Block of the Month - Row 2

By Sandra Schlagel

Here is row 2 for our current Block of the Month project, called "Scrap Happy Home."  We're building from the bottom row up.  I used a different tulip flower bud color family for each of the six blocks, but maintained the same color family (green) for the stem/leaf pieces throughout the row.

 

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

 

Tulip Buds, Color A, cut:

Six 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Tulip Buds, Color B, cut:

Six 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Tulip Buds, Color B, cut:

Three 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Tulip Buds, Color C, cut:

Twelve 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Tulip Leaves, Color B, cut:

Nine 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Background (leaf units), Color C, cut:

Twelve 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Background (flower bud units), Color C, cut:

Two 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

Background (top/bottom), Color C, cut:

Two 8-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

 

 

When working with scraps, I will usually cut more pieces than I need of each color so that I have several to choose from.

Make flower buds first.  Start a flying geese unit by placing a color C 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" square to one edge of a piece A, right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line on C from outer corner to opposite corner to form a triangle.  Sew along the line, trim excess fabric.  Open to reveal the completed rectangle, press.

Finish the flying geese unit by placing a color B 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" square to opposite edge of the A piece, right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line on B from outer corner to opposite corner to form a triangle.  Sew along the line, trim excess fabric.  Open to reveal the completed rectangle, press.

Make a flying geese unit for the bottom of the flower bud using a color B 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece and two color C 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" squares.

Sew the three flying geese units together to form the flower bud.  Make three flower bud units and sew together in a row.  Sew one color C background 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece to each side of the flower buds.

Sew one color B 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" square diagonally (as in half of a flying geese unit) to nine of the color C background 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces.  Trim excess, press open.  Three of the C background 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces will not have leaves sewn to them.  Arrange units as above, sew together to resemble photo below.

Sew remaining background color C 8-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces to top and bottom of the units.

Finished 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" block is above.  Sew six blocks together.  I decided to have the colors follow a diagonal pattern, but you could keep the colors in rows of vertical stripes instead.

Sew the row of tulips to the row of houses.  Row three will be posted soon!

 

 



Block of the Month - January 2018

By Sandra Schlagel

Here is our current Block of the Month project, called "Scrap Happy Home."  It is a row quilt - there are six rows of six blocks.  The finished block size is 8" x 8" and the finished row size of six blocks is 8" x 48".  As it is an original design, it is for personal use only; no reproductions - thanks!  Pictured above is the first row - houses.

I used batik scraps for my quilt.  Every piece uses a different fabric scrap, with no repeats within each block.  I used a different house color family for each of the six blocks, but maintained the same color family for background pieces throughout each row.  You can use batiks, Civil War, brights, etc.  Choose what you like to work with best and have a lot of fabric scraps in.

For sizes A-D, choose 9 coordinating fabric scraps in the same color family, such as blue.  Size E is the roof, so choose a darker or contrasting color than the body of the house, such as brown.

For sizes F-I, choose 6 coordinating light (such as cream or white), neutral (such as grey or black), or contrasting fabric scraps in the same color family.

Refer to the diagram above for piecing and connecting placement.  Press each seam as you sew, according to your preference (open versus toward the darker fabric).

House, Size A, cut:
Two 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

House, Size B, cut:
Two 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

House, Size C, cut:
Two 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

House, Size D, cut:
Three 4-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each  piece

House, Size E, cut:
One 6-1/2" x 2-1/2" piece

House, Size F, cut:
Two 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

Background, Size G, cut:
One 6-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece

Background, Size H, cut:
Two 7-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces using different fabrics for each piece

Background, Size I, cut:
One 8-1/2" x 1-1/2" piece

Cut and lay out your pieces for Sizes A-D.  Using a log cabin block style, sew piece A to piece A.  Sew one piece B to blocks A+A.  Sew one piece B to blocks A+A+B.

Continue to build the body of the house using all nine pieces A-D until piece resembles photo above.

Place an F piece to both edges of piece E, right sides together as above.  Draw a diagonal line on E pieces from bottom corner to opposite corner, toward center of piece E to form a triangle.  Sew along each diagonal line.

Trim excess fabric.

Open triangles to reveal the completed rectangle (roof), press.  Sew roof to the body of the house, right sides together.

Cut background pieces G-I and sew according to the diagram above to complete the block.

Sew six blocks together to complete the row.

The next row will be announced at the February 2018 Country Quilters meeting and will be posted to this blog soon afterward.

January 2018 - Sew And Tell

January 2018 - Melanie Schatz-Pattay

Melanie Schatz-Pattay was the guest speaker at our January 2018 guild meeting.  She talked about raw-edge applique, and shared many of her gorgeous quilts.

Here are three projects that Melanie teaches at Gruber's.

November 2017 - Heather Mulder Peterson

Heather Mulder Peterson was the guest speaker at our November 14, 2017, guild meeting.  Here are just a few of the many fabulous quilts she shared.

2017 Quilt Show is September 23-24!

Join us at the show for tons of inspiration:  300 traditional, contemporary, art, and modern quilts; daily door prizes (150+); fabulous retail therapy; demonstrations and trunk shows; quilts and more for sale!  Details at www.countryquiltersmn.com.  See you there!

September 2017 - Sew -N- Tell

If you color your new membership book and bring it to the October meeting, you'll receive a fat quarter from our Membership committee!

 

 

Lana Myers talks about her quilt:

Sandie Behm's quilt will hang in her grandson's classroom for the school year (after it displays in the Quilt Show first)!

 



Anna Beekman's Farm Girl quilt:

 



 

Didn't record the maker of this quilt, if you know who's it is, please tell the Historian:

 

A Judy Niemeyer quilt from Melanie Schatz-Pattay: