:

~Using the method shown in Part 1, (2) 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric C, and a 3 1/2" sq. of Fabric D, make one double upper corners clip & flip unit. Flip this unit around, and using (2) more 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric C, repeat process so that all four corners are clipped and flipped.

~Repeat for total of two of these units.










Block Assembly: Assemble Parts 1-4 as shown below. You now have an 18 1/2" (18" finished) Hogwarts Express!




Are you going to do a Hogwarts Express block? Let me know how it goes if you do. It looks really complicated, but the clip & flip corners are pretty straight forward. The scant quarter inch seam is really important here. The more seams there are, the more important it becomes. Boy did I learn that the hard way when I started quilting! If you survived the Flying Ford Anglia block, you can for sure do this one! 

If you have a vote for which one I should post next, leave it in a comment. The extra blocks that are drawn up but haven't been posted yet are at the bottom of the sew along page *HERE*. I'm leaning toward the three Quidditch rings. Something with fewer pieces after the Hogwarts Express. If you post any blocks on social media, be sure to use #harrypotterquilt and #hpqal2019 so we can all see them! 




I hope your holiday planning is sailing along smoothly and that you're staying warm wherever you are! Thanks for stopping in to read today. Be back soon!

Happy Stitching!

xoxo
 

For a downloadable PDF of this post, click *HERE*.