Sunday, June 21, 2015

Summer Block a Day

Being away from home for most of the Spring season made Summer arrive in a flash. I did manage to finish the blocks for my Spring Block a Day quilt, but it's not sewn together yet.

Here is a photo of my finished blocks:


I used the new Kona Cottons colors jelly roll for the colored centers. I arranged them just as they came off the jelly roll. Don't you think it turned out great? Thanks, Sue!

If you didn't catch the Spring BaD tute, go here to visit Sue's Quilts Bits and Bobs for the tutorial.

Today is is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Here in Colorado, it's officially the longest day of the year. We can play outside until well into the evening! So let's make an easy, quick Block a Day.

Few quilt blocks are easier than Half-Square Triangles. The HST is the basis of our summer block. There are many methods to make HSTs, but I will start with the easiest. I call it the "cut a square, draw a line, stitch, cut, and press" method.

Here's how:


  1. For each block, cut two squares of print and two squares of background fabric. I'm using 4.5" squares, but you can use a different size if you wish.

I usually make my BaDs from scraps, but this one will be made using fat quarters. If your fat quarters are fully 18" wide, you can cut 16 squares from each one. If not, you will need additional FQs to make the number of blocks needed (90).


2.  Place the print and the background FQs right sides together and press.
Pressing the fabrics will cause them to "stick" together, making it easier to cut precise squares.
 

3.  Draw a line diagonally across the wrong side of the lighter fabric.

4.  Stitch a scant quarter-inch seam on each side of the line.

5.  Cut on the line and press toward the print fabric.

6.  Arrange the four HSTs as shown:


7.  Flip the two right-hand HSTs on top of the two left-hand sides and stitch the vertical seams. Then stitch the horizontal seam.

8.  I like to use the "windmill press" on the reverse side to reduce bulk.


9.  Here is the finished block:


Using 4.5" squares will result in a 7" finished block. 90 blocks will result in a finished quilt (without borders) of 63" X 70" -- a large lap size. 

Have fun making your HSTs and your Summer
Block a Day quilt!

 From the desk of your auntmartisignature

6 comments:

  1. I do love your quilt, the colours look great as you arranged them.

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  2. Looks great - perfect arrangement of colours.

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  3. Great work, it will look terrific when its finished! Good news at my end, we've found a house to move into with a sewing room for me. That means I might finally be able to join in the block a day as my machine will be out all the time now. Can't wait for the end of July when we move in!

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  4. Your rainbow quilt is GORGEOUS!
    Happy summer...

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  5. I think I need to do more windmill pressing.

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