Block Of The Year - The X Block

This block is inspired by the Cross Block from “Quilt Improv" by Lucie Summers.

1. For the background fabric - choose a colourful print - no white, cream, beige, grey or black.

For the X - any shade of grey solid


From the background print cut - 1 square 6.5”x 6.5”

From the grey solid cut - 2 strips 1.5”x 10”

2. Cut the square in half on the diagonal. You now have two triangles.

3. Centre the long side of one triangle (right sides together) on the long side of a grey strip. The strip is longer than the triangle (on purpose), to allow for trimming in a later step.

3. Sew the triangle to the strip with a ¼” seam.

4. Centre the second triangle on the opposite side of the same grey strip, right sides together and directly opposite to the first triangle. Sew. Press both seams. Do not trim.

Sew. Press both seams. Do not trim.

5. Cut the resulting unit in half along the diagonal perpendicular to the grey strip.

 

You now have two triangles bisected by a strip of grey.

6. Add the second strip in the middle between the two triangles, as in steps 3 and 4 above. Press.

7. Trim the block to 6.5” square, centering the X. Don’t worry if your block is not perfectly centered - these are improv-ish blocks.

That’s it! Make as many as you like, all year long. We will collect them at each in person guild meeting, and make a draw at the June meeting for all the blocks.

Fall Themed Tunnel Block

This month’s block is inspired by Rachel Hauser’s Tunnel Block Tutorial on her blog, Stitched in Color. I have resized it, but kept her idea of monochrome blocks, moving from dark to light in the same colour as the block is stitched.

Colours 

I’ve taken my colour inspiration from the fall leaves. Choose red, gold, orange, or yellow for your block. You will need four fabrics in only one colour to form a gradient from dark to light. Solids are fine, or near solids and simple prints. The block is sewn in 4 layers with the darkest coloured fabric
at the centre (A) and the lightest coloured fabric at the outer edges (D).

Here are my fabric choices, all in yellow-gold:

Cut as follows:
From fabric A - 3.5" x 5"
From fabric B - 3" x 6.5" and (2) 2" x 5"
From fabric C - 3" x 9.5" and (2) 2" x 7.5"
From fabric D - 3" x 12.5" and (2) 2" x 10"

Sew the 2" strips of B to either side of A. Press.

 

Then add the 3”x 6.5” piece of B at the top.

 

In the same way, add layers C and D. Always join the 2" wide strips first, press, then add the 3" wide top piece.

The unfinished block measures 12.5”x12.5”.

               

The unfinished block measures 12.5" x 12.5".