Spoolin' Around

In all fairness, I found this block in Keepsake Quilting's recent catalog.  I have no idea how they make it, but I thought it would be a fun block to try with a group. So I drew it up my way. I think it will be adorable done with scraps.

General Description:
The Quilt

• Measures 59 x 71 as described
• Is made of 20, 12" finished blocks arranged in a 4 x 5 grid
• Has two borders.
• Inner border measures 1 1/2" finished.
• Outer border measures 4" finished

The Block

• Measures 12" finished (12 1/2" x 12 1/2" is the actual measurement before incorporation into the quilt.
• Is 16 patch construction - all half square triangles and squares

FQG: Angie is providing blue for the accent fabric.  She asks that we use brown for the spool, off-white for the background and brights or multi-color for the thread. 

Cutting Directions:

• Background (grey)
• 2, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares (outer corners)
• 5, 4" x 4" squares (for Half Square Triangles, HSTs)
• Accent (aqua)
• 2, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares (outer corners)
• 2, 4" x 4" squares (HSTs)
• Spool (brown)
• 3, 4" x 4" squares (HSTs)
• Thread (pink)
• 2, 4" x 4" squares (HSTs)

Sewing Directions:

• Using your favorite method make the following HSTs, trim units to 3 1/2" square
• Gather:
• 5, 4" x 4" background squares
• 2, 4" x 4" accent squares
• 3, 4" x 4" spool squares
• 2, 4" x 4" thread squares
• 4, background/accent
• 4, background/spool
• 2, background/thread
• 2, spool/thread

Accent Corner

• Accent Corners:
• Gather
• 2, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" background squares
• 4, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" background/accent HSTs
• 2, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" background/thread HSTs
• Arrange units to match the Accent Corner drawing - make two corner units
• Sew together
• Pop and spin centers
• Trim units to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares

Spool Corner

• Spool Corners:
• Gather
• 2, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" accent squares
• 4, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" background/spool HSTs
• 2, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" spool/thread HSTs
• Arrange units to match the Spool Corner drawing - make two corner units
• Sew together
• Pop and spin centers
• Trim units to 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares

Spoolin' Around Block

• Make block
• Gather
• 2, Accent Corner units
• 2, Spool Corner units
• Arrange units to match the Spoolin' Around block drawing
• Sew together
• Pop and spin centers
• Finished block should measure 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

FQG: Return your finished block(s) to Angies by June 23rd, or bring it to the guild meeting on that night to be eligible to win all of the blocks.

Photo finish!

There is still time for a photo finish!

You have two weeks from today 

to get back on track to finishing your block.

Quilty Train - April 2015 - Jumpin' the Tracks!

Jumpin' the Tracks!

(a.k.a. Disappearing Hourglass Block)

Sometimes it is better to jump ship in mid course than to continue on.  I think this is one of those times.

For the past several months we have been playing with paper pieced blocks.  My friends at the guild have been very patient with me, indulging my fascination with the process.  However, it is drawing close to the end of the year, and they deserve a treat.

I've been toting this project around with me for a little over a year.  Each time I drag it out of the box at a retreat people swarm the design wall and ooooh and ahhh over the blocks.  Each time I tell them how easy the block is to make, and they refuse to believe me....until I show them.  Now it is time for me to show you!

General Description:

The Quilt:

• Measures 52 1/2"x 59 1/4" as described
• Is made from 42, 6 3/4" finished blocks arranged in a 6 x 7 grid.
• Has 2 borders
• Inner border is 1" finished
• Outer border is 5" finished

The Block:

• Measures 6 3/4" finished (is actually 7 1/4" x 7 1/4" before incorporation into the quilt
• This is a disappearing block! It starts out as a four patch and ends up as a nine patch.
• This block is addicting!  You will love making them (at least I do) but be warned, you have to keep your wits about you while you are trimming.

FQG: Angie will be providing half of the fabric, you need to supply the contrasting fabric.  Please make it a pale solid that coordinates with the kit fabric. Think high contrast!

Are you ready for some fun!!  Let's get started.

Cutting directions:

• Color 1 - 1, 10" x 10" square
• Color 2 - 1, 10" x 10" square

Oh that was hard - maybe you need a break?  No?!  I didn't think so.

This block doesn't start out with many pieces; however trimming as you go is paramount.  Don't skip these steps or it will not work.

Sewing Directions:

• Gather 2, 10" x 10" squares
• Draw an X from corner to corner on the wrong side of one of the squares.

• Sew 1/4" on both sides of both lines of the X.....like you are making half square triangles in both directions.
• Iron flat.
• Cut into 4, 5" x 5" squares. (along red lines)

• Cut squares in half along lines to make 8 half square triangles.
• Iron seams open
• Trim resulting blocks to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" 
• Make two hour glass blocks - follow the picture.

• Pop seam allowances and twirl.
• Iron flat.
• Trim hour glass blocks
• The blocks should measure 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" before you trim them.
• We need it to be 8 1/4" x 8 1/4"  BUT it needs to be centered.  BE SURE to trim 1/8" from each side of the block to get the desired size, else it won't work right in the end.
• Yes, you are cutting away the seam allowance. It will be okay.
• Cut each hour glass block in to 9, 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" pieces.

• Rearrange pieces.

• Keeping the pieces oriented as is, swap corners along the diagonals. You should now have tiny triangles on the outside corners.
• Keeping the pieces oriented as is, swap edge pieces along the center axis.  You two colored angle should now point towards the center instead of away from it.
• Being careful to keep the pieces arranged this way, sew them together to make your blocks. You will have two identical blocks.

FQG - Return your finished blocks to Angie by May 26th, 2015 or bring them to the meeting on that night to be eligible to win all of the blocks.

Same blocks, alternate arrangement.