Quilty Train - August 2014 - Woven

Woven

Take last months Square Corner units, make four of them, turn them 180 degrees, and you get "Woven".  Fiddle with the placement of colors and you have this months design.

Pour us a few cold ones, and we will be ready to enjoy the hottest month of the year (in North Texas).

Doesn't it look like the pattern on webbed lawn chairs?  I guarantee that sitting on this quilt will not leave you with waffle butt.  LOL.

General Descriptions:

• The Quilt:
• Measures 62" x 86" as described
• Is made of 24, 12" finished blocks arranged in a 4 x 6 block grid.
• Has 2 borders
• Inner border is 1" finished
• Outer border is 6" finished
• The Block:
• Measures 12" finished (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" before incorporation into the quilt)
• 4 patch construction

FQG:  Angie has provided a floral fabric for color 3.  It is blue in the picture.  She asks that you add green for color 1, pink for color 2 and lavender for color 4.  The background should be cream.

Angie's Sample Block

Cutting Directions:

• Background (for FQG cream)
• Cut 4, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares
• Color 1 (for FQG green)
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle
• Color 2 (for FQG pink)
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle
• Color 3 (for FQG kit/floral)
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle
• Color 4 (for FQG lavender) 
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square
• Cut 1, 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle

Sewing Directions:

• Square Corner Units - Sort pieces into 4 piles (one for each unit being created)

• Upper Left Corner

• 1 background square
• 1 color 2 square
• 1 color 1 rectangle
• Upper Right Corner
• 1 background square
• 1 color 3 square
• 1 color 2 rectangle
• Lower Left Corner
• 1 background square
• 1 color 1 square
• 1 color 4 rectangle
• Lower Right Corner
• 1 background square
• 1 color 4 square
• 1 color 3 rectangle
• To ensure correct color placement make one corner patch at a time.
• Gather pieces for one corner
• With right sides together, sew background square and colored square together
• Iron seam allowances open.
• Place constructed rectangle in front of you - colored, short end down.
• The remaining rectangle goes to the right.
• With right sides together, sew constructed rectangle to whole rectangle.
• Iron seam allowance towards the whole rectangle.
• Trim to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square
• Repeat with remaining pieces, 3 times for 4 units. 

• Block
• Gather
• 4 Square Corner unit
• Arrange pieces on design wall (desk top) in front of you so that they match the picture.
• Sew Upper Left Corner to Upper Right Corner so that color 2 appears to connect at the bottom of the unit.  Background squares should be on top of one another, and on the left as you sew.
• Iron seam allowance towards the whole rectangle.
• Trim unit to 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle.
• Sew Lower Left Corner to Lower Right Corner so that color 4 appears to connect at the top of the unit.  Background squares should be on top of one another and on the left as you sew.
• Iron seam allowance towards the whole rectangle.
• Trim unit to 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle.
• Sew rectangles together to make a square.  Make sure that the background squares are on top of one another and to the left as you sew.
• Pop seam and iron seam allowances in a spiral.
• Trim block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

FQG - Return your finished block to Angie by August 26, 2014, or bring it to the meeting on that night to be eligible to win all of the blocks.  If you have not finished your block by that time, bring the kit to the meeting and no questions will be asked.

If you make this quilt, please send me a picture, or add it to the Tops to Treasures group on Flickr.  I would love to see it.

Month 12 - June 2014 - Fly Swatter

Fly Swatter

Based on the ever classic Shoo-fly quilt block this variant would be sure to illicit the desire to throw something if it were made by accident.

Just imagine the effect it would have on this classic quilt!  Yikes!!!

As I researched the block I discovered that it is also called "Hole in the Barn Door"...in which case my variation could be called "Who let the cows out!"  

Yes, you have seen me before.
Cindy scheduled her reminder a month early. OOPS!  lol 

No matter what you call it I think you will be pleased with the resulting quilt.

Fly in the Ointment

Who knew that something so irritating could be so pretty.

