Block of the Month Directions
Click on block to view instructions or go to the website provided. Please familiarize yourself with the guidelines below before making your block. Questions? Contact Block of the Month Chairman Betty Fessler, Bjfessler@aim.com.
February 2023
Cherry tree BLock
DUE AT march 2023 MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
LLQG Feb 2023 BOM – Cherry Tree
8” unfinished
This is a fairly easy block. I used fat quarters.
White fabric: cut 2 squares - 4 5/8”
cut 1 square – 3 3/8”
cut all in half diagonally once.
Green fabric: Cut 4 strips – 1 ¼” wide. Cut 1 square – 1 1/2”, and cut it once diagonally. Also Cut 1 – rectangle at 1 ¼” X 4” from your fourth strip. Red fabric: cut 3 strips – 1 ¼ wide.
1) Finger press the center of the two ends of the rectangle and finger press the long edge of the two green triangles. Match the triangle center to the rectangle end center and sew the two green triangles to the ends of the rectangle, press up and trim. Then sew the 2 smaller white triangles one to either side of the rectangle strip. That is the bottom left side of the inner square.
2) Sew two strip sets together of green/red/green and one strip set together of red/green/red. Cut all strip sets apart at 1 ¼”.
3) Sew 3 green/red/green strip pieces together to 3 red/green/red strip pieces together alternating strips so that no color is next to itself, press open.
4) Next sew the 3 strip sets you just made together and sew 1 more green/red/green piece to the end, so that this finished strip set starts and ends with G/R/G, and no color is next to a block of the same color, Containing a total of 7 individual strip sets. Press seams open. This is the top half of the inner block.
5) Now sew 2 red/green/red pieces to 2 green/red/green pieces. Press open, then sew these 2 sets together again, and press open again, for a finished block containing 4 individual strip sets.
6) Next trim your white and green square to fit to the left of the 4 piece strip set you just made in step 5 if needed and sew them together.
7) Now you can sew the 7 piece strip set you made in step 4 to the top of the half block you just made in step six.
8) Lastly you will make this into a square in a square block by sewing the 4 large white triangles onto the 4 sides of the cherry tree block. You can either go around the block in doing this, or side to side. Trim the block so that you have ¼” above the points of the inner tree block on all four edges. You are done!
8” unfinished
This is a fairly easy block. I used fat quarters.
White fabric: cut 2 squares - 4 5/8”
cut 1 square – 3 3/8”
cut all in half diagonally once.
Green fabric: Cut 4 strips – 1 ¼” wide. Cut 1 square – 1 1/2”, and cut it once diagonally. Also Cut 1 – rectangle at 1 ¼” X 4” from your fourth strip. Red fabric: cut 3 strips – 1 ¼ wide.
1) Finger press the center of the two ends of the rectangle and finger press the long edge of the two green triangles. Match the triangle center to the rectangle end center and sew the two green triangles to the ends of the rectangle, press up and trim. Then sew the 2 smaller white triangles one to either side of the rectangle strip. That is the bottom left side of the inner square.
2) Sew two strip sets together of green/red/green and one strip set together of red/green/red. Cut all strip sets apart at 1 ¼”.
3) Sew 3 green/red/green strip pieces together to 3 red/green/red strip pieces together alternating strips so that no color is next to itself, press open.
4) Next sew the 3 strip sets you just made together and sew 1 more green/red/green piece to the end, so that this finished strip set starts and ends with G/R/G, and no color is next to a block of the same color, Containing a total of 7 individual strip sets. Press seams open. This is the top half of the inner block.
5) Now sew 2 red/green/red pieces to 2 green/red/green pieces. Press open, then sew these 2 sets together again, and press open again, for a finished block containing 4 individual strip sets.
6) Next trim your white and green square to fit to the left of the 4 piece strip set you just made in step 5 if needed and sew them together.
7) Now you can sew the 7 piece strip set you made in step 4 to the top of the half block you just made in step six.
8) Lastly you will make this into a square in a square block by sewing the 4 large white triangles onto the 4 sides of the cherry tree block. You can either go around the block in doing this, or side to side. Trim the block so that you have ¼” above the points of the inner tree block on all four edges. You are done!
DECEMBER 2022
cardinal BLock
DUE AT JANUARY 2023 MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
This is an extremely easy block to do. You have three block sizes to cut, 2 ½ inch squares, 3 inch squares and 3 ¼ inch squares.
You will need 12 white 2 ½ inch squares and 8 red 2 ½ inch squares.
For the half square triangles, I cut mine at 3 inches and trimmed to 2 ½ inches after I sewed the half square triangles together.
Cut 8 - 3 inch white squares and subcut diagonally once. Cut 4 – 3 inch green squares and subcut diagonally once.
I used 3 different red fabrics in my cardinal, you may use whatever number of fabrics you wish, the number of red half square triangles you need is 8, but the number of squares you need to cut depends on the number of fabrics you use in the half square triangle blocks. Because I only used 2 of the 3 red fabrics in half square triangle positions, I cut 5 squares 3 inch squares, 4 from one fabric and 1 from the other, that gave me 2 extra half square triangles, one from each color. The beak and eye units use one half square triangle and two quarter square triangles each. Cut your required number of red half square triangles.
