Block of the Month
September October November December January February March April 1 April 2
Progressive Block Quilt
This year our BOM with take on a different format. First, you will make each block for yourself - the will be no winners. This will give each participant a chance to choose their own fabric, theme and colour scheme.
We will be making one different block per month and in the end will use them in our own original layout. The blocks can be combined into all types of sets – vertical or horizontal rows, with or without sashing, in medallion arrangements, with filler strips and/or blocks – the setting will be our challenge. Machine embroidery, photo transfers, embellishments – all are optional, the only limit is your imagination.
The finished blocks will be 12 inches squares, or any combination there or – 4-6 inch blocks, 9-4 inch blocks and so on. They will not be joined until the end – and that will be our challenge! By June 2009 we should all have a pieced and joined top to quilt over the summer.
*UPDATE* - All of the blocks have been handed out. Bring your completed top to the June 2009 meeting to show off!
April Block 2 – Double Pinwheel 12”
Cut two 6 7/8” squares for the large pinwheel (colour 1). Stack the squares and cut ONCE diagonally.
Cut one 7 ¼” square for the small pinwheel (colour 2) and one 7 ¼” square of the background (colour 3). Stack the small pinwheel square and the background square and cut diagonally BOTH ways.
With right sides together, sew one colour 2 to one colour 3 quarter square triangle on one short side. Use a scant ¼ inch seam and keep a light touch so as not to stretch the fabric. Repeat with all the quarter square triangles. Press seams towards the darker fabric.
With right sides together and matching centers, join on colour 1 triangle to the colour 2 and 3 quarter square triangle. Press seam to darker fabric. Square this unit to 6 ½” if needed. Repeat with the remaining triangles.
Piece these squares in the order shown on the diagram and press. Voila!
April Block 1 – Japanese Lantern
This pattern makes a 12” block. You will need three colours – dark, medium and light are the most effective – and a back ground fabric.
Cut twelve 2 ½” squares from the background fabric.
Cut two 2 ½” x 8 ½” rectangles from the light fabric for the top and bottom of the lantern.
Cut two 2 ½” x 12 ½” rectangles from EACH of the dark and the medium fabric from the lantern shade.
Sew a background 2 ½” square to each end of the light rectangles, right sides together, with a scant ¼” seam. Press seam allowances towards the rectangle. Make two units like this.
Place a background 2 ½” square, right sides together, on each end of a dark rectangle, outer edges aligned. Lightly mark the diagonal. Sew on this diagonal marking, then cut off the seam allowance and press towards the corner. Make two units like this, and then do the same for the remaining medium rectangles, using the diagram as a guide.
Piece the block, sewing together the rows in the order shown and matching seams.
Drunkard’s Path (Old Maid’s Puzzle) – 12” Block
Cut two 7 ¼” squares of colour 1 (background0
Cut one 7 ¼” square of colour 2
Cut one 7 ¼” square of colour 3
Cut four 4” circles of freezer paper.
Iron two circles onto the WRONG side of colour 1 fabric. Iron one each on the WRONG side of colour 2 and colour 3 fabric. Cut out around the circles, leaving about 1/8” for turning. Fold over edges and glue.
Press the 7 ¼” squares into fourths then fold the cut circles the same way.
Center the colour 2 and colour 3 circles on the background fabric squares, then the background fabric circles onto the colour 2 and colour 3 squares.
Appliqué the circles onto the squares.
Cut away the back of the circles, leaving ¼” around the seam line.
Soak in water and remove the freezer paper. Let dry.
Press the squares into fourths again to find the horizontal AND vertical lines and CUT the squares on these lines.
Arrange the small squares as per diagram. Sew row by row, then sew rows together.
March Bonus - Braiding
This is a method rather than an actual block pattern – so you can make it any size you want. It’s fun – and fast! It can be used to make a filler block, a border or an entire quilt! Here’s your chance to use up some fabric.
Cut scrap strips three times as long as they are wide. They can be any size but in my sample I used a 2 ½” by 7 ½” strip.
Right sides together, sew the end of one scrap to the end of another using a scant ¼” seam. Flip and finger press.
Next, line up another strip even with the left end, right sides together, and sew. Flip and finger press.
Continue to build in this manner, adding strips until you’ve reached the desired length. There should be an even number of strips on each side.
With your ruler and rotary cutter cut off the sides of your strips. Trim the top and bottom if you want a square or rectangular block.
Please go to Quilters Cache to download the pattern.
This is a 12 inch paper pieced block. Print out four copies of each template on lightweight paper. Once the units are paper pieced join them in pairs as shown, then join the four squares to make the block. Press.
Tip: use generously sized strips and check carefully before sewing that the strips will cover the space when flipped over. Baste each finished triangle block just inside the cutting line for stability. Trim, then remove the paper.
February Block – Paths and Stiles
This 9 inch block consists of half square triangles ad strip pieced squares. Choose a background colour and a contrasting feature colour.
