March Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

 Block #6 - Celebrating Annie May Young 

This month I’m inspired by the quilt on the cover of the book “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend”, created in 1976 by Annie May Young (born 1928).  She created this stunning quilt from work clothes, assembling a centre medallion of bright strips, surrounded by different shades of denim.  I am providing instructions for two versions of the block:  one in red and yellow (inspired by the top of the quilt); and one in red and brown (inspired by the bottom half of the quilt).  Both finish at 12” square.  In the above image Version 1 is on the left, Version 2 on the left.  Make one block or the other, or try both!  

Fabric requirements

Dark blue - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read dark blue

Red - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read red

Yellow (for version 1) - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read yellow

Brown (for version 2) - solids, near solids, small scale prints that read brown

Version 1 

C1= yellow

C2= red

Version 2

C1= brown

C2= red

Cutting

From the dark blue

2 - 2.5”x10.5” strips

1 - 2.5”x12.5” strip

From C1

4 - 1.5”x10.5” strips

From C2

4 - 1.5”x10.5” strips

Note:  The following photos show Version 2 of the block.  If you are making version 1, you will use yellow instead of brown.

To make the block:

Use a ¼” seam throughout.

1. Join the 1.5”x10.5” strips by sewing along the long side, alternating colours.  Press seams away from the centre.

2. Sew a dark blue 2.5”x10.5” strip to either side of the unit.  Press seams away from the centre.

3.  Sew the 2.5”x12.5” strip to the top of the unit.  Press seam away from the centre.

You are done!  The block should measure 12.5” square.

February Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

Block #5 - Celebrating Loretta Pettway and Gloria Hoppins 

I’m switching things up a bit this month, by drawing inspiration from two Gee’s Bend quilters - Loretta Pettway and Gloria Hoppins.  Loretta created a Courthouse Steps quilt (circa 1974) from a single block, made of dark and light blue denim.  I wanted to use the block design, known locally as Bricklayer, but was looking for a different colour scheme.  For that, I turned to a quilt by Gloria Hoppins, a sunny log cabin creation, circa 1975.  Our courthouse steps block combines yellow and low volume fabrics with a tiny pop of orange. The block finishes at 14 inches square.

Fabric requirements

Assorted scraps - 

Orange (small amount)

Yellow (solids, tone on tone, or small scale prints that read yellow)

Low volume 

Cutting

From the orange scrap

1 - 2.5”x2.5”

From the yellow scraps

2 - 2.5”x6.5”

2 - 2.5”x10.5”

2 - 2.5”x14.5”

From the low volume scraps

2 - 2.5”x2.5”

2 - 2.5”x6.5”

2 - 2.5”x10.5”

To make the block:

Use a scant ¼” seam throughout.

 

1. Sew a 2.5" low volume square to each side of the 2.5" orange square. Press seams away from the centre.

2. Sew a 6.5"x2.5" yellow strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

3. Sew a 6.5"x2.5" low volume strip to each side of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

4. Sew a 10.5"x2.5" yellow strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

5. Sew a 10.5"x2.5" low volume strip to each side of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

6. Sew a 14.5"x2.5" low volume strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.

You are done!  The block should measure 14.5” square.

 

January Block Lotto - Inspired by Gee's Bend

 Block #4 - Celebrating Lucy T. Pettway

This month my inspiration comes from a quilt called “Snowball” by Lucy T. Pettway, who  made quilts for seven decades.  Snowball is made up of red and white quarter circle blocks, assembled to give the illusion of a circle in a square.  For our block lotto, I’m changing up the block construction to a hand appliqued squircle - a cross between a square and a circle - and maintaining Lucy’s vibrant red and white palette.  The block finishes at 5” square.  

Fabric requirements

Red fabric - solid, or tone on tone, or small scale red print

White fabric - solid, or tone on tone

 

You will also need the following

Fabric scissors

Pins (regular or applique)

Needle and thread in contrasting colour for basting

Seam gauge

Needle (milliner’s or applique)

Thread that matches squircle for the needle turn applique

Note:  If you are new to needle turn applique (or you would like a refresher), here is a link to an excellent how to video by guild member Jenn McMillan. 

Another good resource is the book “Savor Each Stitch” by Carolyn Friedlander.  The following instructions are based on the above resources

Cutting

1 - 5.5”x5.5” background fabric, either red or white

1 - 4”x4” squircle fabric in whichever colour you didn’t use for the background

To make the block:

1. To cut the squircle, use sharp fabric scissors to round the corners of the 4” square squircle fabric.

2. Centre the squircle on the background square and pin in place.

3. Use a contrasting thread to baste the squircle to the background square ¼” from the raw edge (use seam gauge for accuracy).  Remove pins as you baste. 

4. Thread the applique (or milliner’s) needle with thread that matches the squircle fabric, knotting one end.

5. Using the tip of your needle (or your fingers) fold raw edge of squircle under to meet basting, creating a ⅛” turn-under allowance. 

 

Bring the needle up from the back of the background block through all layers close to the folded edge. 

Direct needle down through background fabric at folded applique edge, and back up through squircle ⅛” from previous stitch. 

6. Continue around the squircle until all edges are folded under and stitched down.  Knot thread on wrong side of block.

7. Remove the basting thread and press. 

You are done!  The block should measure 5.5” square.