Freestyle Arcs

Due: Our next in-person event, in April

Technique: Improv curved piecing

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month's block is improv quarter circle arcs. The blocks you turn in should be 10 x 10 inches (they'll finish at 9.5" when sewn together as a quilt). 

Fabrics and cutting

Background: White or a very low volume fabric that reads as white.

Other fabrics: Two or more bright modern fabrics for the arcs: solids, prints, or a mixture. You can choose the number and size of arcs to add to the block.

The amount of fabric you'll need depends on your style of piecing, but the technique I show below makes a wonky block that needs quite a bit of trimming to square it up, so it's best to aim for a significantly larger size than 10 x 10", then trim it to size at the end.

Steps

There are several ways to create these blocks - feel free to use your favourite technique! For example, if you took the curved piecing workshop with Cheryl, she showed a nifty way to get accurate improv curves without the wonkiness that that you'll notice with the technique I'm showing below. 

When you're assembling the blocks, you can start with the background and work your way in, or start with the inside. Here's a technique that starts with the center:

1. Freehand cut a quarter circle(ish) for one corner of your block.
   

   
   
2. Lay the piece you just cut on top of the next fabric, right sides up. Cut along the outside edge of the quarter circle to cut the inside edge of the arc that you'll be attaching. You can also cut the outer edge of the arc now, or do it after you've sewn these two pieces together.
   
   
   
3. Stitch the two pieces together, right sides together. You can pin the pieces together before stitching, or just match one end of the two pieces, then stitch until the end. It helps to occasionally stop with the needle in the fabric and lift the presser foot to ease the tension and reposition the pieces. 
   
4. When finished, you'll likely have some extra fabric to trim off. At this point, you can move on to adding the background, or add one or more extra arcs.
   
   
   
5. In this example, I've added another arc using the same method.
   
   
   
6. Use the same technique to add the background.
   
    
7. Trim the block to 10"square. 
    

   

   
   

   If you win the blocks, there are several ways to assemble the blocks. You could line them up all facing in the same direction, position them randomly, arrange pairs of them in rows of rainbow shapes, or join for four together to make circles. Have fun!

   

   
   

Additional resources

• Improv Circles tutorial by Leanne from She Can Quilt. The tutorial also includes links to a video and other instructions by Leanne.
• Improv Quarter Circle Photo Tutorial by Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl. 
• Yvonne also has a Curved Piecing: Beyond the Drunkard's Path video on the MQG site (login required). 

February Block Lotto: I Love Economy Blocks

Due: Our next in-person event, in April

Technique: Fussy-cutting, piecing, and trimming blocks

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month, we're making Economy blocks, with a central square that represents something you love. 

I absolutely love Economy blocks (sometimes called Square in a Square). They're a traditional block that's easily transformed into something more modern by your choice of fabrics, and they provide a great opportunity for highlighting special fabrics.

For this month's block, pick something special for the center square of the block: fabric that depicts something you love, something that reminds you of a loved one, your favourite colour, a treasured fabric scrap, etc.

Fabrics and cutting

Central square: Cut a 4.5" square. When fussy cutting, it can help to use tape to mark a 4.5" square on a clear ruler or make a template so that you can plan how to cut the square. Remember that 1/4" on each side of the square will be in the seam allowance.

Inner (first round) triangles: Cut 2 squares, each 4-1/4". Then cut the squares in half diagonally.

Outer (second round) triangles: Cut 2 squares, each 5-1/2". Then cut the squares in half diagonally.

Steps

1. Mark the center of each side of the square, and the long (cut) side of the triangles.
   
2. Center the long edge of one of the first round triangles with one edge of the square, and stitch. Be careful because the triangles are cut on the bias, so they can be a bit wiggly/stretchy. 
3. Repeat with the opposite side. 
4. Press seams towards the triangles. 
   
5. Trim the extra flaps of the triangles so that they're even with the centre square.
    
6. Repeat steps 2-4 with the other two inner triangles.
7. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4" all around the block. Measure seam allowance from the point on the inner square.  
    
8. Repeat the same steps to attach the outer set of triangles, lining up the centre of the long edge of the triangle with the point of the inner square.  
   
9. Trim the block so that the outer seam allowance is 1/4". The block should be 8.5 x 8.5".
   
   

Additional resources

• Catbird Quilt Studio: Economy Block ANY Size
• Red Pepper Quilts Economy Block Tutorial
• Just Get It Done Quilts Economy Block Video
• Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild instructions from November 2018

January Block Lotto: Play in the Snow!

Due: Our next in-person event, in April 

Technique: Improv 

New to block lotto? Learn about it here

This month, let’s have some fun with improvisational blocks! You can use improv piecing or applique. This goal of this month is to experiment and have fun.

If you’d like to learn more about improv, the MQG site has this great Improv Resource Playlist (requires member login).

A few constraints to give the blocks some harmony:

• Take inspiration from winter, though you don’t need to make a literal representation of something wintery. Maybe take inspiration from a snowflake, a winter storm, an icy river - whatever you like.
• Keep the colours limited to white and cool shades of blue (leave the tropical aqua tones for warmer weather!)
• The blocks you turn in should be 8.5 x 8.5”, or slightly bigger. With improv, it’s often easier to aim for a slightly bigger block and then trim it down.