No Block but a Giveaway

This week has been incredibly short and busy, so I figured we'd have a rest day.

Remember I promised a giveaway for completing the first three rows?

I was hoping to get mine all sewn together for this post, but alas...
They're all made, except for A-9, which I made in the wrong color.
I suppose I won't be in the draw.

Here it is:

Leave a comment on this post and tell me if you
a) have completed those 39 blocks and sewn them all together
b) have completed the blocks but not sewn them together yet

There will be a $20 gift voucher to the twiddletails store for the winner of the "sewn together" draw and a $10 gift voucher to the twiddletails store for the "not sewn together" winner.

I will do the drawing on Friday, June 12th so if you're not up to date you still have little time to catch up.

I will need proof that you've completed the blocks if you're one of the draw winners, i.e. a photo or photos.

Have a wonderful weekend!

TR-13

It took me a while to figure out a way to make this block and have it look good.
Please let me know if my instructions are not clear. Remember you can always click on a photo to see a larger version.

Print or trace the block diagram onto the dull side of freezer paper and cut out
Important: You have to mirror the block diagram.
Trace the two leaf shapes onto the dull side of freezer paper and cut out.

Cut a piece of background fabric about 3" x 6"
Cut a piece of main block fabric about 4" x 7"

Mark the lines of the bottom block section onto the right side of the main fabric piece and the lines of the second block section from the bottom on to the right side of the background fabric piece. Be sure to mark the position of the leaf shapes too.
Make sure that these markings leave enough space around for 1/4" seam allowance.
A light table comes in handy for this or you can hold the diagram and fabric up to a bright window.
These markings do not have to be 100% exact. They are just there to ensure that there is enough fabric around the leaf appliques for the rest of the block section.

Using your favorite applique method, attach the leaf shapes into position on the two fabric rectangles (Background fabric leaf onto main fabric rectangle and main fabric leaf onto background fabric rectangle).
Cut the bottom two block sections from the freezer paper. Score along the seam lines to allow the freezer paper to fold easily along the lines. Cut out the leaf shapes. The freezer paper will come apart. Don't worry about this. Just make sure you cut on the lines.
Place the block section with the background fabric leaf right side up on the table. Position the freezer paper template of the bottom block section on top of it, lining up the leaf shaped hole in the freezer paper with the appliqued leaf. Using a warm iron, iron the freezer paper to the fabric.

Fold back the freezer paper on one of the scored diagonal seam lines, pulling it loose from the fabric up to the seam line. Using a ruler and rotary cutter, cut a 1/4" seam allowance as in the photo below.

Lay a piece of background fabric right side down on the block section, lining up one straight edge with the straight edge of the 1/4" seam you just cut.
Stitch 1/4" away from the edge. Be careful not to catch the freezer paper in the stitching.

Press the seam open along the seam but leave the freezer paper folded. To stop the freezer paper from sticking to the iron, place a piece of scrap fabric between the freezer paper and the fabric.
When the fabric is pressed down well, fold the freezer paper open and iron to the fabric. The seam line on the freezer paper should line up with the seam you just sewed.
Repeat this for the other side of the block section.

Using the same method, construct the other appliqued block section.
Attach the small main fabric triangles (1) first and then the larger background fabric triangles (2).

Cut out and number the other block sections as below.

Following the numbers, foundation piece the sections.
Trim all seam allowances to 1/4".
Remove the freezer paper from the front of the bottom two sections.

Complete the block by sewing together the block sections in the correct order.

Busy bees

A couple of lovely progress walls have been showing up lately.
It's amazing how many different color and fabric combinations you've come up with.

Robin:


Gayla:


Satu:


If you have a wall you'd like me to share, let me know and I'll add it in a post.

BTW, the Monday block will probably show up on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. I'm having fun in the sun this Memorial Day weekend and I hope you are too.

J-3

I love this block. Some of Jane's blocks are so beautiful.

Print or trace the block diagram onto foundation paper, cut out, and number as in the photo.
If you're not using freezer paper as your foundation paper, trace the inside shape of the block onto the dull side of freezer paper.


Foundation piece the numbered sections and trim their seam allowances to 1/4"

Cut a 4.5" square out of background fabric, and a 4.5" square Out of main block fabric. Iron the freezer paper shape onto the center of the main block fabric square and cut out along the curved edges, leaving a seam allowance. Clip the curved edges almost to the freezer paper every 1/4" or so.

Place the main block fabric shape right side up onto the right side of the background fabric square and baste. Do not baste too close to the freezer paper edge because you will need to turn the seam allowance under when you applique.

Turning under the seam allowances, applique the main fabric shape to the background fabric square.
Using the freezer paper as a guideline, trim the square to 4" x 4". This means leaving a 1/4" seam allowance beyond the freezer paper edges.
Remove the freezer paper and press.

Lining up the seams and applique edges, sew two opposing triangles to the center square.
The square will extend beyond the triangle edges. This is correct because we will be "chopping off" the corners of the square.
Press.

Once again lining up the seams and applique edges, sew the other two triangles to the square.
Press the block and cut off the little flaps extending beyond the edge.

G-9

Back to our foundation piecing roots we go.

Print or trace the block diagram onto foundation paper, number and cut out as in the photo.

Foundation piece all the sections and trim their seam allowances to 1/4".

