12 Blocks

When Cynthia and I started, we thought we would have an entire year before we needed to figure out how to put the blocks together. Now we have completed 12 blocks and still don't have the perfect way to set the blocks. We are experimenting with various options while we create other projects (which we haven't posted here because we are having too much fun). We don't recommend setting the blocks on point, one or two look funny that way. We have come up with several ideas and are trying to decide: (1) if we should post all of them or just one or two, (2) how detailed the directions need to be, and (3) how to put it all in a blog post.

Any suggestions or preferences??

Blossoming Star

Sorry if you're tired of my greens and pinks, but I'm posting the next block anyway! You'll have to watch the slide show to see all Rachel's cool color choices. This is another block of my own invention and I decided to call it 'Blossoming Star' because with my color choices, the star isn't the first thing you see. Here's how to do it:


Fabric Requirements:
4 1/2" square--cut 3 of green and 2 of pale pink; cut in half diagonally, twice, into 4 triangles
2 1/2" square--cut 4 floral and 4 green
3 1/3" square--5 floral
4 1/2 x 2 1/2" rectangle--cut 4 green









Using a 3 1/2" floral square, and two of the pink triangles, sew one pink triangle to two adjacent edges of the the square. Follow up with sewing two green triangles to the other two adjancent sides. If you fold the squares and the triangles in half and give a little pinch on the center fold, you will be able to match up the fold marks to make sure the triangles are perfectly centered on the squares, as pictured. Repeat with three more of the 3 1/2" floral squares until you have a total of 4 units.




























Square up these units to a perfect 4 1/2".



















Repeat the process with the last 3 1/2" square and the last four green triangles. Square this unit to 4 1/2" as well.











Using the 2 1/2" squares, sew a floral to a green. Press towards the green. Sew these two-piece units to the green rectangles. Press towards the rectangles.











Line up the pieces so you can see how the block will fit together. Sew the pieces to form rows. Be careful to sew just barely to one side of the X in the seam of the triangle units so that the points will be nice and clean after pressing the block.





























When pressing over the thick seams, you can reduce bulk by clipping on either side of the bulky part of the seam, and then pressing that part open. It's an interesting look, but it's an option for smoother seams.

















Once your units are sewn together into rows, sew the rows together into your final block. Press well. Be careful to position the rectangles units so that all the seams are facing in the way you specifically want. My seams ended up facing all which-way because I didn't think about it.

You're done! That's block #12. Maybe it's time to start talking about setting the blocks into a quilt top!

Aunt Vinah's Favorite

I found this block pattern in one of my quilt books and it was pleasantly appealing to me. It's also simple to make.







Fabric:
background: (2) 5" squares, (1) 4 1/2" square, and (8) 3" squares--cut diagonally to form 16 triangles
dark: (2) 5" squares
medium #1: (1) 2" x 16" strip
medium #2: (1) 2" x 16" strip


















Sew the two strips of medium fabric together. Press seam towards darker fabric. Cut strip into 2" segments, which you will then sew together in a four-patch pattern.








Sew a background triangle to opposite edges of the four-patch. Press out. Sew two more triangles to the other edges. Press out again.
Square up each section to 4 1/2".






































Draw a line diagonally on the back of the 2 5" background squares. Lay each on top of one of the 5" dark squares. Sew a scant 1/4" seam on either side of the line. Cut on the line and press the square open towards the dark fabric.
Square up to 4 1/2". Sew one of these half-square triangles to either side of a four-patch section, taking care that the darker of the two mediums are place horizontally--as pictured. Repeat with the other dark/light half-square triangles, taking care to reverse the dark triangles, as pictured. These are your top and bottom rows.




































Sew a four-patch section to either side of the 4 1/2" center piece, taking care that the darker medium fabrics are place vertically, as pictured. This is the center row of your block.





Line up the three rows, matching seams, and sew together. Press thoroughly. You're done!

Indiana Puzzle, by Rachel

Surprise, surprise! I chose another star block. The first time I saw this it was called Indiana Puzzle, so that's what I'm calling it.

You will need four coordinating fabrics and a background fabric. Technically, you could make it with two coordinating fabrics, but the directions are for four (you are smart enough to figure it out for two fabrics).
Cutting Directions:
Background: cut (4) 5" squares and draw a diagonal line on the back, then cut a 3 1/2" square
All coordinating fabrics: cut (1) 5" square and one triangle from a 2 7/8" square. The easiest way to do this is to cut out a 2 7/8" square from one fabric, cut it in half on the diagonal, and then use one of the triangles as a pattern to cut the remaining triangles from the other 3 fabrics.

Sewing Directions:
1. Sew the 5" squares together, background with each of the fabrics, sewing a scant 1/4" seam from each side of the drawn line. Cut along the drawn line and press to the darker fabric. Square each unit to 4 1/2".

 2. All you have left is the center of the block: four triangles and a square. Sew triangles to opposite sides of the square and press the seams toward the triangles. My experience is that these should be full 1/4" seams.

 3. Take the two remaining triangles and repeat the process, sewing them to the remaining opposite sides. Press toward the triangles again. Trim to 4 1/2". My square turned out to be 4 3/4" untrimmed, which meant I was trimming off the points. If your square is less than 4 1/2", unpick and take smaller seams.

4. Lay out the squares according to the picture and sew together into rows. Press and sew the rows together. Congratulations, it's done!

Christmas Sewing

Rachel and I were both busy during December sewing for family members. We wanted to ooh and aah over ourselves for a moment by displaying our wares:

Corner Kisses

This is a block of my own design, and I sewed it in reds and greens in honor of the Christmas season!





(The fact that I'm using these fabrics in many of my blocks is just a coincidence:) )











Fabric Requirements:
Light: (1) 4 1/2" square; (4) 2 1/2" squares
Dark: (8) 2 1/2" squares for making flying geese sections; (4) 2 7/8" squares, cut in half diagonally
Background: (8) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles; (2) 5" squares, cut in half diagonally


Always sew scant 1/4" seams on the quilt blocks.
Using the light 2 1/2" squares, sew a dark triangle to the side of each square, press towards the triangle. Sew a second triangle to the square, forming a large triangle. Again, press out towards the triangle piece.


Sew one of the 5" half-square diagonal pieces to the previous piece, forming the corner sections. Press towards the background fabric.



















For the flying geese sections, draw diagonal lines on the wrong side of all the little 2 1/2" squares. Lay one of the 2 1/2"squares on top of a 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle, lining up the outer corners. Sew directly on the diagonal line, or just barely to the side of the line on the outer corner side. Trim the fabric to 1/4" seam allowance on the outer corner. Press out. Line up a second small square on the other side of the rectangle and repeat the sewing and trimming. Press out again. You should now have a finished flying geese section. Make four of these.




























Sew each of the flying geese sections to one of the 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" background rectangles, being sure to sew exactly across the X of the stitching on the flying geese section so that the tips will be nice and sharp looking. Press towards the rectangle piece.


























Sew a corner section to either side of two flying geese pieces, following the picture placement so that the corner kisses will be shaped right. These will be the top and bottom rows of the quilt block.










Sew the remaining flying geese sections to either side of the 4 1/2" light square. Press towards the center. This is the center row of your quilt block.












Now, line up the rows and sew them all together. Press well. You're done!