QAF Block of the Month
November 2006
Sister's Choice
10 1/2" (unfinished), 10"
(finished)
Here's a
very traditional block for you in November. I hope you like the way that
I have colored it. It's in bright reds and in tans that come from one of
my favorite fabric lines, Moda's Gingham Rose. I used two reds - a small
floral
and a
TOT, and two tans - one of them could be a print, plaid or check and a TOT.
You may use any 100% cotton quilter's quality fabrics you'd like, as long
as
they
are
in
the
reds and
the tans.
There are many lines of fabric that include a lovely red floral, and there
are lots of TOT out there too. And, of course, tans are pretty much available
everywhere! Make sure your tan is a 'tan', can be light, but NOT cream.
Those of you who
swap nickels or strips should be able to make this block from your swaps.
You may make 2 blocks
for the BOM lottery out of the same grouping of fabrics. If you want to
enter more, just use a different set of fabrics.
You could just vary the tans, OR vary the reds. Since the nature of the BOM
results in a scrappy quilt for the winner(s), the more variations the better.
I do hope you all like this block, it is a favorite of mine,
and just as easy as a nine patch block and a few HST's! You all DO have small
and large square-up rulers by now, don't you?
CUT for each block:
To Assemble Block:
You may approach assembling this block several different ways. You
may make the (4) 4-patch corners first, then the center rows; or, you might
rather make each row and then sew the 5 rows together. Or you may even wish
to make the 9 patch in the center of the block and then 'border' it. Whichever
way you decide to approach it, you will want to make your HST (half square
triangle patches) first.
To do that, take the (4) 3" tan squares and draw a diagonal line corner
to corner on the back of each one. Place each one right sides together (RST)
with a red TOT 3" square. Stitch on each side of the diagonal line, cut apart
on the drawn line, and press to the darker fabric. Square these HST patches
to 2 1/2" square, placing the diagonal line on the diagonal line of the square
up ruler.
Then, lay out all your cut pieces
as per the picture above, taking care that your (9) 2 1/2" squares are
the ones going through the center and out to the corners - the diagonal
directions. Stitch them together in whichever
way appeals to you, as noted above - the 4-patch corners, 9 patch center
with borders, or in strips. Be sure to sew with scant 1/4" seams.
If you press with opposing seams, when you nest the pieces together to
stitch
the final pieces/block, your
points
and
intersections
will match
exactly.
Happy stitching!
Here's a straight set layout for a generous sized lap quilt:
