Special thanks to CJ AKA Homesteadmamma
Well here we go with another block. This one will be easy because you will be doing the same steps you've learnt in the other 2 blocks.
You'll need:
- dark material
- med material
- your yellow fat quarter
- ruler
- pencil
- sandpaper
First we need to make sure our material is washed and dried as in the following picture.
Once dried, we need to press our material, pressing as in the following picture, making sure we aren't pushing the iron hard, because it will stretch the material and often make it out of shape.
Once pressed, we want to trim off the selvage edges.
Selvage edges is the lengthwise edge of the fabric.
Now the Bachelor's Puzzle will measure when finished 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches, the same size has your other two blocks.
I know your going to not want to use the "yellow", but I would like you to. You'll be keeping your yellow for part of the finishing part of the quilt and its always fun to have a "surprise" in your quilting. Not only that, but "yellow/gold" brings life to a quilt. You might not think so with just one block, but once you get your quilt together, you'll see.
So, before I show you the block, I want you to cut your yellow square.
Take your yellow/gold fat quarter and open it up. Take your ruler and cut a square 4 1/2 inches. Make sure the square measures 4 1/2 inches. Lay it aside.
Now here is the picture of the Bachelor's Puzzle.
For the next 2 blocks, some of this is going to be repetetive, but its needed to get you use to making the triangle squares and to set you up for the harder blocks coming later.
Because this is a tutorial also, I'll be posting some of the same pictures. Please have patience and bare with me okay.
You will need 2 strips of each color to now make the smaller blocks. You should have some material left over from your strips you used in the Nine Patch, so you can use that and cut only one strip of each color as in the following picture.
Were cutting our strips 2 1/2 inches wide.
Again, 2 strips in the medium color as follows:
Once your strips are cut, then you want to cut them to make 2 1/2 inch squares.
You'll need:
8 - 2 1/2 inch dark colors
8 - 2 1/2 inch med colors
Now you want to sew your dark squares with your medium colored squares, laying them out first as in the following picture.
Once sewn, we need to press the strips. Always remember to press toward the dark color unless the pattern tells you otherwise.
The reason we press to the dark side is because you don't want the seams showing through when you finish the quilt. Sometimes it is unpreventable, but you want it not to happen if at all possible.
Now we are going to take those strips and show 2 strips together, making sure that we turn the one strip so that the colors are opposite each other.
Here is where the pressing really comes into play. When you've turned them over and go to sew them together, make sure you pin them. The seams should sit snuggly together, with one seam going one way and the other seam going the opposite way. If you have a hard time with this, practice on a scrap piece of material. It really is important to get this right because again when you get to the harder blocks, those seams "hugging" snuggly together make all the difference in the looks of a quilt!! It will also make a huge difference in how your points line up later on.
Your finished block should look like this once pressed.
Your completed block should measure 4 1/2 inches square. Make sure you "square" up the block. Again, if its out just a week bit, its okay. If its out more than 1/4 of an inch, you'll need to start over again.
I can't stress enough how important it is to "square" up each block, the little ones and the larger ones. It makes all the difference in the world when it comes to the finished project. Yes, it takes extra time, but it is well worth the time. Even after 15 years of quilting experience, I still square up each block, even if they look "right" in size.
Here is the finished product of these 4 1/2 inch blocks for this block.
In order to "square" a block, there is an easy way to do it.
For the smaller blocks, take your ruler and place it so that you have the ruler on 2 sides of your block - so your ruler will be at exactly 4 1/2 inches. Take your rotary tool and trim 2 sides (if they need to be trimmed a bit). Then turn your block over and do the other 2 sides.
When it comes to measuring the 12 1/2 inch block, the easiest way to do it is with a 15 x 15 inch ruler. Here you do the exact same thing. If you don't have a 15 x 15 inch ruler (they are expensive but the best rulers to have), then you'll need to still measure it from end to end on both sides of the block.
This is what is called "squaring" a block!!