General Description:

• The Quilt:  "Fly in the Ointment"
• 36, 12" finished "Fly Swatter" blocks in a 6 x 6 grid
• 2 borders
• 1" finished inner border
• 6" finished outer border
• As described the quilt finishes out at 86" square.

Fabric Requirements Rounded up to the nearest ¼ yard
# Blocks	Finished Size	Red	White	Blue
36 6 x 6 grid	86” x 86” Twin/Full	1 yard	3 ½ yards	3 1/4 yards
16 4 x 4 grid	62” x 62” Throw/Crib	1/2 yards	1 ¾ yards	2 ¼ yards
64 8 x 8 grid	110” x 110” Queen/King	1 yard	6 ¼ yards	4 ½ yards

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

Fly Swatter

• The Block: "Fly Swatter"
• Finishes at 12" square (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2")
• 9 patch construction

FQG - This months kit contains fabric for the center square.  

Alexander Henry Nicole's Prints Cool Spool Light Blue

from the sale table at Pink Chalk Fabrics

Please add:  Low volume whites/creams/grays for the background; bright colors to coordinate with the thread colors in the kit fabric; and solid black (the color of the spools) for the oops patch.

I got curious about my fabric selection....just what is this quilt going to look like....check this out!

My drawing is done with random solids....imagine how cool it is going to look with low volume backgrounds and random "reads as solid" prints.  Makes me think of the cutting room floor when a happy project is in full swing.....or confetti on a birthday cake.

The kit will only make one block; however, the construction lends itself to making two blocks.  If this is what you want to do be sure and take two kits.

Cutting Directions: (7 pieces)

• Background (low volume white/cream/grays)
• 4, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares (8 if you are making 2 blocks)
• 3, 5" x 5" squares (4 is you are making 2 blocks)
• Traditional (bright colors, & kit fabric)
• 1, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square kit fabric (2 if you are making 2 blocks)
• 2, 5" x 5" squares (3 if you are making 2 blocks)
• Oops (solid black)
• 1, 5" x 5" square

Sewing Directions:

• HSTs
•  Gather
• 3, 5" x 5" squares background (low volume)
• 2, 5" x 5" squares traditional (bright, kit)
• 1, 5"x 5" oops fabric (black)
• On the wrong side of the background fabric draw a diagonal line.
• With right sides together sew 1 background square to 1 traditional or Oops fabric square, 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 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square.
• Repeat with all background squares for a total of 6 HSTs.  (You will have two extra HSTs)

• Block
• Gather
• 4, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares background
• 1, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square traditional 
• 3, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" HSTs traditional
• 1, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" HST Oops
• Arrange pieces on the desk or design wall in front of you. Make sure they match the picture.
• Be careful to get the oops patch in the corner - you want it to look funny!
• Sew blocks together to make rows.
• Iron seam allowances towards the background squares.
• Trim finished block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" square

FQG:  Return you completed block(s) to me by June 27, 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. 

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. 

Month 9 - March 2014 - The Road to...oh damn!

"The Road to....oh damn"

The inspiration for this block is the classic Road to California.  (Maybe we should do a series on "road to" blocks.  I bet we could find 12 of them.)  Our Oops version might better be named "The Road to...oh Damn!"

Lean back in your seat, and talk real slow, "Whaal, you con't get thera from hera." That is a classic response given by any far north yankee when asked for directions.  "This aint the road to California".

Some of you may notice that this isn't the block I had planned for this month. Truth be told, I didn't like the quilt the other one made.  So I changed it.   I love the quilt this block makes.  Check it out!

"You Can't Get There from Here"

General Description:

• The Quilt: "You Can't Get There from Here"
• 36, 12" finished "The Road to...oh damn" 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 - rounded up to the nearest 1/4 yard
# blocks	Finished Size	Red	White	Blue	Grey
16 4 x 4 grid	60" x 60"	1/2 yard	1 ½ yards	2 1/4 yards	3/4 yard
36 6 x 6 grid	84" x 84"	1 yard	3 yards	3 1/4 yards	1 1/4 yards
64 8 x 8 grid	108" x 108"	1 yard	5 1/4 yards	4 yards	2 1/4 yards

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.