Sew the three center sections together to form the center square.

Attach the side rectangles.

Sew on the top and bottom sections.

TR-12

Spacier and spacier...
But here it is.

I'm kind of into applique right now.

Print or trace the block diagram onto the dull side of freezer paper if you use freezer paper for applique or regular paper if you don't.
software users: Remember the block is 5" x 8"

Out of background fabric, cut a rectangle 6" x 9".
Using a light table or window, trace the position of the leaf applique onto the right side of the background fabric. Make sure that you have enough background fabric around the applique to complete the block plus its seam allowances.


Cut the leaf shape out along its seam lines.
Lay the freezer paper leaf dull side down onto the wrong side of a piece of main block fabric.
Using a disappearing marker, trace around the shape.

Now cut the leaf shape out of the fabric, leaving a seam allowance to turn under when you applique.

If you're using the "freezer paper inside" method, lay the freezer paper leaf shiny side up onto the wrong side of the main fabric cutout. Iron the seam allowances over, making them stick to the freezer paper. Remember to clip the inside corners.

Place the prepared leaf on the right side of your background fabric rectangle, lining it up with the lines you traced earlier.
Pin or baste it in place. I've found that, because I have the guide lines to follow, it's not really necessary to baste.

Applique the leaf to the background fabric.
Here I clearly forgot to take photos, so bear with me.

Cut a slit in through the background fabric under the applique and pull out the freezer paper. Press.

Print or trace another copy of the block onto freezer paper and cut out on the seam lines.
Cut out the bottom shape on the seam line, but keep the freezer paper section you cut out.
Lay the freezer paper block pattern shiny side down onto the right side of the appliqued background fabric. Carefully line up the leaf on the pattern with the appliqued leaf. You can use a window or a light table for this.
Iron the freezer paper onto the fabric until it sticks.
Cut the background fabric along the bottom curved section, leaving a seam allowance.

Cut a piece of main block fabric 2 1/2" x 7 1/2" or large enough to cover the cut out bottom section and allow seam allowances.

Lay the main fabric rectangle right side up on the table. Lay the other block section right side up on top of it. Baste along the curved edges, far enough away to allow for turning under the seam allowances.

Clip the sharp corners and applique along the curves.
Fold the top triangle section of freezer paper back along the seam line. It will help if you score the line before doing this.
Using your ruler, cut the 1/4" seam allowance.

Pull the freezer paper back another inch or two, but do not allow it to fall off.
Using a 1/4" seam, sew a piece of main block fabric along the seam line. Make sure that this piece of fabric is large enough to be covered by the top triangle plus seam allowances. Press open.

Iron the triangle freezer paper section back over the fabric you just sewed on. Please the freezer paper section you cut off the bottom earlier back into position and iron on. (I forgot to do it in this step.)

Using the freezer paper as a guide, trim the block, leaving 1/4" seam allowance.
Remove the freezer paper and press.

C-13

Can you believe it? We've just passed the halfway mark! I'm working on a giveaway but be warned: the big prize will go to someone who has their entire top section (or at least all the blocks) completed.

A little bit of foundation piecing to celebrate us passing halfway.
This block is the only block I could find that uses two different fabrics.

Print or trace the block diagram onto foundation paper, number and cut out as in the photo.

Foundation piece all the numbered sections and trim their seam allowances to 1/4". Cut the unnumbered triangles out of fabric, remembering to add 1/4" seam allowance to them as well. I ironed them onto freezer paper to stabilize them and make it easier to cut the seam allowance.

Sew the shorter pieced strips to the sides of the center section.

Sew the longer pieced strips to the other two sides.

Sew the triangles with the "chopped off" corners onto the block.

Attach the other two triangles.

A couple of corners got cut off, but all in all not bad.

C-12

No foundation piecing! Truly strange...
And nine patches. Those seem to be in the air these days.

AND...on Monday we'll pass the halfway mark!

Out of background fabric cut:
four squares 2" x 2"
one strip 1" x 11"
two strips 1" x 5.5"

Out of the main block fabric cut:
two strips 1" x 11"
one strip 1" x 5.5"

I cut the strips a little longer than needed to make sure that I have enough length to cut down later, but you can cut them exactly if you want. They would then be 10" and 5" long respectively.

Sew the strips together in threes as in the photo below.

Cut each pieced strip into 1" sections, 5 for the short strip and 10 for the long strip. Lay them out in threes as below.

Using these little sections, make 5 nine patches. I could not get these to lay flat for the photo. They're nine patches, trust me.

Sew the nine patches and solid fabric squares together in threes as below.

Following the block diagram, sew the three sections together to form the block.

C-7

Teenie weenie little sections...

Print or trace the block diagram onto foundation paper, number and cut out as in the photo.

Foundation piece all the numbered sections and trim their seam allowances to 1/4". Cut the unnumbered triangles out of fabric, remembering to add 1/4" seam allowance to them as well. I ironed them onto freezer paper to stabilize them and make it easier to cut the seam allowance.

Sew together the small pieced sections as in the photo.

Sew the shortest sections to opposite sides of the center square.

Sew the longer sections to the other two sides of the square.

Attach the four corner triangles.

Cut out and applique the corner diamonds using your favorite applique method. I have a really hard time appliqueing these so if anyone has some wonderful advice, please let me know.