Cut 1 - 3 ¼ inch square of white, yellow, black and whatever red you choose for around the eye! Subcut all diagonally twice! These are your quarter square triangles. You will only use one from each color.
Sew the white quarter square triangle to the yellow quarter square triangle, you do not sew them on the long edge, you sew on one of the side edges. Lay them out as in the picture and make sure you sew them into the right space. You are making a half square triangle out of them. Press open and then sew a white half square triangle to your two color half square triangle you just created. Press open again trim the square to 2 ½ inches. Repeat this process with your black and red quarter square triangles and one of the red half square triangles.
Sew 7 white half square triangles to the seven green half square triangles, press open. Sew seven white half square triangles to seven red half square triangles and press open. Trim all to 2 ½ inches.
Now layout all of your 2 ½ inch blocks including those your created with half square triangles and quarter square triangles, according to the grid below.
In row 1 sew the first two blocks together, then the next two blocks and the next two, for 3 sets of two blocks. Continue down the rows doing the same, chain piecing, until you’ve sewed all the blocks together in sets of two. Cut your sets apart and press open, then re lay them out into the grid pattern.
Now start at the top again and sew the first two sets in row 1 together, then chain piece and sew the row 2 first two sets together. Go down the rest of the rows doing the same. Cut them apart and press open. Lay them out again in the grid.
Again start at row one and add the last set of two to the end of the row. Do the same for the rest of the rows. Press open and put them back into the grid pattern making sure your block looks like the one in the grid.
Now sew row 1 to row 2 matching points. I use ultra fine pins through the seams. Press the seams open, then sew row 3 to the bottom of row 2, matching points. Press open.
Next sew row 4 to row 5, matching points and press the seams open. Then sew row 6 to row 5, matching points and press the seam open.
Lastly sew row 3 to row 4, matching points and press the seams open.
I always try to keep whatever I am sewing together as evenly matched in size as I can. It makes it easier to manage sewing large quilts together.
The block should be 12 ½ inches square and 12 inches finished!
Here’s a copy of the graph flipped over in case you want to make a medallion out of four of these blocks facing each other! Have fun! You can make other birds as well by changing their colors and adding other elements. You have license to Make this your own way!
You will need 12 white 2 ½ inch squares and 8 red 2 ½ inch squares.
For the half square triangles, I cut mine at 3 inches and trimmed to 2 ½ inches after I sewed the half square triangles together.
Cut 8 - 3 inch white squares and subcut diagonally once. Cut 4 – 3 inch green squares and subcut diagonally once.
I used 3 different red fabrics in my cardinal, you may use whatever number of fabrics you wish, the number of red half square triangles you need is 8, but the number of squares you need to cut depends on the number of fabrics you use in the half square triangle blocks. Because I only used 2 of the 3 red fabrics in half square triangle positions, I cut 5 squares 3 inch squares, 4 from one fabric and 1 from the other, that gave me 2 extra half square triangles, one from each color. The beak and eye units use one half square triangle and two quarter square triangles each. Cut your required number of red half square triangles.
Cut 1 - 3 ¼ inch square of white, yellow, black and whatever red you choose for around the eye! Subcut all diagonally twice! These are your quarter square triangles. You will only use one from each color.
Sew the white quarter square triangle to the yellow quarter square triangle, you do not sew them on the long edge, you sew on one of the side edges. Lay them out as in the picture and make sure you sew them into the right space. You are making a half square triangle out of them. Press open and then sew a white half square triangle to your two color half square triangle you just created. Press open again trim the square to 2 ½ inches. Repeat this process with your black and red quarter square triangles and one of the red half square triangles.
Sew 7 white half square triangles to the seven green half square triangles, press open. Sew seven white half square triangles to seven red half square triangles and press open. Trim all to 2 ½ inches.
Now layout all of your 2 ½ inch blocks including those your created with half square triangles and quarter square triangles, according to the grid below.
In row 1 sew the first two blocks together, then the next two blocks and the next two, for 3 sets of two blocks. Continue down the rows doing the same, chain piecing, until you’ve sewed all the blocks together in sets of two. Cut your sets apart and press open, then re lay them out into the grid pattern.
Now start at the top again and sew the first two sets in row 1 together, then chain piece and sew the row 2 first two sets together. Go down the rest of the rows doing the same. Cut them apart and press open. Lay them out again in the grid.
Again start at row one and add the last set of two to the end of the row. Do the same for the rest of the rows. Press open and put them back into the grid pattern making sure your block looks like the one in the grid.
Now sew row 1 to row 2 matching points. I use ultra fine pins through the seams. Press the seams open, then sew row 3 to the bottom of row 2, matching points. Press open.
Next sew row 4 to row 5, matching points and press the seams open. Then sew row 6 to row 5, matching points and press the seam open.
Lastly sew row 3 to row 4, matching points and press the seams open.
