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!

Block 21

Another nice relatively simple one for us. Though, I'm thinking we're going to have to try a few of the tough ones just so we don't end up with only tough ones at the end. Maybe one tough one before Christmas and we'll save the rest for after?

First step is the 1/2 square triangles and the centre strip.

Then the sashing to create the corner blocks. Now we're back to our favourite friend the 9-patch. :)

And tada! Our next block.

Block 41

This one has quite a few pieces, but at least they're the same thing. :)

I started this one off with all the 1/2 square triangles. Is anyone interested in more detailed tutorials for the specific block elements that keep repeating themselves or should I assume everyone is familiar with them?

I cut my squares 1" instead of 7/8" larger than the finished size, draw my diagonal line and sew 1/4" away on each side of the line. I do need to square up each block, but that extra 1/8" makes a big difference to the accuracy of the finished square. There are days that little extra wiggle room is a life saver!

Here are all the 1/2 square triangles ready for squaring up.

I then cut the remaining pieces and laid everything out.

I made rows of the 1/2 square triangles. This block I was very careful with the pressing. I alternated the direction of each row so the seams would not all end up on the same side of the seam. It's going to be bulky enough without that.

I put the rows together and added the red border. (Were I to do this one again, I think I'd leave the red border until the end.)  I then appliqued the handle onto the large red 1/2 square triangle and added it to the block.

And there you have it. Block 10!

Block 6

Another week, another block. This one is a fairly simple one. There is an almost log cabin centre for an Ohio square block. Once again, for the flying geese, I used the fast flying geese method.

Just like last week, you pull your centre together (though a simpler one for us this week) and with your flying geese. You, once again, get our friend the 9-patch.

Put together the 9-patch and tada! Our next block.

Next week we tackle our 10th block! Yeah!!!

Block 34

Another fun block for us. This one is basically a square-in-a-square-in-a-square... centre for an Ohio star block.

Once again I used the fast flying geese method for the flying geese blocks. Once you've made the 4 flying geese and the centre square, it's back to our old familiar friend the 9-patch.

 Tada! The finished block.

Block 66

Another flying crazy week. Not quite as simple as the last one, but another simpler one for us. Not too many pieces.

Make 4 hour glass blocks with your light and dark fabrics. You'll also have 5 medium squares. Then we get to create our old friend, the 9-patch.

Once the 9-patch is together, add strips along the outside borders. I cut these slightly wider and then cleaned up the block afterwards. This helps make things a little more accurate.

And, yeah! Another finished block!

Block 13

A super simple one this week. This should let everyone catch up. (Plus, I got home tonight, went to post this week's block and realized that I hadn't done one!! Oops) So, instead of picking a number out of the bowl, I picked the first simple block I found.

Here are the cut pieces.

The strips ready for final assembly.

The finished block!

Block 86

Our first edge block. There are two ways to make this block. You can either make the block and then cut it in half diagonally. Doing this, you lose the 1/4" seam allowance on the edges. Or you can rework the blocks and make two triangles with seam allowances. It's your choice.

The Non-red block is the make the block and cut in half method. Here are the pieces to start off with. Note - when you're cutting the large outer rectangles (white in this block) are shorter on the top than on the sides.

This block is a square in a square centre. (Just found on the correct name for the diamonds. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused) . Then we're back to a centre 9-patch then an outer 9-patch for construction.

And here we have the block ready to be cut. Just make sure you have the block orientated correctly before you cut.

Here are the pieces for making the block as two triangles. Just to mix things up, I switched the medium and light for the outer border.

It's the same basic principles for the block, regardless of which way you're doing things.

For the upper and bottom edges, I didn't attempt to cut triangles. I left things as rectangles and trimmed after everything was done. The shapes were a little weird and I figured it'd be easier this way.

And here we have the finished triangles. One trimmed, one not. You can probably tell from the colours which way I chose to approach these blocks. Yup, I'm one of those people. :) I was looking at the quilt and figured having the posts in the sashing different on the edges would probably bother me.

I leave you with a few more quilts for inspiration: dkerns; Becky's. This one had no name but I love the sashing.