"The Road to...oh damn"

• The Block: "The Road to...oh damn"
• Finishes at 12" square (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2")
• 9 patch construction -
• 5, 4 patches
• 4, half square triangles

FQG - This months kit contains fabric for the grey portion.  I found it on my BOM shelf.  I must have purchased it years ago and never used it.  However, as it has postage cancellations marks on it I thought it would be fun to use for this quilt.  We will use it for the grey part of the half square triangles.

Seashells by Exclusively Quilters

The color is actually brighter in person.  Please add the following:

• Background = White 
• Oops 4 patch = Shades of brown. See the darkest color in the seashell fabric. Take it a few shades darker, but please Do NOT go lighter.  We are going for the look of coffee.
• Traditonal 4 patches = Navy

Because we are making a scrappy quilt you do not have to use the same fabric for each required patch.  You could use several different whites, 2 different browns, or 8 different navies...or not.  It is all good.

Our finished quilt will look something like this...

Anyone else think it is hysterical to make a manly quilt from a block that is a tribute to getting lost?!  We all know that they won't stop to ask for directions.  (with apologies to our newest member.)

Cutting Directions:

• Background (white)
• 2, 5" x 5" squares
• 10, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares
• Oops Patch (browns)
• 2, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares
• Navys
• 8, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares
• Half Square Triangles/hst (in kit)
• 2, 5" x 5" squares

Sewing Directions:

• Half Square Triangles:
• Gather
• 2, 5" x 5" squares background
• 2, 5" x 5" squares hst fabric
• On the wrong side of the background fabric draw a diagonal line.
• With right sides together sew 1 background square to 1 hst fabric square, 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 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square
• 4 Patchs:
• Gather
• 2, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares oops patch fabric
• 8, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares navy
• 10, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares background fabric
• Sew 1 dark square (oops or navy) to 1 background square
• Iron seam allowances toward the dark side.
• Being careful to keep the oops patches in the same unit, sew 2, 2 patch units together to make 5, 4 patch units.
• Pop seams and iron seam allowances in a spiral.
• Trim 4 patch units to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square

•  Block:
• Gather
• 4, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" half square triangle patches
• 5, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" 4 patch patches
• Arrange pieces on the desk or design wall in front of you.
• The navy blocks should be aligned in the same direction
• The brown patches of the oops block should be aligned perpendicular to the line created by the navy blocks in the other 4 patches.
• The hst fabric of the half square triangles (in our case the seashells) should be pointing inward.
• Be careful to get the oops patch turned around - you want it to be wrong!
• Sew blocks together to make rows.
• Iron seam allowances towards the 4 patch blocks.
• Trim finished block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" square

FQG:  Return you completed block (s) to me by March 25th, 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. 

Month 7 - January 2014 - A Cross to Bear

"A Cross to Bear"

I love that expression, "my cross to bear", it carries all of the weight of defeat in it, and perfectly describes the feeling that overwhelms me when I keep making a block incorrectly. 

This months offering is based on the traditional block, "Cross and Crown".  According to The Quilter's Block Bible by Celia Eddy

This is traditional block known also as Bouquet and Goose Tracks.  Ruth Finley dates it from 1935, but there are versions of it from much earlier dates.

You can find all sorts of products with this logo on it at
http://www.cafepress.com/bitchystitcher/10283747

And if I am completely honest, I have to admit that this got me thinking about the Oops series.  Go check out the other offerings from the Bitchy Stitcher.   I can't say that I always appreciate her language, but she does make me laugh.

On to our project.....


"Surprised by Sunshine!"

When something so miserably wrong turns into something so wonderfully right it is time to have a party!!  I love the quilt this block makes.

