November BOM: Intersection Block

This month we will be making the intersection block by Film in the Fridge. For more information on the block, you can look at her blog post (https://filminthefridge.com/2014/11/19/intersection-block-a-tutorial/).

Colour palette:

Prints 

Finished block size: 11.5 in square

Cutting requirements:

(1) 8in square Fabric A

(2) 1.5x8 in Fabric B

(2) 1.5x10 in Fabric B
(2) 1.5x10 in Fabric C
(2) 1.5x12 in Fabric C
Piecing instructions:
1. Take Fabric B (8in), and sew it on either side of Fabric A. Press.

2. Take Fabric B (10in) and sew it on the top and bottom of your main unit. Press.

3. Take Fabric C (10in) and sew it to the sides of your main unit. Press. 

4. Take the (12in) strips and add to top and bottom of the unit. Press.

5. Trim block to 12 in.

6. Take your ruler and cut the block down the middle at the 6in mark, cutting it once vertically and once horizontally. You should now have (4) 6in squares.

7. Rotate your squares so they look like the image. Your outer borders should now form a cross in the middle.

8. Sew the blocks together (top and bottom), then sew the units together. Press.

9. Trim to be 11.5in.

October BOM: Portholes

 Taking some inspiration from Lucie Summers, in her book "Quilt Improv", we're making porthole blocks this month! If you want to explore more of her designs, I highly recommend taking the book out of the library.

Colour palette: Any prints that go together

Fabric:

1x 8.5x8.5in square (Main fabric)

1x 8.5x8.5in square (Lining fabric, can be anything as it won't be seen through the hole. Solids are great for this)

1x 6x6in approx. panel of fabric (for the inside of the porthole, can be pieced together)

You're going to need a 4in circle template. You can either make one yourself, print off the one provided (make sure to scale to 100% and measure across once you print it to make sure it is the right size), or pick one up from the BOM table.

https://patternuniverse.com/files/downloads/4-inch-circle-pattern.pdf

Piecing Instructions:

1. Line the two 8.5in squares together, right sides together. Find the middle and place the circle template in the middle as close as you can. Trace the template with a heat erasable pen.

2. Sew along the circle line that you traced.

3. Cut out the middle, leaving about 1/4in from the seams.

4. Take the lining fabric and bring it through to the front. Iron it from the back as it doesn't matter if the main fabric pokes through the back a bit, but you don't want the lining to be showing on the front. Ironing the circle might make it a tad wonky, but do your best to straighten it out. We will be trimming it slightly afterwards.

4. Place your pieced/one piece porthole fabric behind the hole, so that it shows through the hole on the main fabric side.

5. Using a 1/4in seam, sew around your hole to stitch the porthole to your block.

6. Take your ruler and square up the block so that it measures 8x8in.

Here is an example of a few blocks finished together. As you can see, I've included some of the pieces middles as well as one piece middles.

Block of the Year 2022-2023

We are bringing back block of the year (BOY)! The way BOY works, is you work on the blocks throughout the year and every block you submit gives you a chance to win ALL the blocks. The patterns tend to be smaller, easier blocks to make and this year we will be doing improv pluses that are 5 inches square. 

At every in person meeting, you will have the chance to give in blocks and we will record it throughout the year. At the last meeting (June 2023), we will give out tickets and do a draw to see who is the winner. 

Bellow are the instructions on how to make your blocks and the colours used.

Colour palette:

Background can be any light beige, light grey, or white solid OR tone on tone

Pluses can be made up of any colour in prints or solids

Cutting instructions:

5.5in square of background (if you're not comfortable, you can also start with a 6 in square)

(2) strips at least 5.5in x how thick you want the plus to be

Piecing:

1. Cut the background square in half, doesn't have to be measured and can be on an angle.

2. Sew one of the plus strips in between the two pieces. Press.

3. In the opposite direction, make a cut that goes through the middle, like the first one. Repeat step 2 when attaching the strip in place. Press.

4. Trim your block to be 5in square.