Block 11

Warning Yvette! Next week's block will be the tough one.

I'll try to bracket the tough ones with simpler blocks. This one is basically a 4-patch centre in a log cabin.

Basically I cut the centre blocks to the correct size and made the 4-patch. The remaining strips, I cut larger and trimmed the block down to size each round.

Side one.

Side two.

Side three.

Side four. Trim down to size. Lather, rinse, repeat. (Many many more times. :)

After you've completed 4 more rounds like that first one, you've got block 11!

Block 83

Twice now I've pulled a really tough block out of my bowl. I've put it back again and picked something else, but I'm thinking we're going to have to tackle it soon. (Just not the weekend before Christmas. :)

This one is a simpler one. :) For this one, I did not piece the flying geese strips, I paper pieced them. The measurements do not work out evenly, so paper piecing was easier. The numbering for the stitching order are on the piece of paper with all the pieces, I hope you can see it.

Here the block is with all its elements put together. Those pesky corner squares surprised me and turned out to be the trickiest. All I can say is watch where that outer dark square is. The 2 corners are actually two mirror images of the other two.

I've attached the corner blocks to the flying geese strips to bring us back to a funky 9-patch.

And here is our finished block! (Untrimmed :)

Block 35

This one has a few more pieces than the others we've been doing, but it's not the toughest. From the pictures I picked 2 lights, 2 mediums, and 1 dark.

First step is taking care of all those flying geese (Yup, there really are 12 of them) and the 1/4 square triangles.

Once you've done this, the flying geese are put together and sashing is added to the corner 1/4 square triangles. Now we're once again back to our friend the 9-patch. :)

Yeah! block 35 is done!

Block 50

A little bit of a challenge this week. We're tackling Y seams. If you look at the block diagram, you'll see two sets of Y seams, one in the middle border and one in the outer border. I modified things a little for the outer border just to make it a little easier.

Kristie - I can't see how to paper piece this one and avoid the Y seams. I'd love to see how you managed this one.

One again, our starting components...

This one starts off with 5 square in a square blocks. I also pieced the outer rectangles and the middle pieces to make the lovely trapezoids.

Now for the Y seams... Mark the corners of the centre square in a square block and all 4 trapezoids. For the trapezoids, you only need to make the 2 corners of the narrow side. The pencil marks are a little faint but I think you can see them in the picture below.

Find and pin to those 1/4" marks. I also pined the centres for good measure. You want to sew only to the 1/4" seam allowance. Remember to back stitch on these seams. (Otherwise your block will unravel.)

Once you've completed all 4 sides, you'll have this funny looking block with the diagonal seams still to go. (The observant among you will notice that my block is very un-square like. I remembered to cut the parallelograms wider than the pattern called for but forgot the triangles.) I recommend cutting the two a little wider than called for and trimming the square down when you're done. (The blue fabric is there just to show the un-sewn seam)

Fold your block and pin your Y seams. Once again, only sew to your 1/4" seam allowance and remember to backstitch. Once you've done this for all 4 seams, press and square up your block.

We're now back to our friend the 9-patch. Isn't it interesting that we can send up with so many different blocks with the same basic elements. This makes me think of all sorts of math related analogies, but I'll spare you. :)

 

And our block is done! I may actually re-do this one. The cool swirly pattern of the block is lost in the pattern of the fabric but for now, I'll celebrate another block done!