Month 5 - November 2011 - Indians & Pilgrims

Dear Frisco Quilt Guild friends - this block is the most difficult one I have given you.  It is not hard, but it will take more time to piece.  Give yourself plenty of time to do it. 

General description of block: This is a nine patch block with Quilty Friend’s signature corners, flying geese, and a square in a square. The overall effect reminds me of the graphic designs used by American Indians in the southwest United States. It also suggests a gathering of friends and family around a large square table. It uses 4 of the 5 selected fabrics.

Cutting directions: (41 pieces)

FQG - dark and light refer to your kit fabrics

• From dark (Red)- cut 1, 5 1/4 inch square. Sub-cut this square diagonally into 4 small triangles.
• From light (yellow) - cut 1, 5 1/4 inch square. Sub-cut this square diagonally into 4 small triangles.

Now we’re going to do something different - look at your background and contrasting fabrics. Pick the lightest one. Call it Amos. Pick the darkest one. Call it Bella. (I always wanted to do that. A & B are so boring.) FQG - pick fabrics that coordinate with the fabrics in your kit. DO NOT match the fabrics.  If you have to use a fabric that is similar in hue make it Bella.  Think Fall jewel tones. I think it would be fine to add plum and navy, just make sure that the other fabric is much lighter.

From Bella - (darkest fabric)

• cut 8, 4 ½ x 2 ½ inch rectangles for middle edge blocks
• cut 4, 2 ½ inch squares for center block

From Amos - (lightest fabric)

• cut 2, 5 1/4 inch squares; sub cut them on the diagonal into 4 large triangles for corner blocks.
• cut 1, 4 ½ inch square for center block
• cut 16, 2 ½ inch squares for middle edge blocks.

Piecing directions:

Corners -

• Sew one dark and one light small triangle together to make one large triangle.
• Being careful not to warp the triangles, iron seams open.  Be careful to sew each set in the same order.  The finished large triangles should be identical.
• Using the right angle to align the pieces, sew each two colored triangle to a large Amos (lightest color) triangle. Trim the excess seam allowance (this should be Amos fabric).
• Being careful not to warp the triangles, iron seams toward Amos.  The finished squares should be identical.
• Trim square to 4 ½ inches.
• Make 4

Middle Edge block - Each edge block is made of two flying goose blocks

• Draw a diagonal line on wrong side of all Amos 2 ½ inch squares. (There should be 16)
• Align 2 ½ square with a corner of a rectangle of Bella fabric with right sides together and the drawn line parallel to the corner.
• Sew next to line.  Place your stitches just to the corner edge of the line.  I used the presser foot as a guide and let the line go under the metal right at the edge of the sewing area. 
• Fold Amos fabric back so piece is a 2 ½ x 4 ½ inch rectangle with a dark corner. There should be three pieces of fabric meeting in one corner.
• Iron toward corner.
• Do this a second time on the corner adjacent along the long edge of the rectangle.
• Leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance, trim excess fabric from back of block.
  Ta-da! You just made a goose. Now make 7 more.
• Sew two goose blocks together, with light triangles pointing in the same direction (Point to long edge.) Each set makes one edge block.
• Iron seam toward Bella.

Center Block - Square in a square.

• Draw diagonal lines on each 2 ½ inch square of Bella. (There should be 4)
• Align 2 ½ square with a corner of the 4 ½ inch square of Amos fabric with right sides together and the drawn line parallel to the corner.
• Sew next to diagonal line. Place your stitches just to the corner edge of the line.  I used the presser foot as a guide and let the line go under the metal right at the edge of the sewing area. 
• Fold Bella fabric back so piece is a 4 ½ inch square with a light corner. There should be three pieces of fabric meeting in one corner.
• Iron toward corner.
• Do this a to each corner of the light square.
• Leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance, trim excess fabric from back of block.
• Trim block to 4 1/2 inches square.

Block-

• row 1& 3 - corner square with light & dark side on the outside edge; middle edge block with geese pointing up; corner square with light & dark side on the outside edge.
• row 2 - middle edge block with geese pointing to the left; background square; middle edge block with geese pointing to the right.
• Assemble rows so that same fabrics are touching to make one 12 ½ inch block (actual size, including future seam allowances.)

I have prepared 35 kits.  When assembled together they should look something like this.

I love the way it looks like an Indian blanket.  It will be the perfect thing for Thanksgiving and remembering the start of our great nation.

Bring your finished block(s) to the November general meeting of the Frisco Quilt Guild to enter the drawing.  The winner gets to take home all of the blocks entered as well as any remaining kits, printed finishing suggestions, and uncut fabric for this project.