QAL Block 10 – Clay’s Choice

Hi all,

This weeks block is called Clay’s Choice. This is a 10” block and you will need 2 if you are making the Twin size quilt!

This block is using piecing techniques that we have used for other blocks so it should be very easy for you to make! But if you do have problems please contact me and I will do my best to help out!

Also, I pressed my seams open for this block. But please use your preferred method…and remember – have fun!

Cutting instructions

For this block you will need a background fabric and 5 other fabrics. This is a busy block! (I have added an alternate colour scheme at the end of the post.)

Background – 4 rectangles 3” x 5.5”

Fabric 1,2,3 – 4 squares from each fabric 3” x 3”

Fabric 4,5 (Centre Pinwheel) – 2 squares from each fabric 3” x 3”

Piecing

Take the squares for fabric 1, 4 and 5. Draw a line diagonally through the middle of each of the squares.

Step 1 – Using fabric 4 and 5. Place a fabric square over the top of the background rectangle. Sew along the drawn line. Make sure the line on the squares is running the same way for all four units.

Step 2 – Trim off excess with 1/4” seam allowance.

Step 3 – Press seams open.

Step 4 – This section is done!

Step 1 – Using fabric 1. Place the fabric square on top of the background rectangle, at the opposite end to the last section and make sure the seams are running in the same direction as the last seam.

Step 2 – Trim off excess fabric using 1/4” seam allowance.

Step 3 – Press seam open.

Step 4 – This unit is finished. They should measure 3” x 5.5”.

Using Fabric 2 and 3. Join one square of each fabric together using 1/4” seam allowance. Press seam open.

You should have 4 units that measure 3” x 5.5”.

Lay all your units out, making sure the pinwheel fabrics alternate and that the outside corners are all the same fabric.

Sew together the units, a pinwheel section to an outside section. Keep your units laid out, it is very easy to get them mixed up – I had to use the unpicker!

Sew the top 2 units together and the bottom 2 units together, pressing the seams open as you go.

Then join them together across the middle. It is very helpful to pin, especially the very centre seam!

You now have a completed Clay’s Choice block! It should measure 10.5” square.

This is my second block!

This block would look great if you messed with the colour placements a bit too.

This one I did on EQ7 - Here the background is the gray fabric and the white background is fabrics 1, 2, 4 and 5 – So fabric 3 is the teal. It looks like a totally different block!

Don’t forget to check out the flickr group, there is lots of progress and it is very encouraging!

Playing Catch Up!

Hi all,

So, I’ll let you in on a little secret….shhh…..I have been busy writing instructions for that little sneaky peek I showed you a while back! It is very exciting and a tad stressful too!

And that is why I am now playing the catch up game!

I have 2 months of bee blocks to make up….

This is where I am at for the August block, it is going to be a feathered star! Crazy!

Actually, I just remembered I have caught up with the Marti Michell BOM but I forgot to take a picture….I must remember to do that!

And we recently bought a “new to us” car. So of course I needed something jazzy for our keys!

His and hers keyfobs! Super quick and very distinctive!

Next on my list is our very own QAL! How did I get behind on this? Not setting a very good example am I? LOL

And I really what to give you some ideas of what you can do for the lap quilt and smaller item category….it is on the list!

QAL Block 9

Hi all!

Sorry this is a bit late…computer issues UGH!

Anyway, Jess has put the tutorial for block 9 on her blog. This one is called Dutch Rose and it looks fantastic!

QAL Block 8 – Seesaw Tutorial

Hi everyone,

Can you believe it! Block 8 already!

And boy did I cut it fine this week…I will playing catch-up this weekend!

This week we are making some 5” blocks, the first of the small ones!

You will need to make 4 of these if you are going to make the twin size quilt.

Cutting Instructions

Along with your background fabric you will need 2 other fabrics per block.

In the picture you can see that I do all my cutting at once…

For each block you will need –

From the Background fabric
4 rectangles - 3” x 1 ¾”
8 squares – 1 ¾” x 1 ¾”

Fabric 1
4 rectangles – 3” x 1 ¾”

Fabric 2
4 squares – 1 ¾” x 1 3/4”

Note: These blocks are great for using up any little off cuts you may have collected from previous blocks!

Making the block

Flying Geese Unit

1. Take all your squares and draw a line diagonally across the centre on the wrong side of the fabric. To save time you can do this to your fabric 2 squares now as well!

2. Lay a background square over one end of the Fabric 1 rectangle and sew along the line.

3. Trim your seam allowance to ¼”.

4. Press your seams open.

5. Lay another background square over the other end of the rectangle, as shown above. We are making flying geese again!

6. Sew along the line on the square.

7. Trim your seam allowance to ¼”.

8. Press seam open.

9. You now have 4 flying geese units!

Pinwheel Unit

1. Take your square of Fabric 2 and lay over one end of the Background fabric rectangle. Make sure all the seams are sewn the same way.

2. Sew your seam along the line on the square.

3. Trim your seam allowance to ¼”.

4. Press the seam open.

5. You now have 4 Pinwheel units, or maybe they should be called Part Pinwheel units!

Completing the Block

1. Lay all your completed units out to check that everything is where it should be.

2. Sew each set of units together as shown above. All four units should be the same.

3. Press the seam open.

4. Sew the units into pairs, as in the above picture.

5. Press the seam open.

You now have a complete Seesaw block that should measure 5.5” square unfinished! Yay!

I hope everyone is having fun sewing along with us! We are getting a real kick out of seeing the blocks pop up on Flickr!

Swimming Bag

Hi all,

What do you use for kids and their swimming gear?

Well, my oldest boy is doing swimming lessons with his school starting Monday….everyday for 2 weeks! I think it will be a bit full on but who am I to argue!

Anyway, I thought a swimming bag might come in handy…It wouldn’t look good if he took his stuff in a grocery bag!

So I started with the Noodlehead tutorial for a drawstring backpack.

I changed the dimensions of the bag and made it bigger. To make one the same size as mine cut your bag fabric to 17” wide x 19.5” long.

The other change I made was the pocket….

This is what I used! It is the plastic packaging from a set of sheets we bought….reduce, reuse, recycle!

It really was the cheats method…The zipper was included, I just hope it lasts. I finished it by putting some nice twill tape around the edge.

I like the clear pocket because he will be able to see what is in there and you can also see that fantastic fabric underneath!

And I can slip a piece of card with his name and info on it into the pocket already on the plastic. The shop label won’t be staying in there…

I can see I will need to make another one too!

QAL Block 7 is ready!

Hi all,

Can you believe it…block 7 already!

Jess has the tutorial all ready for you HERE.

This one is called Another Star Block and you only need to make one!

When I get some time I will mock up some lap size quilts for you to get ideas from if you are thinking of doing the smaller sized quilt, which is Category no. 2 in the giveaways!

Spool Blocks

Hi All,

Do ever have that feeling like you have been going flat out and getting nowhere?

I kinda feel like that at the moment…..I only had one finish this last month! ONE!

But I have been sewing soooo much!

Just a snippet of what I have been working on….loving the colour combo!

Sorry it is a bit out of focus but I’m not ready for a full reveal yet!

These are the by product of my “getting nowhere” sewing. Spool blocks for the Leaders and Enders Challenge.

When I started these I thought, okay no rules! No worrying about light and dark, blah, blah! But do you think I should worry about it? Should I have the spools dark and the backgrounds light or vice versa? Or should I just keep going and see where I end up?

BTW These are so small, super cute small! 3.5” unfinished I think.