I always try to keep whatever I am sewing together as evenly matched in size as I can. It makes it easier to manage sewing large quilts together.
The block should be 12 ½ inches square and 12 inches finished!
Here’s a copy of the graph flipped over in case you want to make a medallion out of four of these blocks facing each other! Have fun! You can make other birds as well by changing their colors and adding other elements. You have license to Make this your own way!
november 2022
CHRISTMAS TREE BLock
DUE AT december MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
LLQG BOM DEC22 – CHRISTMAS TREE
This is classed as an Intermediate block but with all the triangles I’ve had you doing, I know you can do this! The original Victorian block is on the right, the one on the left is my modern adaption. This block is on point, but when making it you will flop it over onto it’s right side. You will make all your half square triangle blocks first though, so let’s start there. I worked with ¼ yards. Let’s work on the Victorian version first and then you can adapt it to whatever you want afterwards.
All sewing is ¼”. READ this whole explanation before you begin.
Cut 1- 2 ½” strip from both your red and white fabrics folded right sides together, width of fabric. Starting on the non-folded edge, subcut into 15- 2 ½” squares. This gives you 2 extra half square triangle blocks in case needed. Now match a red to a white square, white side up, and using a Fons & Porter add a seam 1/5” ruler, if you have one, position the line diagonally on the white square and mark a line down both sides of the ruler, then you will sew on the two lines and cut between them on the diagonal. If you do not have this ruler, then mark the diagonal with a pencil and sew down a ¼” from both sides of the line. Press the seams open and trim to 2” squares by lining the diagonal line on your ruler down the seam. Looking at you red fabric separate into the left and top facing triangle and the bottom and right facing triangles based on the design of the fabric. 15 squares for each Stack.
Next take the remaining red strip and unfold and cut 1 - 2 ½” square and subcut diagonally. Now take the remaining red 2 ½” strip and trim to 2 inches wide and subcut 4- 2” squares. Now if you still have enough fabric left on the strip, trim it to 1 ¾” wide and subcut to 1- 4 ¾” rectangle, else cut from your other remaining red fabric. The last red fabric cut you need to make is 1- 3 7/8” square, subcut diagonally once.
Now let’s cut the remaining white fabric. Take the remaining white fabric strip trim to 2” wide and leave folded. We need 2- 2” squares, 2 – 3 ½” rectangles and 2 – 8 inch rectangles, so depending on how much is left on this folded remaining strip, 14 inches of folded fabric will give you all 3 of these sizes by making one cut for each. If you do not have this much cut the rest from your other remaining white fabric. You will also need 1- 3 7/8” square subcut diagonally once, and 1 – 8 X 5” block, fold this in half wrong sides together, for “4 x 5” and subcut out your template pieces. (By folding wrong sides together we will get both sides in 1 cut!)
Now we start sewing pieces together!
Take 4 – 2” half square triangle squares , all with red to the left and top of the square, and sew them together into a strip, left to right! Do this three times. Set aside.
Next take 4 – 2” half square triangle squares , all with red to the right and bottom of the square, and sew them together into a strip, left to right! Do this two times. Set aside.
We start on the bottom left half of this block by working on the trunk of the tree. Take the 2 white blocks cut with the template separated and right sides up, with the shortest square edge facing in to each other and place one of the two triangles cut from the single diagonally cut red 2 ½” square, long edge of triangle is on the right side facing down, to that short straight edge of the block that is marked and sew them together. If you have positional fabric check your fabric before you sew it down. Then press open and trim points hanging off the block. Do this for both sides.
Next take the red 1 ¾” X 4 ¾” strip and sew to the two sides we just attached the red triangles on. Red triangles should be on the bottom of the block! Press to the red strip in the center on both sides.
Now take one of the 3 7/8” red triangles and sew it to the top of the block just made above. Press open. Then take one of the 3 7/8” white triangles and sew it to the bottom of the same block, press open.
Next take one of the 4 piece half square triangle strips with the red triangles facing left and top, and sew it to the top side of block with the trunk top(single red triangle, facing up on right), to check compare to bottom left third of marked block below.
Now we work on putting together the right side of bottom of the picture.
Take one of the 2” red squares and attach it to the top of one of the 4 piece half square triangle strips with the red triangles facing the bottom and right side of the block. Then take the other 4 piece half square triangle strip facing in the same direction and attach a white 2” square to the bottom of the strip. Sew these two strips together, press the seam open.
Next take 3 more of the red facing bottom and right, half square triangles and sew them into a strip going down, press seams open. Then attach one of the white 2” X 3 ½” rectangles to the bottom, press the seam open. Now attach one of the 2” X 8” white rectangles to the right of the previous strip. Take this strip set and attach it to the first strip set so that the red 2” square is on the top left, and the white 2” X 8” rectangle is on the left outside edge. Press seams open. Compare to right bottom right of picture. Sew the two blocks together, trunk block on left and press open. NOW for the top!
Take the last 2 red, left and top facing, half square triangles and sew them together left to right, press open. Next sew a 2” red square to the right side of the 2 half square triangles. Next sew the remaining 2” x 8” white strip the left side of the strip you just made. This is the top row of the tree.
