QAF Block of the Month

October 2007

Underground Railroad

9 1/2" (unfinished), 9" (finished)

October's block is the very traditional Underground Railroad block. Less traditional is the brown and aqua up-to- the-minute color idea we chose. If we don't have these colors in our stashes, we surely should get some.

This block is also traditionally known as Stepping Stones, Jacob's Ladder, and a version of Road to California. How's that for keeping us all confused?

This is another block with a strong diagonal look, which will go nicely with the others of its type in our BOM Sampler quilts.

The graphic allover look of a quilt made from this block is sure to please almost everyone.

We're calling for a medium to dark chocolate brown for the center triangles, an medium aqua or turquoise, for the 4-patches, and a muslin or light tan for the background. Tone on tones (TOT) will work best for this block, for the BOM. However, as with many blocks, when you use them to make your OWN quilts, you could use any fabrics you like. When you win a BOM, though, it is often best to not use fabrics that might fight with someone else's choices, so that the blocks that are won will fit well together.

This is an easy block to make. Just two HST and some 4 patches made from strip sets.

Cut for each block:

Brown:

(2) 4" squares

Muslin or Tan:

(2) 4" squares
(1) strip, 2" x 21"

Aqua/turquoise:

(1) strip, 2" x 21"

To Assemble Block:

First make the (4) HST. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the (2) 4" tan squares. Place them RST with the (2) Brown squares. Stitch 1/4" on each side of the diagonal lines. Cut apart on the drawn lines. Press triangle seams toward the darker fabric. Square them up to 3 1/2", lining up the diagonal line of your square-up ruler on the seam line.

For the 4-patches, stitch the tan and aqua 2" strips together with a scant 1/4" seam, and press to the aqua. Be sure your strip set measures 3 1/2" at this point. If it does not, take apart and restitch, so that your block will finish to the correct size.

Crosscut the strip set into (10) 2" segments. Arrange them two by two into 4 patches and stitch together. You'll be making (5) 4-patch blocks.

Now lay out all the patches you have made, referring to the picture above. Stitch in rows of 3, then stitch the rows together. Press to advantage so that your seam intersections match up. Press your block, square up to 9 1/2" and you are done!

You may make up to 3 blocks for the BOM lottery in the same fabric groupings. Hope you make lots of these really easy blocks. Have fun with this one!

Here's a quilt layout:

 

 

© Mary Evans 2007