Block of the Month - Row 4

 

 

 

By Sandra Schlagel

 

What would a sewing room be without spools of thread?  Row four of the "Scrap Happy Home" quilt has four spools in each block.  Each block is a different color.  The colors run diagonally through the quilt, however, feel free to run them horizontally or vertically.

 

Refer to the diagram above, along with the photos below, for piecing and connecting placement.  Press each seam as you sew, according to your preference.

Spools, Color A, cut:
Eight 3-1/2" x -1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

Spools, Color B, cut:
Four 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

Spools background, Color C, cut:
Twenty-four 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece.  Alternatively, you could make each section the same fabric which reduces your types of fabric that you'll need from twenty-four to eight.

Layout cut pieces in an arrangement that you like.

For the top and bottom of each spool, place a C 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" square to each edge of an A piece, right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line on C from outer corner to opposite corner to form a triangle.  The lines are fairly visible in the photo - you can see that they echo the shape of the spool.

Sew along the lines, trim excess fabric (spool on right above).  Open to reveal the completed rectangle (spool on right above).  Press.  Make eight of these units (four shaping the top of each spool and four shaping the bottom of each spool).

For the center of the spool (the thread portion), sew one B 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece between two C 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces.  Make four of these thread units.

Sew one top spool unit to a center thread unit to a bottom spool unit as illustrated.  Make four spool units.

Sew the four units together.  Sew the background C 6-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece to the left side of the spool units.  Sew one background C 7-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece to the top.  Sew another C 7-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece to the right side.  Sew the C 8-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece to the bottom.  The completed block is above.

 

 

Make six blocks and sew together to complete the row.  Sew the completed row to the top of row 3.  The next row will be announced at the May 8 guild meeting.