Next you will take 1 – 2” red square and sew it to the left of 1 - right and bottom facing red half square triangle. Press open, then sew 1 of the remaining 4 piece half square triangle blocks to the left of the block you just sewed together. Now sew a 2” white square to the left of that. Press all seams open.
This is part of the second row down
Take the last 2 red half square triangles, with the red triangle facing to the right and bottom, and sew them together left to right. Next sew the last 2" red square to the left of the two triangle strip you just completed. Press open. Now sew the last remaining 4 piece half square triangle strip set to the left of the strip you just pressed open, and press the new seam open. This is spart of the third row of the top section. Next sew the second row section to the top of the third row strip, press open, then sew the last 2" X 3½" red strip to the left of these two row, press open. Now sew the first row to the top of the second/third row strip set, matching points. Press open. Then sew the top section to the bottom section.
Press open. Phew, we're done!
LLQG BOM DEC22 – CHRISTMAS TREE
This is classed as an Intermediate block but with all the triangles I’ve had you doing, I know you can do this! The original Victorian block is on the right, the one on the left is my modern adaption. This block is on point, but when making it you will flop it over onto it’s right side. You will make all your half square triangle blocks first though, so let’s start there. I worked with ¼ yards. Let’s work on the Victorian version first and then you can adapt it to whatever you want afterwards.
All sewing is ¼”. READ this whole explanation before you begin.
Cut 1- 2 ½” strip from both your red and white fabrics folded right sides together, width of fabric. Starting on the non-folded edge, subcut into 15- 2 ½” squares. This gives you 2 extra half square triangle blocks in case needed. Now match a red to a white square, white side up, and using a Fons & Porter add a seam 1/5” ruler, if you have one, position the line diagonally on the white square and mark a line down both sides of the ruler, then you will sew on the two lines and cut between them on the diagonal. If you do not have this ruler, then mark the diagonal with a pencil and sew down a ¼” from both sides of the line. Press the seams open and trim to 2” squares by lining the diagonal line on your ruler down the seam. Looking at you red fabric separate into the left and top facing triangle and the bottom and right facing triangles based on the design of the fabric. 15 squares for each Stack.
Next take the remaining red strip and unfold and cut 1 - 2 ½” square and subcut diagonally. Now take the remaining red 2 ½” strip and trim to 2 inches wide and subcut 4- 2” squares. Now if you still have enough fabric left on the strip, trim it to 1 ¾” wide and subcut to 1- 4 ¾” rectangle, else cut from your other remaining red fabric. The last red fabric cut you need to make is 1- 3 7/8” square, subcut diagonally once.
Now let’s cut the remaining white fabric. Take the remaining white fabric strip trim to 2” wide and leave folded. We need 2- 2” squares, 2 – 3 ½” rectangles and 2 – 8 inch rectangles, so depending on how much is left on this folded remaining strip, 14 inches of folded fabric will give you all 3 of these sizes by making one cut for each. If you do not have this much cut the rest from your other remaining white fabric. You will also need 1- 3 7/8” square subcut diagonally once, and 1 – 8 X 5” block, fold this in half wrong sides together, for “4 x 5” and subcut out your template pieces. (By folding wrong sides together we will get both sides in 1 cut!)
Now we start sewing pieces together!
Take 4 – 2” half square triangle squares , all with red to the left and top of the square, and sew them together into a strip, left to right! Do this three times. Set aside.
Next take 4 – 2” half square triangle squares , all with red to the right and bottom of the square, and sew them together into a strip, left to right! Do this two times. Set aside.
We start on the bottom left half of this block by working on the trunk of the tree. Take the 2 white blocks cut with the template separated and right sides up, with the shortest square edge facing in to each other and place one of the two triangles cut from the single diagonally cut red 2 ½” square, long edge of triangle is on the right side facing down, to that short straight edge of the block that is marked and sew them together. If you have positional fabric check your fabric before you sew it down. Then press open and trim points hanging off the block. Do this for both sides.
Next take the red 1 ¾” X 4 ¾” strip and sew to the two sides we just attached the red triangles on. Red triangles should be on the bottom of the block! Press to the red strip in the center on both sides.
Now take one of the 3 7/8” red triangles and sew it to the top of the block just made above. Press open. Then take one of the 3 7/8” white triangles and sew it to the bottom of the same block, press open.
Next take one of the 4 piece half square triangle strips with the red triangles facing left and top, and sew it to the top side of block with the trunk top(single red triangle, facing up on right), to check compare to bottom left third of marked block below.
Now we work on putting together the right side of bottom of the picture.
Take one of the 2” red squares and attach it to the top of one of the 4 piece half square triangle strips with the red triangles facing the bottom and right side of the block. Then take the other 4 piece half square triangle strip facing in the same direction and attach a white 2” square to the bottom of the strip. Sew these two strips together, press the seam open.
