May BOM: Whorl

 

This block is featured in Issue 4 (Oct, Nov, Dec 2021) of The Modern Quilt Guild Journal. It is an easy block with a partial seam to challenge and build your skills.

One of the benefits of being a member of the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild is having an included membership to the Modern Quilt Guild. If you have not taken advantage of this resource, it is well worth signing up https://community.themodernquiltguild.com/user/login The Whorl block can be found in Resources/Block Studies/Beginner Friendly Piecing.

Materials: One fat eighth each of solid fabrics for Fabrics A and B in complementary colours. You can use a solid and a print if you wish. My fabric pull is Fabric A (deep coral) and Fabric B (green)

NOTE: All seams are a scant 1/4 inch. RST = Right Sides Together

1. From each of fabrics A and B cut (1) 8 1/2" x 20" strip

8 1/2" x 20" strips ready to subcut

2. Subcut each 8 1/2" x 20" strip into (2) 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles and (1) 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" square

Subcuts

3. Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

 Draw a line diagonally from corner to corner on the lightest 5 1/2" Fabric B (green) square

4. Place Fabric A (deep coral) and Fabric B (green) squares RST and sew a scant 1/4" on either side of the drawn line

Sew a scant 1/4" on each side of drawn line

Cut along the drawn line

Press each HST seam to the side

5. Make Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs)

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of one HST block

Position HST blocks RST matching alternate colours together and nesting centre seam

Sew a scant 1/4" on either side of the marked line

Cut along the line

Press seams open and trim QSTs to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"

You now have two QSTs. Set one QST aside for another project

6. With RST place the Fabric A (deep coral) side of a QST on top of a 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" Fabric A (deep coral) rectangle. Sew a partial seam to the halfway mark of the QST

Press partial seam toward Fabric A (deep coral) rectangle

Sew a Fabric B (green) 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle to the QST/Fabric A (deep coral) rectangle. Press seam away from the QST block

Sew remaining Fabric A (deep coral) 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle to bottom of the QST/Fabric B (green) rectangle. Press seam away from the QST block

Sew remaining Fabric B (green) 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle to the right hand side of the QST and Fabric A (deep coral) rectangle. Press seam away from the QST block

Finally, sew the remaining partial seam to the QST Fabric B (green) rectangle. Press seam away from the QST block

Trim block to 12.5" x 12.5"

Theresa

 Online Auction Postponed

Due to the Derecho storm that hit much of Ontario and Quebec, we will postpone the auction until everyone has power and can participate.  Stay tuned for the new dates.

April BOM: Gentle Improv Curves

Hi everyone! Leslie here with the instructions for the April Block Lotto/BOM draw activity.

This month we're going to make something I'm calling Gentle Improv Curves. I resisted the urge to call these "flattened curves" because, well, you know. #toosoon Each block is a solid background with two overlapping, improv curves on one of the sides of the block. Completed blocks should measure 10.5" square (finished size 10" square).

Fabric Instructions:

I'm going to be a little more prescriptive this month than normal. This month, each block should have a solid background fabric, and then two contrasting prints for the curves. Solids and prints can be any three colours of your choice, just pick what looks good to you, or what you have available. The main tip is that the three fabrics should be different enough from each other that there is a noticeable difference between the three parts of the completed block (background, curve 1, curve 2).

To achieve the 10.5" x 10.5" size of the completed block (finished size will be 10" square), your background piece should measure approximately 11" wide and 10.5" high to start.

Block Construction:

I'm using Patchwork Posse's tutorial on YouTube for this block. The gal behind Patchwork Posse is Becky Jorgensen (@patchwork_posse). It looks like she runs an online quilt community and produces a lot of materials and activities to help people connect and improve their quilting skills. Neat!

Becky's instructions are very detailed and she walks everyone through how to create a block with two gentle, overlapping curves. I only used 1 pin at the centre of each curve when I was sewing them, so these curves weren't very dramatic to piece.

The URL for the video tutorial is here in case the link above doesn't work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNS5ln8Wwjw

So have a go, make a few, and the winner should end up with a pile of rolling hill blocks in a bunch of different colours. What's not to love?