MARCH BLOCKS WILL BE DUE APRIL 10TH, 10:00 A.M. AT JEWELIA'S HOUSE
The Quilting Hotline is always open - please contact Sam, Teresa, Jewelia, or any member of the group with any and every question you may have. We love working on your blocks with you, so let us know whenever you'd like help. Below are the instructions for March's block swap.
LISA's QUILT
Lisa handed out a small scrap of "inspiration fabric" at our meeting; if you were unable to be there, we have scraps for you and someone will drop them by. Lisa would like you to make her 1 12-inch finished (squared to 12.5 inches) block of your choice. Please use fabrics that coordinate with the inspiration fabric, without using the scrap of fabric itself in the block. If you need ideas for your block, visit quilterscache.com for lots of free patterns.
BREANNE's BEARPAW
Not so very long ago, Breanne was a cute newlywed who decided she wanted to make her first quilt. So she bought yards and yards of fabric, and found a nice lady in the ward to help her. 20ish years later, she's still not quite done. So we all get to pitch in to help her finish her red, white, and blue bearpaw quilt! Each member will make 1 large bearpaw block (see below for pictures). Breanne has precut the fabric and put it into kits for you; if you didn't receive your kit yet, someone will drop it by. Your kit includes:
(4) 6 1/2 inch red or blue squares
(12) 3 3/4 inch red or blue squares
(12) 3 3/4 inch white squares
(4) 2 1/2 inch white squares
(1) 2 1/2 inch red or blue square
(4) 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch white rectangles
We have extra fabric - lots of extra fabric. So don't stress if you need more - just give Breanne a call.
To make 24 half-square triangle (HST) blocks using the (12) 3 3/4 inch red (or blue) and white squares (from about.com):
Use a pencil or permanent marker to draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on the reverse side of the lightest square.
If you do not have a quarter-inch presser foot, draw two more lines, each one 1/4" from the original diagonal line.
Pair the marked square with a darker square of the same size, edges matched and right sides together.
Sew two seams, each one 1/4" from the center line.
Cut through both layers of the square on the marked center diagonal.
Place the half square units on your ironing board, the darkest fabric up. Rest a medium hot iron directly onto the units -- before opening them. The heat and pressure helps set the seams and results in a more accurate HST.
Open up one unit and carefully move the iron into the seam that separates the dark half from the light half. Let the weight and heat of the iron press the unit, because ironing with vigorous back and forth movements will stretch it out of shape. Repeat to press the second unit.
Square up your HST to 2/12 inches.
Join three HST into strip; Join another three HST, plus one 2/1/2 inch white square, into a strip. Press.
Attach the strip of 3 HST to one side of the 6 1/2 inch colored block. Press. Attach the 4 HST/square unit to the adjacent side of the 6 1/2 inch square, making a Bearpaw unit.
Sew remaining Bearpaw units as above, for a total of 4 Bearpaws.
Sew (1) 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch rectangle + (1) 2 1/2 inch colored square + (1) 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch rectangle into a strip. Press.
Sew (1) Bearpaw unit + (1) 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch white rectangle + (1) Bearpaw unit. Repeat with remaining 2 Bearpaw units and rectangle. Press.
Sew one of the above units to the strip you previously made of rectangle + square + rectangle, making sure that the seams meet at the corners of the colored squares. Attach the remaining unit to the other edge of the strip. Press. (See image below for block layout - call Sam with questions!)