Next take 3 more of the red facing bottom and right, half square triangles and sew them into a strip going down, press seams open. Then attach one of the white 2” X 3 ½” rectangles to the bottom, press the seam open. Now attach one of the 2” X 8” white rectangles to the right of the previous strip. Take this strip set and attach it to the first strip set so that the red 2” square is on the top left, and the white 2” X 8” rectangle is on the left outside edge. Press seams open. Compare to right bottom right of picture. Sew the two blocks together, trunk block on left and press open. NOW for the top!
Take the last 2 red, left and top facing, half square triangles and sew them together left to right, press open. Next sew a 2” red square to the right side of the 2 half square triangles. Next sew the remaining 2” x 8” white strip the left side of the strip you just made. This is the top row of the tree.
Next you will take 1 – 2” red square and sew it to the left of 1 - right and bottom facing red half square triangle. Press open, then sew 1 of the remaining 4 piece half square triangle blocks to the left of the block you just sewed together. Now sew a 2” white square to the left of that. Press all seams open.
This is part of the second row down
Take the last 2 red half square triangles, with the red triangle facing to the right and bottom, and sew them together left to right. Next sew the last 2" red square to the left of the two triangle strip you just completed. Press open. Now sew the last remaining 4 piece half square triangle strip set to the left of the strip you just pressed open, and press the new seam open. This is spart of the third row of the top section. Next sew the second row section to the top of the third row strip, press open, then sew the last 2" X 3½" red strip to the left of these two row, press open. Now sew the first row to the top of the second/third row strip set, matching points. Press open. Then sew the top section to the bottom section.
Press open. Phew, we're done!
september 2022
snails trail BLock
DUE AT NOVEMBER MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
Snails Trail
12 ½ inches unfinished
12 inches finished
Not as hard as it looks; This is basically a four patch which is then finished with increasingly large triangles as a square in a square 4 times!
We start this block in the center; Sew your four patch making sure that the same colors are not touching each other. Trim to 3 ½ inches.
Next we sew the triangles on in the order we cut them. Those subcut twice will be smaller then the succeeding block even though that block was a smaller square then the preceding square! Any block subcut twice will give you 2 extra triangles.
You will sew 2 of the same color triangles on first each time and then do the other two. It doesn’t matter which color you choose to do first, just do all 4 squares in a square starting the same way. Fold the triangle’s large edge wrong sides together and carefully crease it from the center to the point, then unfold and line up on the edge of the four patch, right sides together, with the crease directly on the seam between the two colors of the four patch. The color should start on its matching square from the four patch and extend over the opposite color. Pin in the center and close to the edges. Sew your scant ¼ inch seam. Now turn the block around to the opposite side and do it again with the same color, note that the crease of the second triangle should sit on the crease of the first triangle sewn on at the point. After the two triangles of the same color are on, press the triangles up on both sides and trim the corners off. Next do the same with the second color triangles, but don’t bother trim off the second colors points, you will do that when trimming the resulting square in a square.
To trim your square in a square block line your square ruler up on one edge so that the diagonal line on the ruler is going through both of one of the colors from corner to corner in the four patch, that all of the block is within the ruler, and that you have just a ¼ inch seam allowance above that center seam where your two triangles of both colors just added crossed in the center of the side you are trimming, do double check that your square is not cockeyed by glancing at the four patch again, then trim off the excess on that side. Do the same on the other three sides. You have finished the first square in a square, now on to the next one. With each round you will do the same thing. Check the picture to make sure your layout is correct for color placement. I will bring my ruler to the September meeting and show you what I mean, if you are confused just ask.
12 ½ inches unfinished
12 inches finished
Not as hard as it looks; This is basically a four patch which is then finished with increasingly large triangles as a square in a square 4 times!
- Cut 2 – 2 inch squares of each color.
- Cut 1 – 4 ¼ inch square of each color, and subcut diagonally in both directions.
- Cut 1 – 3 7/8 inch square of each color, and subcut diagonally once.
- Cut 1 – 7 ¼ inch square of each color, and subcut diagonally in both directions.
- Cut 1 – 6 7/8 inch square of each color, and but diagonally once.
We start this block in the center; Sew your four patch making sure that the same colors are not touching each other. Trim to 3 ½ inches.
Next we sew the triangles on in the order we cut them. Those subcut twice will be smaller then the succeeding block even though that block was a smaller square then the preceding square! Any block subcut twice will give you 2 extra triangles.
You will sew 2 of the same color triangles on first each time and then do the other two. It doesn’t matter which color you choose to do first, just do all 4 squares in a square starting the same way. Fold the triangle’s large edge wrong sides together and carefully crease it from the center to the point, then unfold and line up on the edge of the four patch, right sides together, with the crease directly on the seam between the two colors of the four patch. The color should start on its matching square from the four patch and extend over the opposite color. Pin in the center and close to the edges. Sew your scant ¼ inch seam. Now turn the block around to the opposite side and do it again with the same color, note that the crease of the second triangle should sit on the crease of the first triangle sewn on at the point. After the two triangles of the same color are on, press the triangles up on both sides and trim the corners off. Next do the same with the second color triangles, but don’t bother trim off the second colors points, you will do that when trimming the resulting square in a square.