General Description:

• The Quilt: "Surprised by Sunshine!"
• 36, 12" finished "A Cross to Bear" blocks in a 6 x 6 grid
• 2 borders
• 1" finished inner border
• 6" finished outer border
• As described the quilt finishes out at 86" square.

Fabric Requirements rounded up to the nearest 1/4 yard
# Blocks	Finished Size	Red	White	Blue*
36 6 x 6 grid	86" x 86" Twin/Full	1 1/4 yard	3 1/2 yards	4 1/4 yards
16 4 x 4 grid	62" x 62" Throw/Crib	3/4 yard	1 3/4 yards	2 3/4 yards
64 8 x 8 grid	110" x 110" Queen/King	1 3/4 yards	5 3/4 yards	5 3/4 yards

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

 *2 yards of the blue fabric is used for borders, the remaining yardage is for the traditional part of the blocks.

• The Block: "A Cross to Bear"
• Finishes at 12" square (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2")
• 9 patch construction

FQG - This months kit contains Comma Comma in Tangerine.  I purchased it from Stitched with Love. 

Please add anything that reads solid navy for the traditional parts of the block, and pale grey or low volume for the background.

FQG: Because of the way this block is constructed you can make two Oops blocks from one kit.  If you would like to make two blocks you are welcome to, however know that it will take considerably more time this month....which you have because we are meeting earlier than normal in December.

 Cutting Directions: (29 pieces in this block)

• Background
• 4, 5 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles (if making 2 blocks, cut 8)
• 4, 3" x 3" squares for corner patch - corners (if making 2 blocks, cut 8)
• 3, 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" squares for corner patch - thorns (if making 2 blocks, cut 4)
• Traditional Portion
• 1, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square for center (if making 2 blocks, cut 2)
• 2, 5 7/8" x 5 7/8" squares for corners patch - corners (if making 2 blocks, cut 3)
• sub-cut diagonally once to make 2 large tirangles each for a total of 4 (6) large triangles
• 2, 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" squares for corner patch - thorns (if making 2 blocks, cut 3)
• Oops Portion (kit fabric)
• 1, 5 7/8" x 5 7/8" square for corner patch - corner
• sub-cut diagonally once to make 2 large triangles. You only need 1 per block.
• 1, 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"" square for corner patch - thorns

Sewing Directions:

• Corner Patches
• Gather
• 1, large triangle oops fabric
• 1, 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" square oops fabric
• 1, 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" square background fabric
• 1, 3" x 3" square background fabric
• Make half square triangles of oops and background fabric.
• Draw  a diagonal line on the wrong side of the 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"  square background fabric
• Layer, right sides together, oops and background 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" squares
• Sew 1/4" to either side of and parallel to the drawn line.
• Cut on line
• Iron squares and seam allowances open.
• You will have two HSTs.
• Cut 1, hst in half on the diagonal, perpendicular to the seam creating two little triangles that are mirror images of each other.

• Sew one little triangle on adjacent sides of one right angle of the 3" x 3" background square.
• Align the right angles.  You will have thorn bunny ears.
• Iron seam allowances towards the square.
• Sew large oops triangle to the pieced triangle along the hypotenuse.
• Be careful not to stretch the biased edge.
• Iron square and seam allowance towards the large triangle.
• Trim patch to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" square.
• Repeat process with traditional fabric replacing the oops fabric 3, times to complete required corner patches.

• Block
• Gather
• 1 oops corner patch
• 3 traditional corner patches
• 4, 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangles background fabric
• 1, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square traditional fabric
• Arrange pieces on desk or design wall in front of you.
• Sew blocks together to make rows, making sure that the Oops patch is wrong.
• Iron seam allowances towards the background fabric
• Sew rows together to make block.
• Iron seam allowances away from the background fabric
• Trim finished block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" square.

Month 6 - December 2013 - Broken Toys

Broken Toys block

 

Broken Toys is based on the traditional pinwheel block.  I didn't bother researching the origin of the original....it would be like researching the origin of air.  There is no debate....this block is a classic.

