Look on the UFO list you created and work on whatever’s at number 7. We hope to see or hear of your progress at the April meeting!
If your #7 is dependent on getting #5 done, just do #5 and switch the numbers. It’s okay. Nobody’s going to judge – the point is to make progress!
You can download the UFO sheet from the American Patchwork & Quilting site here: 2020 UFO Challenge Print out 2 copies, keep one for yourself and bring the other to Sandra at the next meeting. Note: We’re only filling 10 of the 12 ‘tasks’.
Members should have received a link to the pattern and the Alternate Sizes worksheet in their email on May 27. On the 28th, the information was posted to our Facebook page.
Make as many or as few blocks as you wish, but do try to make at least one to try out this clever and impressive technique!
We have TEN tips to help you be super-successful when making these blocks. This post is about choosing what size block you want to make. If you’re not into the math of it all, you can click HERE to go to Pressing Tips or HERE to go to Other Tips.
The Most Important Tip of All
Starch your fabric very well BEFORE you cut the squares. When the block is completed, all of the outer edges will be on the bias, and nobody has fun with that! Go to Other Tips for a recipe for Quilter’s Moonshine (homemade spray starch) and other ideas.
Tip #1 How To Choose What Size Of Block To Make, and How Many
First, decide what size of project you want to make and how ‘fiddly’ you want to get with the blocks. If you want a queen-sized quilt (92×96”) – do you want to make it from 3” blocks? That would be 960 blocks – that’s what we mean by FIDDLY!
So, let’s say you want to do a queen-sized quilt but you don’t want to be fiddly and end up in a padded room before it’s all done. 92” divided by a 12” finished block equals 7 point something and 96″ divided by 12 equals 8. That would require you to make 8 rows of 7 blocks, or 56 blocks.
Here’s the math
Desired finished quilt width divided by finished size of block equals how many blocks in a row. Round down if it’s a fraction:
92″/12″=7.66 (7) blocks
Desired finished quilt length divided by finished size of block equals how many rows.
96″/12″ blocks=8 rows
How many rows times how many blocks in row equals how many blocks to make.
7 blocks x 8 rows = 56 blocks
Tip #2 Gather Your Fabrics
For each block, you’ll need two squares – one light, one dark (or two squares that otherwise contrast with one another). So in the 92×96″ example, you’ll need 56 light and 56 dark squares.
Starch your fabric very well BEFORE you cut the squares. When the block is completed, all of the outer edges will be on the bias, and nobody has fun with that!
A Note About Starching
Quilter’s Moonshine is a homemade spray starch alternative. It works for most general quilting though it might not make the fabric stiff enough for this project. Here’s the recipe:
Pour 4 Tablespoons of cheap vodka (potato is best, but it’s not cheap!)
and 2 Tablespoons of liquid starch in a 24-28 oz. spray bottle.
Fill remainder of bottle with distilled water.
Shake.
Best Press or spray sizing are also options.
But to get a really sturdy piece of fabric like you need for this project, the good old fashioned heavy spray starch that comes in a metal can might be your best bet.
Tip #3 Printing
If you haven’t already printed the pattern – it’s only necessary to print pages 2 & 3. No need to use the extra ink if you don’t have to!
Tip #4 Marking the Pattern Sheets
Once you’ve decided what size block you want to make, circle it on your ‘Alternate Sizes’ sheet and write at the top -in big letters- the size of the cuts you need to make (so for a 12” finished block, you’d write 2¾”). ALSO on the ‘main’ instructions, cross out wherever it says to make a 2” mark (on page 3, the one with all of the diagrams). Write in the size of cuts (2¾” in the example) every place you crossed out 2” on the page.
Tip #5 Marking the Squares
When you’re making the marks on your squares, it’s helpful to put a pin close to them so you don’t get carried away. (That’s the voice of experience talking there)
Tip #6 Sewing the Edges of the Squares
When sewing around the edges of the block, the instructions say to pivot at the corners. You’ll get a more accurate ¼” if you sew off the edge of the block and then begin your next seam at the edge of the block, instead of pivoting.
Sorry, didn’t think to take a picture until after the diagonal cut!
Tip #7 Measure Twice, Cut Once
Okay, it’s almost time to make those cuts. You’ve made the diagonal cut and stacked the two triangles together. When you lay your ruler on the fabric to make the next cut (2¾” in the example), make sure before you cut that the ¼” line on your ruler is on your seam/thread line. If your seam is fat or skinny (more or less than ¼”), fix it first, or it will be difficult to fit all of the pieces together easily.
Tip #8 Everything In Its Place
Sew the little 4-patch first. Don’t press the long skinny pieces! Just gently finger-press them (or hold them open with whatever’s handy) and lay them out around the 4-patch. Notice the placement of the dark fabrics – it makes a difference! There are two long skinny pieces with the dark on the left and two with the dark on the right. Lay them out as shown.
Starch your fabric very well BEFORE you cut the squares. When the block is completed, all of the outer edges will be on the bias, and nobody has fun with that! Go to Other Tips for a recipe for Quilter’s Moonshine (homemade spray starch) and other ideas.
Tip #9 Making Nests
Once the skinny sections are laid out properly, flip everything over so the back side of the fabric is facing up. You’ll find that the seam allowances are (finger)pressed so that they nest with the seams on the 4-patch… except for one.
You’ll need to reposition that seam so it lays in the other direction (toward the light, here).
You’re almost ready to press…
Side Trip Tip:
If you’re a ‘pinwheeler’, you’ll need to reposition TWO seams to the opposite direction. You know who you are… just be aware.
Tip #10 Pressing, Finally
Do not use steam when pressing. All the starch in the world won’t stop those bias edges from stretching if they’re wet!