To trim your square in a square block line your square ruler up on one edge so that the diagonal line on the ruler is going through both of one of the colors from corner to corner in the four patch, that all of the block is within the ruler, and that you have just a ¼ inch seam allowance above that center seam where your two triangles of both colors just added crossed in the center of the side you are trimming, do double check that your square is not cockeyed by glancing at the four patch again, then trim off the excess on that side. Do the same on the other three sides. You have finished the first square in a square, now on to the next one. With each round you will do the same thing. Check the picture to make sure your layout is correct for color placement. I will bring my ruler to the September meeting and show you what I mean, if you are confused just ask.
August 2022
Lady of the Lake BLock
DUE AT September MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
August BOM 2022
Lady of the Lake
10 ½” unfinished
10” finished
This is a very easy block to make!
There are only two sizes of sub blocks to make for this BOM. The sub blocks will end up at 2 ½ inches and
6 ½ inches. I’ve mostly seen solids used, but there are no fabric police, so use what you want! I combined one of the colors of the year, cosmos, in a solid, with batiks that had colors that would blend with that solid. Note that ALL of the smaller half square triangle blocks face the same direction going all around the large center half square triangle block also facing that same way!
Note, I tend to press any triangle block seams open for ease in matching seams. I usually pin right in the seam itself or if the pin creates to much bulk there, then I will pin in the seam again, then place a pin in the front fold of the fabric of the seam and remove the seam pin.
Cut one 7” square of both the white fabric and your center colored fabric. Cut both in half diagonally. Sew one white triangle to one colored triangle. Trim to 6 ½ inches. Note that you have enough to make two center half square triangle blocks!
If you are going to use a directional fabric then I would suggest you cut those individually into 3” squares and then cut across diagonally once from corner to corner paying attention to what part of the block you wanted on the colored portion of the block.
If Not using a directional fabric and Not using the creative grids multi-sized flying geese ruler, then I would cut enough 3 inch strips of the white fabric, and 3 inch strips of the colored fabric(s) you choose to be able to sub cut into 8 - 3 inch squares. Iron the strips together right sides facing. Next cut those squares once diagonally, giving you 16 half square triangles in each color.
Now sew a white 3 inch triangle to a colored 3 inch triangle, until you’ve made 16 half square triangle blocks.
Check and trim using a 2 ½ inch or larger square ruler positioning it so the 45 degree diagonal line lined up on the diagonal seam of the block is within the 2 ½ inch markings as well as the other corners of the block. Cut trimming the block to 2 ½ inches square.
If using the Creative Grids Ruler, then cut enough 2 ½ Inch strips of both your white and Colored fabrics to subcut 16 triangles. Iron the strips facing right sides together and subcut the 16 - 2 ½” half square triangles, remember the seam is built in, so you can pick up both pieces at one time and stack them slightly offset and then sew them together. Check and trim to 2 ½ inches and then stack them with the color facing the direction shown in the picture above!
Layout your block with 5 smaller half square triangle blocks left to right, all facing in the same direction as shown in the picture above, to make the top row. Then your big block centered under that row, with 3 single small half square triangle blocks going down in front and 3 smaller half square triangle blocks going down behind it as well. Lastly position the last 5 half square triangle blocks in a row left to right beneath what you’ve already done. Double check that all triangles in the layout are facing in the right direction.
Sew the 3 center left front small half square triangles together into a column, sewing top triangle to middle triangle and then middle triangle to the bottom triangle. Press and put back into the layout, making sure all triangles are facing in the right direction. Sew to the left side of the center big block. Next do the same with the back 3 center small half square triangle blocks and sew them to the right side of the large center big block again check that they are facing in the right direction.
Lastly sew the top 5 small half square triangle blocks together left to right. Sew them to the top of the center Block matching seams. Then do the same for the bottom 5 smaller blocks and sew them to the bottom of your final block, again matching seams where needed and making sure at each step that all sub blocks are facing in the right direction.
Lady of the Lake
10 ½” unfinished
10” finished
This is a very easy block to make!
There are only two sizes of sub blocks to make for this BOM. The sub blocks will end up at 2 ½ inches and
6 ½ inches. I’ve mostly seen solids used, but there are no fabric police, so use what you want! I combined one of the colors of the year, cosmos, in a solid, with batiks that had colors that would blend with that solid. Note that ALL of the smaller half square triangle blocks face the same direction going all around the large center half square triangle block also facing that same way!
Note, I tend to press any triangle block seams open for ease in matching seams. I usually pin right in the seam itself or if the pin creates to much bulk there, then I will pin in the seam again, then place a pin in the front fold of the fabric of the seam and remove the seam pin.
Cut one 7” square of both the white fabric and your center colored fabric. Cut both in half diagonally. Sew one white triangle to one colored triangle. Trim to 6 ½ inches. Note that you have enough to make two center half square triangle blocks!
If you are going to use a directional fabric then I would suggest you cut those individually into 3” squares and then cut across diagonally once from corner to corner paying attention to what part of the block you wanted on the colored portion of the block.
