QAF Block of the Month

May 2004

Grid 9

71/2" unfinished (7" finished)

Spring is definitely here and giving us fits with its unpredictable weather. So here's an unpredictable block for you. Are you brave?

This block is a little bit different, a nine patch that is definitely not symmetrical, but has great setting possibilities. You'll have a nice and scrappy quilt, whether or not you sash the blocks, and it will look more or less like plaid when you finish.

This is another block that can be made from strips from the strip swaps, or the FQ swaps, if you've been swapping. All pieces but one are cut from 2" strips. You may make up to 4 blocks alike for the BOM lottery. (This will allow you to do some strip piecing on each section, if you like.)

Fabrics: For these blocks, use TOTs or solids in saturated colors. Pick 9 different fabrics (your choice) that look good together. Use as many colors as you dare.

Here's the block:

For each block:

Cut: a 2" strip from each of 8 different fabric scraps (each needs to be at least 5" long)

Cut: (1) 4 1/2" square of another fabric

Sew them together in pairs, and press to the darker. These strip sets should measure 3 1/2" wide by however long your strips were.

Choose two of these pairs for your 4-patch and cut off a 2" section. Sew these 2" sections together for the 4-patch portion of the block. Your 4-patch should measure 3 1/2" square at this point.

Then choose two other pairs and cut a 4 1/2" section from each. Sew one of these to the right side of the 4 patch. Sew the other one to the left side of the 4 1/2" square. Lay the sections out as the picture above, and sew together. Square up to 7 1/2". Enter many! You could be one of the lucky winners!

Here are a couple of examples for setting these blocks. The first is sashed, the second one is unsashed.