Cut a 3 7/8" x 7 3/4" rectangle from each colour, stack them right sides together. Press. On the back of the lighter strip, draw the 3 7/8" square line and mark the diagonals as shown. Sew a scant 1/4" above and below the marked diagonals. Now cut apart on the 3 7/8' square line and on the diagonal lines. Press seam allowances to the darker fabric. You will have four 3 1/2" squares. Trim if necessary
.
Cut two 1 1/2" x 14" strips from the background colour and one 1 1/2" x 14" strip from the feature colour. Sew one feature colour strip to one background colour strip, then the second background colour strip to the other side of the feature colour strip. Press seam towards the darker fabric. Cut into 3 1/2" squares.
Assemble each row, then join the rows to make the block. Press. Voila!
Filler Blocks - Checkerboard Squares
Cut a 1 1/2" 20" strip each from two different fabrics. Sew strips together lengthwise, press seam towards the darer fabric. Trim one end of the pieced strip, then cut twelve 1 1/2" strips across the pieced strip.
Stitch pieced strips together, alternating the fabrics. You will now have a 2 1/2" 12 1/2" checkerboard strip.
This makes a simple but pretty 12 inch block. Be very careful not to stretch the fabrics, especially when sewing or pressing the diagonals.
Cut -three 4 7/8 inch squares of the leaf colour.
- three 4 7/8 inch squares of the background colour
- one EACH 4 ½ inch square of the background colour and the leaf colour
- one 4 ½ inch square for the center bud.
Lay out the three 4 7/8 inch squares of the background colour and stack the 4 7/8 inch squares of the leaf colour on top, right sides together. (pressing will help the squares to adhere).
Cut each of the three combination squares on the diagonal.
Chain-piece sew the six triangles together using a scant ¼ inch seam. Press the seam allowances toward the darker fabric. Trim to measure 4 ½ inches if needed.
Sew your squares together as shown, row by row. Press seams in opposite directions by row. Then join the rows to complete your block.
December Bonus Block – Rachel’s Reel
For the eager beavers: an extra appliqué pattern for the BOM!
This pattern is very effective albeit somewhat painstaking. Use the freezer paper method to avoid distortions. The end result is well worth it.
Cut one 8 ½” background square. Use contrasting fabric for the reel. Remember to clip curves and center the reel on the background.
Download appliqué pattern (Adobe Reader is required to open this file)
From Better Homes and Gardens, December 2001.
November Block – Pieced Hearts – two 6” blocks
Cut two freezer paper hearts from the template and draw the placement line. Iron freezer paper template onto the wrong side of two different heart fabrics. Cut around hearts with a scant ¼ inch seam allowance. Apply fabric glue to the allowance and fold over the paper.
Cut one 7 ¼ inch square each from two background fabrics which contrast with the heart fabric. Press diagonally both ways.
Center the hearts diagonally over each background fabric, aligning placement markers with a fold line and pin in place.
Hand or machine appliqué. Cut out background fabric carefully inside stitch lines at the back and remove freezer paper. (Soaking in water is the best method).
Now CUT (gulp!) the appliquéd hearts on both diagonals and rearrange the pieces. Sew together both upper and lower heart pieces, then the upper portion of heart to the lower, matching edges and seams and pressing as needed.
Voila!
Download appliqué pattern (Adobe Reader is required to open this file)
Pattern adapted from the “Singer Sewing Bible”
This 8” block is made up basically of flying geese units. Choose two colours and one contrasting background. Note: always use ¼” scant scams, measure carefully and keep a light touch. Set your seams and press, not iron!
Cut two 2 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles of colours 1 and 2.
Cut four 2 ½: x 4 ½” rectangles of the background fabric.
Cut two 2 ½” squares of each colour 1 and 2.
Cut eight 2 ½” squares of the background fabric.
Place a background square right sides together on top of a colour 1 rectangle, with outer edges aligned. On the back of the top square lightly mark the diagonal.
Sew on this diagonal marking. Cut off the excess seam allowance and press the remainder towards the corner. Repeat this with another background square on the other end of the rectangle. Make two geese this way. Then make two more using colour 2 rectangles. Speed-piece whenever possible.
Make two units using a colour 1 square on ONLY the right end of the background rectangle, then two more using a colour 2 square on the end only of the remaining background rectangles. Cut the excess and press. Now join pairs of rectangle units to make each of the four quarters of the block. Sew those together into rows, then join the rows to complete the block.
Filler Block(s):
Sew together four 1 ½” strips. Press. Keep them as is or cut them every 4 ½” to make squares, which you can then sew together like a basket weave.
Colour 1 (the star)
Cut two 4 7/8” squares – stack them and cut them in half on the diagonal to make four half-square triangles.
Colour 2
Sew together the Colour 1 and Colour 2 quarter square triangles in pairs (one on short side), pressing seams to darker side. To each of those now-piece triangles sew a colour 1 half square triangle (on the diagonal), pressing towards larger triangle. The finished squares should measure 4 ½”.
Now lay out all the units as shown. Sew three horizontal rows, pressing the top and bottom row seams to the outside and the middle row seam to the center. Join the rows and press the block – voila!
Note: Press carefully so as not to distort the fabric. When sewing, use a scant quarter inch seam And finally – measure well and keep a light touch!