If Not using a directional fabric and Not using the creative grids multi-sized flying geese ruler, then I would cut enough 3 inch strips of the white fabric, and 3 inch strips of the colored fabric(s) you choose to be able to sub cut into 8 - 3 inch squares. Iron the strips together right sides facing. Next cut those squares once diagonally, giving you 16 half square triangles in each color.
Now sew a white 3 inch triangle to a colored 3 inch triangle, until you’ve made 16 half square triangle blocks.
Check and trim using a 2 ½ inch or larger square ruler positioning it so the 45 degree diagonal line lined up on the diagonal seam of the block is within the 2 ½ inch markings as well as the other corners of the block. Cut trimming the block to 2 ½ inches square.
If using the Creative Grids Ruler, then cut enough 2 ½ Inch strips of both your white and Colored fabrics to subcut 16 triangles. Iron the strips facing right sides together and subcut the 16 - 2 ½” half square triangles, remember the seam is built in, so you can pick up both pieces at one time and stack them slightly offset and then sew them together. Check and trim to 2 ½ inches and then stack them with the color facing the direction shown in the picture above!
Layout your block with 5 smaller half square triangle blocks left to right, all facing in the same direction as shown in the picture above, to make the top row. Then your big block centered under that row, with 3 single small half square triangle blocks going down in front and 3 smaller half square triangle blocks going down behind it as well. Lastly position the last 5 half square triangle blocks in a row left to right beneath what you’ve already done. Double check that all triangles in the layout are facing in the right direction.
Sew the 3 center left front small half square triangles together into a column, sewing top triangle to middle triangle and then middle triangle to the bottom triangle. Press and put back into the layout, making sure all triangles are facing in the right direction. Sew to the left side of the center big block. Next do the same with the back 3 center small half square triangle blocks and sew them to the right side of the large center big block again check that they are facing in the right direction.
Lastly sew the top 5 small half square triangle blocks together left to right. Sew them to the top of the center Block matching seams. Then do the same for the bottom 5 smaller blocks and sew them to the bottom of your final block, again matching seams where needed and making sure at each step that all sub blocks are facing in the right direction.
july 2022
TALL SHIP block
DUE AT august MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
LLQG BOM - July 2022
12 1/2” Unfinished
12” Finished
Easy to do
All references to STRIPS are cut at 2 7/8” if using a standard ruler & 2 ½” if using the “Creative grids 6” Flying Geese & 45/90 Triangle Ruler”
From Blue Fabric Cut:
1 – 4 ½ X 8 ½” rectangle
1 – 2 ½” X 10 ½” rectangle
1 – 2 ½” X 4 ½” rectangle
2 – 2 ½” squares
Cut enough strips at the above afore mentioned sizes depending on your ruler to cut 15 – half square triangles
From White Fabric Cut enough strips at the afore mentioned sizes depending on your ruler to cut 13 – half square triangles
From Red Fabric Cut:
1 – 2 ½” X 8 ½” rectangle
Cut enough strips at the afore mentioned sizes depending on your ruler to cut 2 – half square triangles. If using a regular ruler you only need 1 - 2 7/8” square cut once diagonally!
DIRECTIONS:
If using the Creative Grids ruler your strips will be 2 ½” wide and you will use your CG ruler’s 45 degree angle turning the ruler from right side up to upside down and back while you cut 13 sets of half square triangles and sew them together. Press seams open and trim to 2 ½” squares.
12 1/2” Unfinished
12” Finished
Easy to do
All references to STRIPS are cut at 2 7/8” if using a standard ruler & 2 ½” if using the “Creative grids 6” Flying Geese & 45/90 Triangle Ruler”
From Blue Fabric Cut:
1 – 4 ½ X 8 ½” rectangle
1 – 2 ½” X 10 ½” rectangle
1 – 2 ½” X 4 ½” rectangle
2 – 2 ½” squares
Cut enough strips at the above afore mentioned sizes depending on your ruler to cut 15 – half square triangles
From White Fabric Cut enough strips at the afore mentioned sizes depending on your ruler to cut 13 – half square triangles
From Red Fabric Cut:
1 – 2 ½” X 8 ½” rectangle
Cut enough strips at the afore mentioned sizes depending on your ruler to cut 2 – half square triangles. If using a regular ruler you only need 1 - 2 7/8” square cut once diagonally!
DIRECTIONS:
- Place your Blue Strip(s) and White Strip(s) right sides together and iron.
If using the Creative Grids ruler your strips will be 2 ½” wide and you will use your CG ruler’s 45 degree angle turning the ruler from right side up to upside down and back while you cut 13 sets of half square triangles and sew them together. Press seams open and trim to 2 ½” squares.
- Match your remaining Blue fabric Strip to your Red Strip and iron. Make 2 – 2 ½” finished half square triangle squares, half red and half blue. These can now be sewn one to both ends of the red rectangle making sure the red triangles are pointing to the top of both sides of the red rectangle as in the picture. Set aside.
