Month 10 - April 2014 - Dead Birds

"Dead Birds"

I have based this block on "Birds in the Air" block featured in my phone app, "Block Tool".  It is a great app for finding basic blocks and directions for cutting the pieces at various sizes.

Birds in the Air

As I looked for some history about Birds in the Air, I discovered that there are several variations of the block.  The most popular looks like this.

Also Birds in the Air

It seems that the linking idea is a block, cut diagonally with one half further split into multiple triangles. The block is traditionally colored with the solid large triangle matching the smaller triangles pointing in the same direction.

This bi-color arrangement makes the block as versatile as the ever popular half square triangle.

I was tempted to switch blocks again...in favor of a more complicated quilt...but in the end the simplicity of "Turnstiles" won me over.

"Turnstiles"

I think it is the subtle tessellation of old fashioned folded pinwheel shapes that tipped the scale.

General Description:

• The Quilt: "Turnstiles"
• 36, 12" finished "Dead Bird" blocks in a 6 x 6 grid.
• 2 borders
• 1" finished inner border
• 5" finished outer border
• As described the quilt measures 84"x 84"
• Fabric requirements are to the nearest 1/4 yard

# Blocks	Finished Size	Red	White	Blue	Grey
16 in a 4 x 4 grid	60”x 60”	¾ yd	1 ¼ yds	2 yds	½ yd
36 in a 6 x 6 grid	84”x 84”	1 ¼ yds	2 ¾ yds	2 ¾ yds	¾ yd
64 in an 8 x 8 grid	108”x 108”	1 ¾ yds	4 ¾ yds	3 ¾ yds	1 ½ yds

If you choose to make one of these quilts please take a picture of it and add it to the Tops to Treasures Flickr group.  I'd love to see your quilt.

"Dead Birds"

• The Block: "Dead Birds"
• Finishes at 12" square (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2")
• 4 patch construction
• 2 plain squares
• 2 half square triangles (hsts)

FQG - This months kit contains fabric for the gray patch.  It was donated to Community Service, and they graciously decided to share with us.

"Basic-ally Kid Stuff" by Cheri L. Strole for South Seas Imports

Each kit will make two blocks.  Please add the following:

• Background: white
• Oops patch (where it is red in the picture): yellow to coordinate with the kit fabric.
• Traditional pieces: deep blues, purples and greens to coordinate with the kit fabric.

Our quilt should look something like this....

"Turnstiles"

Cutting Directions:

• Background (white)
• Cut 1, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square (cut 2 if making 2 blocks)
• Cut 2, 7" x 7" squares
• Oops patch (yellow)
• Cut 1, 7" x 7" square
• Traditional pieces: (deep blues, purples, and greens)
• Cut 1, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square (cut 2 if making 2 blocks)
• Cut 1, 7" x 7" square (kit fabric)

Piecing Directions:

• Half Square Triangles (hsts)
• Gather
• 2, 7" x 7" squares background fabric
• 1, 7" x 7" square Oops fabric
• 1, 7" x 7" square traditional fabric (kit fabric)
• On the wrong side of the background squares draw a diagonal line.
• With right sides together sew 1 background square to 1 of other fabric squares, 1/4" from each side of the drawn line.  Yes, sew it twice.
• Cut on drawn line.
• Being careful not to stretch the triangles, open patches and iron seam allowances open
• Trim patches to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares
• Repeat with second set for a total of 4 hsts.
• The block:
• Gather 
• 1, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square of background fabric
• 1, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square traditional fabric
• 1, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" hst with Oops fabric
• 1, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" hst with traditional fabric (kit fabric)
• Arrange blocks on the table or design wall in front of you.

• Be careful to put the block together so that it looks like the picture.  It is very easy to get them oriented the wrong way....and in this case it will indeed be wrong.
• Row 1:  Sew background half of Oops hst to square of traditional fabric so that with the hst on top, the right angle of its background fabric is fed into your machine first.
• Iron seam allowance towards the square.
• Row 2:  Sew background half of traditional hst to square of background fabric so that with the hst on top, the right angle of its background fabric is fed into your machine first.
• Snuggle row 1 & 2 together, locking the seams, sew.
• Pop seams and iron seam allowances in a twirl.
• Trim block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" square.

FQG:  Return you completed block (s) to me by April 22nd, 2014, or bring it to the general meeting on that night to be eligible to win.  You get one chance to win per block completed.  If you do not finish the block, no worries, just bring the kit back.  We want the winner to have all of the blocks, finished and un.