 

Traditional Pinwheel block

 

 

It is a simple, four patch block made of half square triangles.  It would be incredibly easy to piece this block incorrectly....which is exactly why I chose it.  (Anyone else recognize last months block?!  How I love half square triangles.)

 

General Description:  Look what our broken block can do!!!

I had a lot of fun playing with layouts of this block.  I found two that I liked.

"Pinball Wizard!"

Pinball Wizard reminds me of levers and wheels that compose an old time pinball machine.  It might even be fun to add some applique to further the semblance.  I can totally imagine a shiny marble bouncing around the triangles.

"Pinwheel Shards"

Pinwheel Shards is more traditional looking....kind of reminds me of a sink full of broken dishes...with a few guilty but happy pinwheels  telling me, "They are just things.  Didn't we have fun?!"

Both quilts use exactly the same pieces.

• The Quilt: "Pinball Wizard" and "Pinwheel Shards"
• 36, 12" finished "Broken Toy" blocks in a 6 x 6 grid
• 2 borders
• 1" finished inner border
• 6" finished outer border
• As described the quilt finished out at 86" square

 

Fabric Requirements rounded up to the nearest 1/4 yard
# Blocks	Finished Size	Red	White	Blue
36 6 x 6 grid	86" x 86" Twin/Full	1 1/4 yard	3 yards	4 yards
16 4 x 4 grid	62" x 62" Throw/Crib	3/4 yard	1 1/2 yards	2 3/4 yards
64 8 x 8 grid	110" x 110" Queen/King	1 3/4 yards	5 yards	6 yards

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

 



• The Block: Broken Toys
•  Finishes at 12" square (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2")
• 4 patch construction
• Made from 4 half square triangles.

FQG - This months kit features Pam Kitty Love Multi on Red Polka Dots

 

I purchased it from the Fat Quarter Shop

 

Please add coordinating cool brights (blues and greens) for the traditional portions of this quilt and low volume/creams for the background.

"Low volume" is a trending phrase at the moment.    At it's simplest, it refers to fabric that is neutral (white, beige, or grey) with a graphic print on it.   Any of the fabrics in the photo below would be an example. 

   

 

For our purposes please select a LV fabric that have a cream or off white background and coordinate with the dots in the kit fabric.

 

Because of the nature of half square triangles this pattern works best when you make two blocks at one time.  You only need one for the Oops block of the month quilt...but if you are making it for the guild, or are making one of the quilts the directions below will make two blocks.

 

Cutting Directions: (8 pieces, makes 2 blocks)

• Background (low volume/creams)
• cut 4, 7" x 7" squares
• Traditional (cool brights)
• cut 3, 7" x 7" squares
• Oops portion of the block (dots on red)
• cut 1,  7" x 7" square

Sewing Directions:

• Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
• Gather:
• 4, 7"x 7" background squares
• 3, 7" x 7" traditional portion squares
• 1, 7" x 7" Oops square
• Draw a line diagonally across the wrong side of each background square.
• Layer background square with traditional portion square, right sides together.
• Sew 1/4" to each side of the diagonal line (Yes, sew twice!  Once on each side and 1/4" from the diagonal line)
• Cut on diagonal line
• Open resulting triangles into squares
• Iron seam allowances open.
• Trim HSTs to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares

 

• Broken Toys block
• Gather
• 3, traditional/background hsts
• 1, oops/background hst
• Assemble pieces to look like the picture -
• Pay attention to the Oops patch.  It needs to be wrong!
• Make sure that your pinwheel is turning in the right direction.
• Iron seam allowances towards the traditional fabric so that they will nest nicely.
• Pop final seam and iron flat
• Trim block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"
• Repeat with remaining pieces for the second block.

FQG:  Return  your completed block(s) to me by December 17, 2013, or bring it to the general meeting on that night to be eligible to win.  The prize package will contain all of the completed blocks, unfinished kits, and a coupon for free edge to edge quilting.