- Take one 2 ½” Blue square and sew one 2 ½” Blue/White half square triangle square to the right side of it with Blue to Blue, then sew it to the bottom of the large blue 4 ½ X 8 ½” rectangle.
- Next sew 4 – of the Blue/White 2 ½” half square triangle squares together in a column all facing in the same direction with blue pointing up to the left, then sew the last 2 ½” blue square on top. Now sew the column to the Right side of the finished Blue section you made in step 3, matching seams.
- Now you can sew 3 more 2 ½” Blue/White half square triangle squares together into a column and then sew to the bottom of the blue 2 ½” X 4 ½” rectangle.
- Next, sew the last 5 - 2 ½” Blue/White half square triangle squares together into a column, then sew it to the right side of the column from step #5, matching seams.
- Next sew the Blue 2 ½” X 10 ½” rectangle to the right of the finished product from step #6.
- Now sew the finished product from step #7 to the right of the finished product from Step #4, matching seams. All Blue/White half square triangle squares should be facing in the same direction as shown above!
- Lastly sew the Red row, with the Red/Blue half square triangles squares blue pointing down and out to the sides making the bottom of the boat smaller then the length of the top of the boat, to the bottom of the blue and white section of the block.
june 2022
state house block
DUE AT July MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
may 2022
Devil's claw block
DUE AT June MEETING
Click image to open PDF instructions
April 2022
Bird of paradise
DUE AT may MEETING
Click to open PDF instructions and template
March 2022
Double Irish chain
DUE AT APRIL MEETING
Click to open PDF instructions
February 2022
"Heart"
DUE AT MarCH MEETING
Click to open PDF Instructions & actual applique template
January 2022
"Album Patch"
Click to open PDF instructions
december 2020
"disapearing Block"
Click to open PDF instructions
november 2020
"maple leaf"
Patterns by Marcia Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
october 2020
"Sawtooth star" or "square on points"
Patterns by Marcia Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
september 2020
"square in square"
Patterns by Marcia Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
august 2020
"rail fence"
Patterns by Marcia Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
june/july 2020
"july fourth - fifty-four forty or fight"
note: please use red, white/cream and blue fabric
Patterns by Marcia Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
March 2020
"ground cover"
note: please use fabric with high contrast
February 2020
"four leaf clover"
note: block to be done in green and white
(applique' is optional)
Pattern by Marcia Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
june 2019
"buzzsaw"
note: block to be done in red, white & blue
May 2019
"Flight of Swallows"
Note: Block to be done in blue & white
Pattern by Marica Hohn, www.quilterscache.com
April 2019
"Log Cabin Stars"
March 2019
"Churn Dash"
February 2019
"Starburst"
January 2019
"Spool"
December 2018
"Shooting Star"
November 2018
"Road to California"
October 2018
Flame
August & September 2018
Pinwheel
July 2018
4th of July
June 2018
Hot Air Balloon
Instructions: Click here
Pattern: Click here
May 2018
Butterfly
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April 2018
Go Fly a Kite
March 2018
Out Like a Lamb
Permission to use by Original Designer Nancy Hicks
February 2018
Playful Hearts
Original design from sewmamyblocks.com
December 2017
Starflakes
October/November 2017
Pumpkin Patch
September 2017
Back to School
August 2017
Sunburn
July 2017
Uncle Sam's Bowtie
June 2017
Log Cabin Watermelon
May 2017
Wild Spring Poppies
March 2017
Friendship Block
January 2017
Lost Mittens
Guidelines
Using fabrics from your own stash create a quilt block based on the guild pattern and instructions provided. There is no limit regarding the number of blocks entered however, fabrics should vary to maintain a scrappy feel.
Additional information you should know:
- For each block completed, write your full name on a small piece of paper, and attach to the completed block with a pin.
- Bring your completed blocks to the general meeting. Blocks will be displayed for members to see. For each block completed, enter your name in the drawing.
- If you are unable to attend the meeting, but want to participate in Block of the Month, please arrange to have completed blocks at the general meeting either by contacting the chairman in advance or asking a quilting friend to help.
- At a specified time at the general meeting, based on participation, one or more names will be drawn to win quilt blocks. Example: If we receive 30 blocks, we will have two winners. The first winner will pick 15 blocks; the second winner will receive the remaining. There will be no limit to the number of times you can win.
- In fairness to all, if blocks are incorrect in size, have an obvious error, or are incomplete, will be returned to the maker and will not be eligible for the drawing.
Additional information you should know:
- Please use 100% cotton fabric. Wash and preshrink fabric and test for colorfastness before constructing your block.
- Measure fabric and cut accurate to insure proper block construction. It is very important to accurately construct your block using 1/4 inch seam allowances.
- Press seams. Use an up and down motion as not to distort fabric.
- There should be no need to "square up" if pieces are cut correctly, have been sewn with proper seam allowances, and pressed properly without distortion. (Your very best work is expected.)
- Finished size of the block is the actual size of the block when sewn into a quilt top. Unfinished size is the block with seam allowances. So, if you are making a 6" block finished in a quilt, the unfinished size should measure 6-1/2" because of the 1/4" seam allowance. I hope this makes sense!