September Block of the Month - Inspired by Gee's Bend

Block #1 - Celebrating Mary L. Bennett

The quilt that inspired this month’s block, called “Housetop”, was made by Mary L. Bennett, a self taught quilter, circa 1975.  Housetop is a log cabin variation, and instead of a solid centre square, Mary L. Bennett uses alternating dark and light strips for her centre.  Her choice of block layout is interesting as well, alternating horizontal and vertical direction for the centre strips.  For our block of the month, I’ve followed Mary L. Bennett’s lead and used strips for the centre square, maintaining her choice of a dark blue solid.  I’ve paired it with a white solid, and substituted bright orange for one of the blue strips.  The block finishes at 11.5” square.

Fabric requirements

Solids - dark blue, white, bright orange

Cutting

Dark blue solid 

2 - 2”x7” strips

2 - 2”x9” strips

2 - 2”x12” strips

White solid

4 - 1.5”x7” strips

2 - 1.5x9” strips

Bright orange solid 

1 - 2”x7” strip

To make the block:

1. Assemble the 7” strips.  Start with a white 1.5”x7” strip, and alternate with 2”x7” strips (order of 2”x7” strips does not matter).  End with a white strip.

Sew and press.

2.  Sew a 1.5”x9” strip to the top and bottom. Press.

3. Sew a dark blue 2”x9” strip to each side.  Press

Sew a dark blue 2”x12” strip to the top and bottom.  Press.

All done!  The block should measure 12 inches square.

May Block of the Month

 Celebration Sparklers

Let’s end our tenth anniversary celebration year with some fireworks - made of fabric of course!  This month’s block is inspired by the Iceland Ice block in the book “Zen Chic Inspired” by Brigitte Heitland.  Her blocks made me think of sparklers, those hand-held fireworks that produce bright, coloured sparks. I’ve changed up the colour scheme to mimic colourful sparklers against a dark night sky.  The block finishes at 12” square.

Fabric requirements

Black solid for the background

A bright solid, tone on tone, or small scale print that reads one colour for the sparkler strips

Cutting

From the black solid:

4 - 6”x6” squares; cut each black square in half along the diagonal to yield 8 triangles

From the bright fabric:

1 - 1.5” x 12.5” strip

2 - 1.5” x 6” strips

4 - 1.5” x 9” strips

Assembly

1. On each black triangle, mark the centre of the diagonal edge.  Mark the lengthwise centre of each 1.5”x 9” strip.  Place a 1.5”x 9” strip on the diagonal edge of one triangle with right sides together, matching the centres.  Sew the strip to the triangle.

2. Repeat to sew a second triangle to the opposite side of the strip, matching the centres.  Press seams towards the diagonal.

Trim the unit to 6” square, keeping the strip centred on the diagonal.  

Repeat to make a total of four square units. 

3. Sew a 1.5”x6” strip between two square units.  Press seams towards the centre strip.

The unit should measure 6”x 12.5”. 

Make another unit with the remaining two squares.

4. Sew the 1.5” x12.5” strip between the two rectangle units, as shown, to form a star or sparkler shape.  Press seams towards the centre strip.

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

April Block of the Month

 Tulip Time!

This month’s block has nothing to do with the number 10.  To celebrate spring, we’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled Tenth Anniversary Block of the Month programming to celebrate an iconic spring bulb here in Ottawa, the tulip! Based on the Amsterdam Quilt, a free project from Cloud Nine Fabrics, we’ll make super sized, scrappy blooms.

Fabrics  

For the tulips - two different main fabrics (prints or solids) in the same warm colour (yellow, orange, red, peach or pink)

For the leaves - green print or solid

For the stem - a different green print or solid

For the background - white solid

Cutting instructions 

Tulip Top

2 - 4.5” squares from one main fabric

2 - 2.5” squares white

Tulip Bottom

1 - 4.5” x 8.5” rectangle in second main fabric

2 - 2” squares white

Leaves 

2 - 5” squares green print or solid

2 - 5” squares white

Stem

1 - 1” x 8” rectangle in a different green print or solid than the leaves

Assembly instructions

1.TULIP TOP: 

Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on each white background square. Place in one corner of each 4.5” square.

Stitch along diagonal lines. Trim seam allowance to ¼" and press towards corner. 

Sew Tulip Top blocks together and press. 

2.TULIP BOTTOM: 

Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on each white background square. Place in bottom corners of the rectangle.

Stitch along diagonal lines. Trim seam allowance to ¼" and press towards corners. 

3. Sew Tulip Bottom to Tulip Top and press. 

4. LEAF BLOCKS: 

To make Half Square Triangles (HSTs) - 

Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on each white background square. 

With right sides together, make pairs of green and white squares. Sew ¼" from each side of marked line. 

Cut each block in two along marked line to yield four units.

Press to make four HST blocks. 

Trim blocks to 4.25" square. 

5. Arrange HSTs to form a Left Leaf and a Right Leaf.

Sew and press.

Sew Left and Right Leaf blocks to Stem and press. 

6. Sew Leaf & Stem Block to Tulip block and press. 

Your giant tulip block is done!  It should measure 8.5”x16”.