So, number 1, its important to do this with your smaller blocks to make sure you have a finished block that is the right size and second its important to do this with your finished block so that when you come to putting a border and sashing around your block, its a simple job and the measurements are right.
Now you need to take 2 colors that you'll be using for your triangle blocks.
Please note, in order to save costs, I'll be using some of the same pictures. Always look at the original picture of the block so that you'll know what colors I'm talking about.
Cut a strip of the dark color the full length of your fat quarter 4 7/8 inches wide. Here is where you need to be very careful with your cutting. You might want to practice on a scrap piece of material. Make sure your on the 7/8 inch line. (This is very important!!)
Do the exact same thing with your medium color (or light color if you choose) - the full length of your fat quarter by 4 7/8 inches wide.
Once those 2 strips are done, take your strips and cut them into 4 7/8 inch squares. Again, make sure your exactly on the 7/8 inch line. This is very important!! It is very easy to cut on the 3/4 inch line rather than the 7/8ths. Once done, set those aside.
Before you do this with your material your using for your quilt, you might want to practise with a couple of old pieces of material so you know your doing it right and not using up your good material.
We are now going to make our triangle blocks. Take 2 of your 4 7/8 inch blocks (your light and your dark). Place one on top of each other, making sure they are facing each other the right way. By this I mean the prints are facing each other.
Take your piece of sandpaper and place it on your cutting mat. The sandpaper keeps your blocks from moving when your drawing your line. It is very important in this step. Now place your 4 7/8 inch blocks on top of the sandpaper. Make sure they are matched evenly all around the block. (you might want to measure each of them again just to make sure they are 4 7/8 inches.)
Now as in the picture, take your ruler and with your pencil draw a line corner to corner just as in the picture. I'm using a different ruler than I normally do, but you need to use your regular ruler. Make sure the ruler is lined up properly and then draw a line with your pencil as in the following picture.
Holding your block
Now take your ruler and move it over 1/4 inch from your first pencil line on the right hand side (as in the picture) and draw another line. When that is done, turn your sandpaper around and mark another line on the other side of your first pencil line. You should have 3 lines now (your main line and one on each side of your main line drawn 1/4 inch on each side of your main line.
Take your block to the sewing machine and sew on each outside line, leaving the main line alone. You will have a block that is sewn with 2 lines and the main line will not be sewn!!! Do this so that you have 4 blocks sewn.
When you've sewn the 4 blocks, you will then cut the main line, using your ruler to guide you as in the following picture.
Once the blocks are cut, open them up and you will have your triangles. Press towards the dark side (back first, then front), as in the following picture.
Now that you have your block finished, the next thing to do is to measure it has in the picture below. Each block should measure 4 1/2 inches. This is called squaring up the block.
Tip: Don't panic if the blocks do not measure exactly 4 1/2 inches. First, press again (back first) to see if the block gets closer to the 4 1/2 inches. If it doesn't and its only out a tiny bit, just leave it and when it comes to sewing together, I'll teach you a little trick that saves a lot of time.
Now that your have all your 4 1/2 in. blocks done and squared, your ready to begin to sew the block together.
Always lay your block out on your 15 x 15 inch ruler. If you don't have one, cut out a piece of cardboard and make it 15 x 15 inches. Lay each block the right way, as in the beginning picture of this tutorial.
Take your ruler/cardboard and place on the left hand side of your sewing machine.
Taking your top 3 - 4 1/2 inch blocks, sew them together. Once sewn, take to your ironing board and press, making sure you press towards the middle block.
When this is done, do the next row, pressing towards the outside blocks.
When done, do the last row, pressing towards the middle block.
Your 3 rows should look like this.
You now want to take your 2 tops rows and pin them together as in the picture. Sew together. Once sewn, do the exact same thing with the bottom row. Once sewn, press the back of the block, then front.
Square your block, making sure its 12 1/2 inches. If its a wee bit out (not more than 1/4 inch) your okay. If its more than a 1/4 of an inch, press again. Often pressing will bring it to 12 1/2 inches. If it is still out, start over!!
mrsengeseth's
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|