Oops 3 - September 2013 - I Can't Bear It!

"I Can't Bear It!"

 

 

I Can't Bear It is what happens to a traditional Bear Paw block when you sew past your bed time.  We've all done it....at least once, but who is counting.

Traditionally the block is more complicated than the Oops version, being made of four sections joined with sashing.  It resembles paws pointing in four directions.

Traditional Bear Paw block

 

Its history is interesting....supposedly it started out as a clever setting for a nine patch or whole cloth center.  Check  it out here.

 

 

"Chicken Dance"

General Description:

 

The Quilt: "Chicken Dance"

• 36, 12" finished "My Stomach is Churning" 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

Sizes		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 yard	2 yards	4 3/4 yards
16 4 x 4 grid	62" x 62" Throw/Crib	3/4 yard	1 yards	3 1/4 yards
64 8 x 8 grid	110" x 110" Queen/King	1 1/4 yards	3 3/4 yards	7 3/4 yards

• If you choose to make "Chicken Dance" please take a picture and add it to the Tops to Treasures Flickr Group.  I'd love to see your quilt.

The Block: "I Can't Bear It!"

• Finishes at 12" square (actually measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2")
• 4 Patch construction
• Made from
• 2 square patches
• 4 half square triangles.

FQG: This month's kit features Grunge Basics, Hot Cocoa by Moda.  I got it at Happiness is Quilting, but have seen it at Stitched with Love as well. 

Please add a coordinating fall prints for the traditional portions of the block, and cream (solids or low volume prints) for the background.  The fabric in your kit is for the Oops patch.

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

Cutting Directions: (2, 10 pieces in blocks)

• Background (cream)
• cut 2, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square (1 for only 1 block)
• cut 4. 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares (3 for only 1 block)
• Traditional (fall prints)
• cut 2, 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" square (1 for only 1 block)
• cut 3, 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares (2 for only 1 block)
• Oops portion of the block (brown)
• cut 1, 4 7/8 x 4 7/8" square

Sewing Directions:

• Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
• Gather:
• 3, 4 7/8" background squares (FQG cream)
• 2, 4 7/8" traditional portion squares (FQG fall prints)
• 1, 4 7/8" 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. (YUP, 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 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square

• I Can't Bear It block
• Gather
• 4, half square triangles
• 1, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" background square (FQG cream)
• 1, 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" traditional portion square (FQG fall prints)
• Assemble pieces to look like picture
• Oops Patch: Pay attention here - you need to purposefully piece the Oops patch so that it is wrong.  The brown patch should be on an outside edge of the finished block.
• Iron flat
• Trim block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"
• Repeat with remaining pieces for second block.

FQG:  Return your completed block(s) to me by September 24th, 2013, or bring it to the general meeting on that night to be eligible to win.  The prize package will contain all of the complete blocks, unfinished kits, and a coupon for free edge to edge quilting.